This one is a sure attention-getter and will do a lot to dispel the problem-perception that "Democrats don't care about people like us" that exists among swing voters.
Moreover, it is an opportunity to bump up your positives among voters who are bored with Right/Left posturing--and believe me, they are numerous.
Just a reminder: The great San Francisco consultant Sandy Weiner helped propel March Fong into public office on a similar homely issue, a bill to ban pay toilets. He found something voters cared about.
Here's what I recommend:
- Use coffees and phone trees to collect favorite recipes from supporters. Obviously, the emphasis should be on dishes that taste good but don't make you fat. (I would include a special "splurge" section for recipes that taste even better but DO make you fat. This is what people really want). Be sure to get permission to use the name of the recipe-contributor.
- Create a cookbook of said recipes with special attention to the front and back cover. Use the back to promote your bio and picture, adding a paragraph or two about nutrition and weight loss. Obesity among children is a good sideline. If you're opponent supports food lobbyists in anything particularly gross, slam him. Candy bars and Dr. Pepper in schools is probably a good issue.
- Mail the cookbook to every voter in the district with a teaser on the envelope--Weight Loss Secrets from your (fill in name of town, state, locality) Neighbors. Put your campaign logo in the return address, but don't make it look like an overtly political mailing. After each recipe, put the name of the contributor and the town/neighborhood/region he or she is from.
Believe me, this will hit like a bomb and skyrocket your name ID.