The Clark campaign has a 'New Hampshire Train' emblem for their current fundraising campaign. They have a goal of $2 million by midnight January 27, 2004... my birthday! I am hoping that the train is pulling a full load when it comes into the station on my birthday!
Things seem to be going pretty well. The 'coal car' is already full with $434,976 raised so far from 4,544 contributors. That is an average contribution of about $95.73 per contributor as I write this.
Now that is good news for the Clarkies!
But the 'Red Meat Dem' warthog has a question and a proposition...
Since the Clark campaign is the first campaign to use MEDIANs in their policy statements (something I am highly in favor of), how about adding an average and the MEDIAN to your donations chart, Clark campaign?
I'd love to see the Clark campaign continue to demonstrate 'a higher standard of leadership' by being the first campaign to start using MEDIANs in their fundraising efforts.
I'd love to see the Dean campaign 'step up to bat' with averages and MEDIANs on their fundraising efforts.
Now, most KOS readers know I am a 'fiesty' old geezer with skin like a warthog, but I promise to write a glowing 'editorial' about the first campaign that steps up and starts posting average and median donations on their 'bats' and 'trains'.
This is a relatively easy programming automation and could be done in just hours. Check it out with your trusty 'net-heads'.
I know because one of the things I have done a bunch of is database programming, and I would bet 'dollars to doughnuts' that both the Dean and Clark campaigns have very good donation databases. Wouldn't you agree?
Why am I 'going on about this'? Because I want the next president to be a Democrat!
Click for more...
First, it is more transparent to have MEDIANs than just averages, but nobody is posting averages yet either. We have to calculate them ourselves from the total contributions/number of contributors. The MEDIAN can not be calculated without the 'population spread' of donation amounts.
Second, the median adjusts for a few big contributors skewing the averages. So we will have a better idea of just how many large contributors there are.
Third, this can be a campaign advantage and an issue! Especially since it is not a spin-based policy, but 'fact-based' and 'principle-based' telling of the real character of the campaign that uses averages and MEDIANs.
True, it is less of an advantage during the nomination campaign since there are individual donation limits. But in the general election, wouldn't you like to see those 'under a hundred dollar averages and low MEDIANs' as proof of just how 'grassroots' a campaign really is? Wouldn't you like to be able to say that you have been doing it for X months and why won't the 'Fat Cat Fundraisers' come clean with the American People?
Imagine a press release that addresses the "widow's mite" aspect of the Democratic campaign.
The Rethuglican Wing of the Republican party is driven by the donations of relatively few fat cats who expect to, and do, benefit from handing over those bundles of cash.
The united, dependable Democratic Party is supported by the "Widow's Mites" of thousands of regular Americans who give what they can.
Are you loving it!?! I relish the thought.
So how do you make those 'Fat Cat Fundraisers' a Republican liability? Well, just how many $2,000 checks did their campaign get? How can the thugs spin it back to an asset? Not very easy. The more 'Fat Cat Fundraising' they do the worse they stink!
An attack on the 'Fat Cat Fundraisers' in the Bush campaign will be much more well-recieved if the Dems already are demonstrating 'fact-based' and 'principle-based' election policies.
I want a Dem to WIN THIS TIME!!!
One more point, the blogosphere, especially as represented by KOS has done a lot of great work in raising tactics, dicussing responses, and counter-spin. I am not the only one on KOS who is doing a lot more than just cheerleading for a Democratic victory.
We can not allow the Dem campaigns to forget that the internet and the blogosphere are not just about fundraising or putting out a top down message... it is how the Dems can win!
The other day a KOS comment about Bush putting $300 dollars in your front-pocket and taking $500 from your back pocket made it into one of my tow favorite campaigns. The blogosphere and KOS are starting to flex their muscles in the real world!
I am looking for more of that! If we set up a virtuous circle between our blogosphere and our Democratic campaign, that is how we win!
So whose campaign is going to be the first to start posting average donations and MEDIANs? Who is listening closest to the 'netroots'? Who wants to win bad enough to really listen to the 'Cluetrain' in the blogosphere?
Who's it going to be?
I am going to be submitting this post to both the Clark and Dean campaigns. I hope that somebody 'runs with this one'.
Most of you know I am not really interested in the other 'bitter-enders', including George W. Bush in the race.
