Disclaimer: All opinions herein are entirely my own. Donations and requests for information should be made directly to Campbell campaign: www.fostercampbell2016.com
I’ve gotten a few inquiries on how to best help Foster Campbell in the Dec. 10 Senate runoff election in Louisiana. The quickest answer is: dough. Kwazolas. Little pieces of paper coated with chlorophyll. Do-na-tions.
Why money more than volunteered time? The reasons are many and go to the nature of our state and its politics.
First, a bit about Mr. Campbell himself. A lifetime resident of Boosier Parish in the northwest part of the state, he has been a legislator and Public Service Commissioner, always as a proud Democrat. He’s never flirted with switching parties for political convenience, because he sincerely believes in public service and knows that our party does the best job of serving the actual public.
As Public Service Commissioner, he has been a strong advocate of alternative sources of energy and has been staunch in his support of making the oil industry pay to ameliorate the damage it has done to our coast by cutting access canals for drilling.
He is also a southern Democrat, a Blue Dog in the purest, non-epithet sense of the phrase, moderate, looking to compromise with the opposing party where possible. Should he become our state’s next US senator, do not expect a Wellstone, or even a Reid.
That said, his personal integrity and compassion, respect for science, and willingness to stand up to corporate interests makes him far and away the better choice.
Now, back to money v. manpower. First, the Campbell campaign is currently scrambling to properly organize the groundswell of in-state volunteers and an invading army of well-meaning folk from elsewhere may not be a net plus.
This is because, among other reasons, we are a very parochial people. Even in our cities, people know who’s from ‘round our way and who’s not. In the rural parishes, suspicion of the outsider is even more pronounced. Remember Iowans’ raised eyebrows when Dean’s orange-capped troops poured into the state in ‘04? Same thing here, often with eyebrows lowered to a glower.
If you really want to phone or come down and canvas, coordinate through the campaign (be patient with them; they’re really busy) and concentrate in the cities, where the race will be won by brute force numbers, if it can be won at all.
Campbell’sorganization is strongest on his home turf, Shreveport and the rural north. Because of that, he is going to have to rely on local alliances and machines in other parts of the state, and that is often more a matter of money than pure good will.
We are quite good at ward-level politics here. It is our state’s second most popular sport, after LSU football, and many of its practitioners are legendary.
Before his conviction, Bill “Mr. Freeze” Jefferson’s family had probably the most impressive machine ever assembled in my town, and his ward leaders could tell you exact dollar-to-voter results block by block, group by group.
These local machines are still hugely important and effective in getting out the vote, but winning them takes more than a handshake at the barbecue. It takes dough.
(Please note I’m not talking about illegal activities here, merely standard practice GOTV hiring; the machine leaders simply know who the right hires are, the ones who will get actual voters to the polls.)
For all these reasons, plus some large media buys in store, I personally recommend out-of-staters donate rather than hop in the car and get southern bound. If you are a resident, do get directly involved, as your neighbors will listen to you before a stranger.
Finally, I feel bound to repeat my opening disclaimer: these are one Vor’s thoughts and all inquiries about the campaign should go directly to their office: www.fostercampbell2016.com
This election is winnable, though not an easy go. Whatever help you can provide is deeply appreciated. The stakes are higher than you might think.
One more note: GO VOTE! Early voting for the Dec.10 runoff begins TODAY. If you are a registered Louisiana voter, get your personal vote out now. Feels great.
