In anticipation of an exciting grassroots strategy to be implemented by the Mike Huckabee campaign, I wanted to share some things with folks who maybe don’t have a lot of campaign experience under their belt. I’m sure that the campaign will share most of these in their own way, but I figured I’d dole out some things that have worked from my experience.

First and foremost, I like door to door a heck of a lot more than phone calling. While it is more difficult organizationally, I personally find the experience much more fulfilling and effective. (I also have a weird fear of telephones…long story!) Nothing beats a face to face talk with someone. It gives a more personal touch and is more memorable to them because it provides both an audio and a visual connection. Furthermore, it lets you leave information with them, and it also shows a local movement in support of our candidate. Telephone calls can sometimes leave people thinking of cubicle city in Anywhere, CA, where the hired help is reading a script. They are certainly better than nothing, and some volunteers just can’t get out and about as easily as others, but door to door is king.

Now that you have decided to go door to door, who are you going to talk to? This is where the “Voter Universe” comes into play. The VU is the database you created, or had created for you, that maximizes the impact of your efforts. In this case, we are engaged in a GOP primary. In most states this means that only registered Republicans are able to vote in the election. Logically, you don’t want to spend half of your time knocking on the doors of Democrats! Therefore, the first “cut down” is to target the Republicans in your area. Then of course, we all know people, sadly, who have probably never voted in their life. They may be a registered Republican, they signed up when they got a drivers license, but they just aren’t engaged in the political arena. Just like there is no reason yet to talk with Democrats, there is not really a reason to talk with people who have never voted. The odds aren’t great that they will show up on Election Day! To summarize, your VU at this point should be registered Republicans who voted in one or both of the last primary elections held in your area.

I know, I know. You want to know how to find these people! Well, hopefully the campaign has done its due diligence and will be able to provide this info. If not, your local Board of Elections will likely have the voter rolls available, probably in an Excel type format that you can request. Using this you can sort out the people you want. The only problem with BOE reports, like most government information, is that it is rarely updated. Many people may have moved, died, etc since the last election. It’s a risk you take. Another option is to buy a professional list. I have used and love a company called Aristotle. They sell lists starting at only $25 per thousand names. A bargain. Their website is voterlistsonline.com. A free account is necessary to use their service. I’m happy to help anyone with this using my account if you aren’t comfortable doing so. Just leave me a post and I’ll contact you.

Ok! We have our list and we’re ready to hit the streets! For the “more advanced” user, Microsoft Streets and Trips, along with other mapping programs, offers a “list import” feature that will literally enable you to map door to door directions for all your contacts. It will even show you the fastest route to take to more effectively hit every door.

A few basics:

If possible, travel in teams of two. It’s good for moral support and makes it more enjoyable. If the houses are a good distance away from each other, the driver may stay in the car and navigate the next stop while the second person is doing the actual knocking. This is a time saver. If you take this route, make sure that when picking teams you don’t put two shy people together or two outgoing people together! Pair them up so your “shy guy” can drive.

Check your local laws. While some neighborhoods may have “no solicitation” signs, this doesn’t usually apply to political speech. Just be sure you know your local ordinances. I’ve even heard that some northern cities require a permit. If you are in the Carolinas, just have at it. No rules of consequence that I’ve ever run into.

Don’t knock after dark or after 7:00pm, whichever is later. This is open to discussion, but it’s a rule I’ve always followed.

If you’re going to be outside a lot, remember sunscreen! You still can burn in the fall!

Dress nicely, but comfortably. Have something campaign oriented on, whether it’s a Huckabee t-shirt or a sticker. Always wear a smile!

This may sound corny, but I always start with a jovial “Hello! Don’t worry, I’m not selling anything.” It’s a good icebreaker, and it eliminates the victims, er homeowners, natural reflex to stop you mid sentence with “I’m not buying anything”. Everyone will develop their own way of doing things. Tell me yours!

Everyone will also develop their own way of sharing their information about Gov. Huckabee. I could give you a script, and will if asked, but ultimately here is what you are trying to get at:

If they are already a hardcore supporter of another campaign, just thank them for their time and move on. No sense wasting an hour debating with someone over their choice. Mark down on your list whom they are supporting. This could come in handy if that person drops out of the race.

If they are already a hardcore supporter of Huckabee, be very excited! Let them know of the efforts you are making locally and invite the person to join you at another time. Ask if they want any brochures to share with family or friends. Get their Email address!!!!! Especially if they live on a main road, ask if they would like a Huckabee yard sign. (Yard signs don’t work so well at the end of a cul-de- sac!) Make sure you have all these notes legibly on your walk sheet. You’ll also need to make sure that you call them a day or two before the election to remind them to vote. Nothing is worse than a supporter who forgets its election day!

For those that are undecided, share why you like Governor Huckabee. Answer any questions they may have to the best of your ability. It’s ok to say you don’t know, but offer to find out and respond back. Ask if they would be interested in receiving additional information, and get their email address!!!! Mark undecided on your list, but come up with a code, maybe a 1-5, of how likely the person is to become a supporter. This isn’t fool proof, but if the person says they won’t vote for anybody who is pro-life, then you can pretty much mark them off the list! If you did get their email, and gave it to the campaign so they can receive updates, and you marked them pretty favorably, follow up with them after a couple weeks or so and see if they have any other questions or if they have been converted to the Huckabee team. You may find a lot of new supporters now! They should be marked as such on your sheet, and added to the supporters list. Now, you should treat them like the supporter they are and see if they want to help, need any handouts, etc. Furthermore, we want to make sure they get a “remember to vote” phone call right before the election. If they have committed to another candidate, just say thanks and then mark them off your list. Don’t want to remind the opposition to vote!

These are just some bullet points written pretty hastilly. Feel free to ask questions, post your own experiences, etc. We can all learn from eachother!

Christian, thank you very much!

One reason I was terrified to be County Chair was that I had NO IDEA how to approach this other than talk to everybody and anybody as the opportunity arose. Not very efficient.

*plops at Christian's feet*
*takes out note pad and voice recorder*

You are too kind!
Now, don't be terrified. It's only the fate of the free world that rests on your shoulders!

Very good information, thanks Christian!

I've been politically active for as long as I've been able to vote, but I've never had a 'leadership' role in organizing or campaigning. This will be my first time!

Articles like this are a huge help to us novices, and we are the ones who are going to Mike to the next level. Keep 'em coming!

Thanks much.
Isn't it amazing how many "new leaders" are being found for Governor Huckabee? New leaders, new donors, new excitement. With the energy he brings and the energized support he brings...well, combine that with the old political hacks and the GOP will be unstoppable.

Christian,

Excellent comments about door to door. I definitely agree that this is the most effective way to reach people.

As for getting a list of who is best to contact, I would suggest going to your local Republican party organization. In my state of Washington, the state Republican party has put together a database that has the type of information that available from other sources. While it is not accessible by most people, by getting involved with my district I may be able to get access or have someone provide me a list to work from.

Thanks Christian. Those are great tips. I've volunteered for local campaigns before, but nothing national or of this scale. That's very helpful info, and also gives me confidence in my travels and efforts.

Good stuff!

Wildbillinwa,
Thanks. You are correct about asking your local or state party. That obviously is a resource that some folks can make use of. From my personal experiences with the party structure locally in the Carolinas, the party is either using the BOE lists or the leadership refuses to share...especially during primary season. I suppose it depends on how up-to-date and accessible your local party is, but definitely worth a shot.

Jon, Thanks to you as well. Remember, even for a candidate that is running nationally, all politics is local! You do your part, I'll do mine, others will fill in the gaps, and before you know it, we're sitting at the inauguration! One step at a time. Let us know your successes so others can be motivated.

Also, if your Meetup group is handing out materials, it's a good idea to get the internet address of your meetup group added to whatever you're leaving behind. Then if someone takes an interest in Huckabee and wants to get active in promoting his candidacy, they can easily find your Meetup group and join your efforts.

Increase your numbers!



Huck!

Exactly right. Where this is possible, that is a great point. For my FairTax group we bought an ink stamp with our local contact info and an invitation to join us. We stamp this in the open space on the back of the trifolds. Absolutely, if you are designing your own push cards, include a way for people to reach you back directly. That puts some of the burden on us and removes it from the campaign.
Thanks for bringing that up!