WHY
Set forth below is an e-mail communication from the Political Director of the Republican National Committee. It touts a recent poll which, in combination with other polling we are aware of, indicates that Republicans are likely to gain seats in the Senate, enough even to assume control, and hold and even gain in the House. But of course the letter implies that to make this happen will take a project of the cost and caliber outlined in the communication, or so we are to assume.
The more compelling truth about much of the Republican Party field operations is that Obamacrat policies will be primarily responsible for driving voters to vote Republican. Anger and disgust with those policies is a potent motivator. Fear is certainly a motivator as well and the Obamacrats will certainly try to employ it to convince people about all they will lose if Republicans win. The fight is and always has been about being on the right side, the compelling side of issues. And demonstrating commitment. That is the key factor to building loyalty to the Party, one of the goals set forth in the letter.
Regrettably local Republican leaders are too often incapable of or reluctant to be force multipliers in support of Republican policies. They use passive materials and approaches, not argumentation, and are unable in more than the most perfunctory way to say what Republican policies are, which they insist be as vague, placid, undecipherable and unresponsive to issues of the day as possible.
The current “outreach” efforts on the local level reflects such an approach to people. One only needs to examine the Scott County Republican Website, the portal to the community, to see that there is no persuasion employed anywhere on the site. No argumentation. No expose’s. No links to even persuasive groups. Nothing to back-up Republican lawmakers. Nothing to challenge Democrat policies. It is a calendar and poster board for notices and little more.
The RNC letter implies something different is needed. It starts out with an interesting and we think beneficial concept about “building long term relations with voters in their local communities” . . . and an effort to “help volunteers engage voters.” That part will only be successful if Republicans can be convincingly presented as generically dependable, sincere, a party that does what it says it will do.
Of course locally the question becomes what does “it” believe and is it forceful and dependable. Looking at the machinations and ineffectiveness in Washington by Republican leadership on some key matters will require quite the sales job anyway. The way around that is to be able to convincingly say “we” (locals) are different. But where is the evidence locally?
Then the letter gets into a little braggadocio about the sophistication of the get out the vote project they have in mind. Suggested as the key element to that is targeting, presumably based on issues. Wow, pre-surveying and targeting, what a concept. Issue groups have been doing that for ever.
Last week we referred to studies by “no friends of Republicans” sources that indicate that the much vaunted ground game of the Obamaites was not all that much better than the much castigated Romney get out the vote effort. Romney and the so called Victory Project made use of survey derived issue identification to some extent although it seemed to bog down if not break down into just a “please vote early” effort devoid of issues.
Our argument has long been that elections are primarily about motivational issues. It is also the argument of a key Democrat strategist. Issues have to be front and center or all the volunteer involvement is going to be is a lot of wheel spinning emphasizing indeed hectoring people to vote early, who will vote anyway, in disregard of the state platform by the way, and at a really high cost to results ratio.
What amounts to hectoring to “vote early in case you forget to vote” is not a winning strategy. Such programs arguably muddy the water for the long term personal relationship allegedly desired because it aggravate the unwillingness of people to list or respond to political communication from candidates and the Party. And that includes many with prime Republican affinities. If the “new” RNC program is going to emphasis communication on issues more, and effectively prepares people to push those issue buttons in line with the Party platform, then a useful project is at hand.
It is also essential that the communication and persuasion efforts be done starting now through the summer. We must inoculate against freedom’s enemies and turn people off of big government’s high tax programs. The din of the fall is too late.
We have no expectation the local Party will actually make an effort to be convincing. To expand issue identification. At best it will be passive surveying of people to find out if they already support one or more predetermined issues, record that affinity, and then get back to them thematically that this or that candidate says they are supportive and needs their vote. Fine, but that does not convince anyone to be against higher taxes, or inoculate them against Democrat arguments they see in the media.
Expanding the Republican pie is primarily left to issue groups, as if the Republican party was not properly in the business of advocating policy change. Issue groups have the largely unassisted burden of first convincing people, exposing matters doing the real ground work. The local leadership has never demonstrated any substantial interest or capability in persuasion. Again, just look at the local Web site.
Locally, only with a high degree of questionable chutzpa, can the effort be generic in favor of encouraging voting straight ticket because of issues. The local party does not support issues. It is only about supporting club member candidates who may or may not support issues in compliance with the platform. There is no differential as regards issues for support from the local party activists. That needs to change and then people will be more likely to listen and not dismiss Republicans as just grubby “vote for my club” position seekers.
Summary
Issue groups promote policies, identify those people with an affinity, expand and hold the base. Most are also involved in encouraging or directing voting participation. The best the local party will do is piggy back on the work of others . . . and of course claim victory when the Obamanation is the primary motivating force along with the issue groups that actually educate and advocate solutions.
RNC email received earlier today:
Roger,
Have you heard the latest news?
According to a new PEW/USA Today poll, Republicans have the “biggest advantage in a midterm year in two decades.”
This is not by chance. Over a year ago, we set out to make big changes in how our party operates—on the ground, in engaging voters and with data and technology.
And I am proud to announce that today we are launching Victory 365, our permanent, nationwide, volunteer-led campaign operation.
Campaigns are not run or won in a day. They are won with an army of committed conservatives making permanent investments on the ground 365 days a year.
That’s what Victory 365 is all about. It’s about building long-term relationships with voters in their local communities. It’s about putting technology in the hands of volunteers and placing staff in target communities to help volunteers engage with voters. And it’s about realizing that a person is not just a data point… and a voter is not just a vote.
Critical components of Victory 365 include:
Voter Contact Operation: We’ve spent millions of dollars on political and state party investments, fundamentally reshaping our voter contact operation to be more diverse and bottom up. We’re building a permanent presence in states and communities—especially in communities where we haven’t been in a long time. And we’ve hired targeted staff and recruited over 14,000 precinct captains and tens of thousands of volunteers to lead our get-out-the-vote operation.
Data and Technology: We’ve made a multimillion-dollar investment to enhance our data and build predictive analytics capabilities that the RNC has never had before. We have tested this new use of data in campaigns already and have accurately predicted the votes needed to win within a few hundred votes.
Voter Contact Tools: Today, as our volunteers knock on doors and make phone calls, they are equipped with cutting-edge technology — making sure that we are communicating with each voter with the right message and call to action. We are using this technology whether we are talking to someone at their door or on social media.
Campaign Resources: We’re also giving campaigns, candidates, state parties and staff the resources they need to run a winning campaign, including messaging guides, media training and research.
We’re building to victory 365 days a year—starting today with your efforts in your local community.
Roger, learn more about Victory 365 and ways you can get involved by checking out our new website.
Thanks,
Chris McNulty
RNC Political Director
