Among the seven candidates in the recent Republican primary for Oklahoma’s Fifth District Congressional seat were a current state House member (“Candidate A”), a former state House member who previously ran for this seat 4 years ago (“Candidate B”), and the former director of the largest Baptist church camp in the country (“Candidate C”).

Here is what happened on Election Day: “Candidate A” received 18% of the vote while “Candidate B” received 32% of the vote.

And in a stunning and surprising win, “Candidate C” (the former church camp director) received 34% of the vote.

But those results only tell half the story…

Who Are These Guys?

As my buddies Trait and Brett have previously and masterfully documented here and here, Oklahoma’s primary season was quite entertaining and many lessons should be learned from many of the races.

But this Fifth District race was especially interesting because of the unlikely result.

In reality, this primary was supposed to be a two-horse race between “Candidate A” (who had the backing of much of the business community) and “Candidate B” (who had been actively campaigning for the office for the past 2 years).

But something funny happened on the way to the voting booth.

As the campaign really began heating up, it became apparent that there were three candidates who were going to battle for the nomination and not two as previously believed.

“Candidate A” had raised A LOT of cash and had some decent TV ads.  He had also gotten some good press over the last couple of years in the state House and had viable name ID.

Unfortunately, apart from that he was a very bland candidate with no real narrative to set him apart from “Candidate B” and “Candidate C”.  It was almost as if he was a “zombie candidate” in that he ran a decent, well funded campaign but did not do nearly enough to set himself apart and motivate enough voters to cast their ballots for him.

On the flip side, “Candidate B” had been campaigning for two years, had also raised a ton of money, was very active among the grassroots, and had spent big money on TV ads that highlighted (over and over) his military service.  He constantly communicated how he had helped “prosecute” the War in Iraq and how he had won a bronze star for his service.

That was his narrative, and he pushed it and pushed it and pushed it.

That leaves “Candidate C”.  A political newcomer, “Candidate C” quietly built a massive volunteer army, went to every political and civic event on the calendar, and used his church connections to build name ID and raise a substantial amount of money little by little around the district.

Moreover, the narrative he pushed could be encapsulated in his campaign slogan: “We’ll never change the status quo in Washington BY SENDING THE STATUS QUO TO WASHINGTON” (emphasis mine).

Armed with this message and narrative as the ultimate political outsider, not only did “Candidate C” force his way into a runoff, but his win in the primary caught many people off guard and even had “Washington Republicans scratching their heads”.

In the end, “Candidate C” came out of nowhere and “Candidate B” finished strong partly because of the narratives they pushed and how they stood apart from their fellow competitors.

Unfortunately “Candidate A” somehow forgot the age old phrase that “People don’t buy the steak, they buy the sizzle” and lost out on reaching the runoff with a disappointing result.

What Can Potential Candidates Learn?

There is a great lesson to be learned from this race and others from around Oklahoma in regards to how candidates can differentiate themselves from their opponents.  These lessons are especially important before primaries when candidates actually agree on many issues.

So how do candidates stand apart from the crowd when running for public office and avoid becoming “zombie candidates” with no real flair or sizzle?

1. Push a Distinct Narrative/Identity: The example from the Fifth District race captures perfectly the role a narrative/identity plays in picking up votes.

2. Push a Different and Distinct Message: While this may be easy during a general election, the Democratic primary for governor in Oklahoma is a great example of how one candidate stood apart from her competitor before the primary by pushing an entirely different message.

In what ended as a surprise win, the message of the current Lieutenant Governor during her gubernatorial campaign has been one of social issues such as equal pay for women, children’s issues, and education reform.  She has pushed these issues in a very calm, cool, and personal way and in a consistent manner.

However, her competitor, the current Attorney General, focused his message mainly on jobs and the economy.  While his message was definitely timely and adequate, it did not convey the same type of emotional response or passion of his opponent’s message.  While some say the Attorney General was also outworked and out campaigned, the difference in message was also very obvious.

Subsequently, though he was heavily favored to win, the Attorney General narrowly lost to the Lieutenant Governor in the gubernatorial primary by 1,493 votes.

3. Campaign Differently than Your Competition: Lastly, a great lesson can be learned from taking the high road and avoiding the type of negative campaign tactics the electorate at large does not appreciate.

An example of this occurred during the Republican primary for Attorney General in Oklahoma.  With both candidates working hard with much the same message, one candidate decided to go negative in a TV spot.  The strategy apparently backfired as this local blog points to the fact that the candidate who was attacked saw his poll numbers and fundraising efforts increase mightily in the weeks after the ad aired.

It must be pointed out that the candidate who was attacked never fired back at his opponent but rather stayed on message and stayed above the fray.  In the end he won the primary handily by 12 points even though he did not raise nearly as much money as his opponent.

In summary, these few examples show how candidates must run their campaigns in such a way that allows them to stand out in the crowd.  If you are a candidate, whether through your narrative, your message, or by the way you campaign, differentiating yourself in any way from your fellow candidates is vitally important if you truly want to win your election.

And if you do these things, you can and will avoid becoming the dreaded “zombie candidate” in your race.

Campaign brochures are a fundamental part of any campaign.  They serve as an introduction of the candidate to potential voters by providing them with photos that illustrate what the candidate is about and information that identifies why the candidate should be elected.  Candidates should put a great deal of thought into creating their campaign brochures because it is the tangible impression and message of the candidate that each voter will take with them.

Before You Get Started: There are a few very important things that you need to have prepared before you begin creating your campaign brochure:

• SLOGAN

Having a slogan can be extremely beneficial to a campaign.  It is a great way to raise recognition for the candidate.  However, you shouldn’t invent one just to have one.  Having a bad slogan can hurt your campaign much more than not having one at all.  The campaign slogan needs to reinforce the messages that the candidate is trying to get across in the campaign.  Effective slogans stem from messages that are about the voters and their communities, not the candidate.   The slogan needs to serve as an umbrella statement that briefly summarizes the main idea behind each of the candidate’s main goals.  This way the candidate can keep consistent with his/her message while still promoting each individual issue they feel strongly about.  Before settling on a campaign slogan, the candidate and his/her team needs to look at all the ways the slogan could be used against them.  Once the slogan is chosen, it should be used on all campaign materials, including the campaign brochure, to broaden the reach of the candidate’s overall message.

• LOGO

A campaign logo is another great way to reinforce a candidate’s message and raise recognition about a candidate.  It is also another instance where consistency is vital.  Whether the logo is a creative way to write the candidate’s name or a graphic that represents the candidate, it needs to be the same on the campaign brochure as it is on the lawn signs, website, etc.  Repetition and consistency will make the candidate memorable and you want the candidate to be remembered at the polls.

The Brochure Itself:

• PICTURES

Most campaign brochures contain at least one picture of the candidate.  It makes the voter feel more familiar with a candidate and a voter is much more likely to vote for someone that they are familiar with than someone they are not.  Everyone has heard the age-old saying, “A picture’s worth a thousand words.”  It’s important for the pictures that are used in the campaign brochure to say more than just, “This is what the candidate’s face looks like.”  The pictures should speak to the candidate’s message as well.  It is a smart idea to have the candidate shown in the pictures that are used working towards the goals he/she professes to have.

Also, show the diversity of the candidate’s community in the photos.  I call this the act of using “validators.”  A validator is a person or group of people shown in a photo with the candidate that serves to give the “go ahead” to similar groups of people to vote for the candidate.  They can be groups or individuals of all ages, ethnicities, working classes, professions, and genders.  For example, if the candidate feels strongly about education and therefore wants to specifically target the young voter population, the candidate might want have a photo on the brochure of him/her talking to a group of students on a college campus.  And if a candidate is shown meeting with local farmers in the community, the candidate may be perceived to care strongly about agriculture as well.  Validators can give campaign brochure pictures a great deal of voice.  It’s important for these pictures not to look amateurish, though.  And the candidate also must be aware of what he/she is wearing in these pictures.  If the candidate is wearing the same outfit in every picture, it is obvious to the voter that the pictures were taken as a contrived effort to look diverse.  Also, before using any picture, be aware of absolutely everything in the picture.  You don’t want to find out after the brochures have already been printed and handed out that there was something in the background of the picture that may jeopardize the credibility of the candidate.

Side-note:  While you’ve got you photographer handy, have a respectable looking picture taken of the candidate that can be used for all media purposes.  Provide your local newspaper with the candidate’s own photo.  Otherwise, the newspaper will generate their own.  You never want to risk the candidate showing up in the paper with his/her mouth half open and eyes closed.

• CONTENT

This is the portion of the brochure that gives the candidate the opportunity to spell out why they should be elected.  If the candidate has previously held office, the brochure should underscore past accomplishments and activities.  However, the candidate does not need to put his/her entire resume on the brochure.  Keep it to a small number of relevant qualifications.  If you can, use testimonials to get the candidate’s message out.  To obtain testimonials, identify people who support the candidate and might participate in the brochure and then try to balance age, gender, etc.

As anyone who has ever received an email, text message, letter, etc. from me can tell you, I am the queen of using exclamation points!!!  However, this is one of those instances where I will say, “Do as I say, not as I do.”  Avoid using exclamation points as much as possible.  It looks cheesy and makes voters think the campaign is more about the candidate than the message that the candidate is trying to get across.

Not only should the brochure promote the candidate and his/her qualifications, but it should also give the voter an idea of why they shouldn’t be voting for the opposition.  This portion of the content should be dealt with carefully, though, because the focus of the brochure should still be on the candidate. Don’t spend too much time talking about the negatives of the opponent. Also, be careful not to go overboard when “going negative.”  If you are unsure about how to differentiate between being “too negative” and simply pointing out differences, please read “How to ‘Go Negative’ Without Getting Nasty.”

• LAYOUT

The layout can make a huge difference in how the brochure is perceived by the voter.  Use pictures as a way to break up the text and give the brochure a substantive feel.  Don’t put an overwhelming amount of text on the brochure.  The point of creating the brochure is for voters to read it, and voters are less likely to read a long narrative; so put your information in bullets or break it apart in other ways.  Brochures should be viewed as advertisements for your candidate, so they must also be eye catching and be able to create a positive feeling or reaction in the voter within seconds of viewing.  If you are completely new to designing campaign brochures, it might be helpful to look at previous candidate’s brochures to get an idea for what kind of layout you want.

Side-note: Consider using a heavier type of paper for the brochure so that you can more easily shove them into doorjambs.

If the candidate is willing to put the time, money, and forethought that is necessary into creating a campaign brochure, the response from the voters will be well worth the effort.



Our nation was founded by ordinary citizen activists desiring a government that was accountable to the people.  Today, ordinary citizens across our nation are tired of the status quo and ready to engage for the betterment of their communities.

American Majority is pleased to announce an Activist Training will be conducted on Saturday, September 4 in Kansas City to provide citizens with the tools necessary to become effective activists.

The training will take place at JPI Glass located at 9760 N Pomona Ave in Kansas City, MO from 10am to 2pm.  Registration opens at 9:30am.  The cost is $25 per attendee.

The training will be conducted by a certified American Majority Mechanic Trainer (read more about your trainer at the end of this article).

Topics* to be covered during the Training include:

• The System (an in-depth look at the system we’re in, how we got there, and what we can do about it)
• Grassroots Action (ideas and practical steps to engage our communities and organize a coalition of volunteers)
• Precinct Power (changing your community one precinct at a time with specific micro-targeting and focused action)
• Patriots 2.0 (effectively utilizing social networking tools, blogs, wiki projects and other technologically-driven platforms)

Full training materials, samples and supplements will be provided to help you apply what you learn to your organization, candidate, cause or community.

Political Training Registration

If you have any questions or would like additional information, contact Andrea Plunkett at andrea@ammechanics.org or call 573-990-1462.

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

* Topics are subject to change.

About Your Trainer

The trainer for this event is a certified American Majority Mechanic Trainer as part of the American Majority Mechanics Program.  This individual was identified, trained and certified to conduct Activist Trainings on behalf of American Majority.

The American Majority Mechanics Program was launched in 2010 with goal of training citizen-activists to equip others to become engaged in their state and local communities.  The program is named after the roughly 30 citizens who called themselves “Mechanics” and organized an intelligence network designed to monitor and inform the citizenry about British activities in New England colonies on the eve of American independence.  Among its most notable members was Paul Revere.  For more information on become an American Majority mechanic, please contact us.

On Wednesday, a particular CNN article caught my attention.  The article was about Gowalla (a social networking site based on location) releasing what they are calling a “campaign tool kit.” Gowalla has now made it easier for campaigns to engage their supporters, let them know what the campaign is doing, and allow supporters to reach out to their friends and other prospective supporters.

What is it?

Gowalla is a mobile application that allows users to check-in to their current location and then post it to their Facebook, Twitter, or both (much like Foursquare). I know what you are thinking, we are already live in a world where everyone has a Facebook, people “tweet” what they are doing in 140 characters or less, and now people feel it necessary to update their friends on their current location every time they go someplace new? If you are new to social networking, you can check out American Majority’s guides to Facebook and Twitter here.

Personally, I do not have a Gowalla or Foursquare (its competitor) account, but that is mostly because I do not think I go anywhere interesting enough to let other people know about. However, I think the opportunities that these social networking accounts give campaigns and candidates are definitely something that need to be taken advantage of on every level.

How can your campaign implement Gowalla?

With the new Gowalla campaign tool kit, campaigns can now create events on Gowalla, so that supporters can check in and receive a campaign stamp (with the candidate’s logo) to show their support. This is a new, specialized feature, because usually when you check into Gowalla, you are given some generic stamp for your virtual passport. This new feature is a great way to engage your supporters and get them excited about your campaign rally, fundraiser, or other event. It is also a way to identity supporters (kind of like Facebook advertising and Google ads) and to further develop/mainstream your brand and logo. If your campaign is wondering how to set up a successful event to post on Gowalla, check out this article about creating successful events.

Another feature of the new Gowalla campaign tool kit is the ability for constituents, volunteers, or supporters to check-in on Gowalla, then tweet or post their locationto Facebook or Twitter, encouraging their followers and friends to join them in participating in the event. This is important, because, even if someone isn’t supporting you on Facebook or following you on Twitter, maybe they are friends or are following someone who is. They will be able to see this update and then go get plugged in with you or your candidate’s campaign.

What if your candidate can’t make it to a campaign event, but your supporters still want to have one and get the word out? Gowalla allows for your supporters to register their own campaign events, without the candidate’s participation, and spread the word through Facebook and Twitter. Depending on the size of your campaign, you, or the candidate, aren’t going to be able to physically be at every event. You are going to have to rely on your volunteers to host events and get the word out. When your supporters check in, they will receive a stamp showing whether they are at a rally, town hall, or fundraiser – depending on the event. There is even a ballot box stamp ready for Election Day, when your supporters go to the ballot box and vote for you!

Don’t think that Gowalla’s campaign tool kit is for you? That’s fine, but be sure not to write-off Gowalla, Foursquare, or any other social networking website and the usefulness it will have for your campaign. We live in a world where just about everyone is getting a Facebook, more and more people are on Twitter, and having a smartphone is becoming a social norm.  The time for campaigns to adapt the ways they reach voters is now.

Our nation was founded by ordinary citizen activists desiring a government that was accountable to the people.  Today, ordinary citizens across our nation are tired of the status quo and ready to engage for the betterment of their communities.

American Majority is pleased to announce an Activist Training will be conducted on Tuesday, October 12 in Valdese, NC to provide citizens with the tools necessary to become effective activists.

The training will take place in the Waldensian Room at the Old Rock School located at 400 West Main Street in Valdese, NC from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.  Registration opens at 5:30.  The cost is $25 in advance and $30 at the door.

The training will be conducted by a certified American Majority Mechanic Trainer (read more about your trainer at the end of this article).

Topics* to be covered during the Training include:

• Grassroots Action (ideas and practical steps to engage our communities and organize a coalition of volunteers)
• Precinct Power (changing your community one precinct at a time with specific micro-targeting and focused action)
• Patriots 2.0 (effectively utilizing social networking tools, blogs, wiki projects and other technologically-driven platforms)
• New Media Q&A (find out the answers to commonly asked questions about Facebook and Twitter and gain a few extra tips)

Full training materials, samples and supplements will be provided to help you apply what you learn to your organization, candidate, cause or community.

Political Training Registration

If you have any questions or would like additional information, contact Jessica Wood at Jessica@ammechanics.org or call 919-294-9974.

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

* Topics are subject to change.

About Your Trainer

A North Carolina native and proud NC State grad, Jessica Wood is the owner of Majority Connections, LLC, a social media consulting and training service for conservative causes, non profits, and small businesses. She and her husband both grew up in Union County and currently live in Durham, NC where they are members of Grey Stone Baptist Church and attend as many Duke and NCSU sporting events as they can. Jessica’s goal is to see every conservative in North Carolina connected through blogs, Facebook, and Twitter.

Jessica is a certified American Majority Mechanic Trainer as part of the American Majority Mechanics Program.  This individual was identified, trained and certified to conduct Activist Trainings on behalf of American Majority.

The American Majority Mechanics Program was launched in 2010 with goal of training citizen-activists to equip others to become engaged in their state and local communities.  The program is named after the roughly 30 citizens who called themselves “Mechanics” and organized an intelligence network designed to monitor and inform the citizenry about British activities in New England colonies on the eve of American independence.  Among its most notable members was Paul Revere.  For more information on become an American Majority mechanic, please contact us.

Our nation was founded by ordinary citizen activists desiring a government that was accountable to the people.  Today, ordinary citizens across our nation are tired of the status quo and ready to engage for the betterment of their communities.

American Majority is pleased to announce an Activist Training will be conducted on Saturday, August 21st in Dallas, TX to provide citizens with the tools necessary to become effective activists.

The training will take place at the Best Western Dallas Hotel & Conference Center, 8051 LBJ Freeway, Dallas, TX 75251 from 9:30am-3pm. Online pre-registration is necessary to provide adequate materials and credit card processing. The cost is just $25 per attendee. Registration opens at 9:00 a.m. A box lunch will be provided.

Registrations are limited to 100 activists so speedy online registration is recommended. Space is expected to fill quickly!

Topics* to be covered during the Training include:

• The System (a look at where our country started, where we are today, the problems that have arisen and how we can take our country back)
• Precinct Power (changing your community one precinct at a time with specific micro-targeting and focused action)
• Grassroots Activism (ideas and practical steps to engage our communities and organize a coalition of volunteers)
• Modern Patriotism (the Founders had printing presses and pamphlets, we have facebook and twitter. How can we use our modern tools to promote liberty?)
• Digital Pamphleteering (Thomas Paine wrote pamphlets but if he was around today he would be a blogger or wiki contributor. Learn how you can be effective with blogs and wikis online.)
• Social Capitalism (learn how to use social networks in your fight for conservative victory online. This is an advanced class for online activism)

Full training materials, samples and supplements will be provided to help you apply what you learn to your organization, candidate, cause or community.

Political Training Registration

If you have any questions or would like additional information, contact Raz Shafer at Raz@AmericanMajority.org or call 254-592-3361 and leave a message.

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

* Topics are subject to change.

Our nation was founded by ordinary citizen activists desiring a government that was accountable to the people.  Today, ordinary citizens across our nation are tired of the status quo and ready to engage for the betterment of their communities.

American Majority is pleased to announce an Activist Training will be conducted on Sunday, August 29 in Concord, NC to provide citizens with the tools necessary to become effective activists.

The training will take place in the upstairs meeting room at the Bass Pro Shops at Concord Mills Malls located at 818 Concord Mills Boulevard in Concord, NC from 1:30 to 5:00.  Registration opens at 1:00.  The cost is $25 in advance and $30 at the door.

The training will be conducted by a certified American Majority Mechanic Trainer (read more about your trainer at the end of this article).

Topics* to be covered during the Training include:

• The System (an in-depth look at the system we’re in, how we got there, and what we can do about it)
• Grassroots Action (ideas and practical steps to engage our communities and organize a coalition of volunteers)
• Precinct Power (changing your community one precinct at a time with specific micro-targeting and focused action)
• Patriots 2.0 (effectively utilizing social networking tools, blogs, wiki projects and other technologically-driven platforms)
• New Media Q&A (find out the answers to commonly asked questions about Facebook and Twitter and gain a few extra tips)

Full training materials, samples and supplements will be provided to help you apply what you learn to your organization, candidate, cause or community.

Political Training Registration

If you have any questions or would like additional information, contact Jessica Wood at Jessica@ammechanics.org or call 919-294-9974.

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

* Topics are subject to change.

About Your Trainer

A North Carolina native and proud NC State grad, Jessica Wood is the owner of Majority Connections, LLC, a social media consulting and training service for conservative causes, non profits, and small businesses. She and her husband both grew up in Union County and currently live in Durham, NC where they are members of Grey Stone Baptist Church and attend as many Duke and NCSU sporting events as they can. Jessica’s goal is to see every conservative in North Carolina connected through blogs, Facebook, and Twitter.

Jessica is a certified American Majority Mechanic Trainer as part of the American Majority Mechanics Program.  This individual was identified, trained and certified to conduct Activist Trainings on behalf of American Majority.

The American Majority Mechanics Program was launched in 2010 with goal of training citizen-activists to equip others to become engaged in their state and local communities.  The program is named after the roughly 30 citizens who called themselves “Mechanics” and organized an intelligence network designed to monitor and inform the citizenry about British activities in New England colonies on the eve of American independence.  Among its most notable members was Paul Revere.  For more information on becoming an American Majority mechanic, please contact us.

Our nation was founded by ordinary citizen activists desiring a government that was accountable to the people.  Today, ordinary citizens across our nation are tired of the status quo and ready to engage for the betterment of their communities. American Majority’s political training addresses these passions by providing education and resources to help you meet your goals.

American Majority Missouri is pleased to announce an Activist Training will be conducted on Thursday, August 12 in Brookfield, MO to provide citizens with the tools necessary to become effective activists.

The political training will take place at Smith’s Auction and Business Center located at 502 South State Street in Brookfield from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.  Registration opens at 5:45.  The cost is $5. Space is limited.  Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

Topics* to be covered during the Training include:

• Government 101 (how government operates, how legislative and executive bodies work, how to get involved)
• Holding Government Accountable (how to hold leaders accountable once they are in office)
• Grassroots Action (ideas and practical steps to engage our communities and organize a coalition of volunteers)
• Precinct Power (changing your community one precinct at a time with specific micro-targeting and focused action)
• Volunteer in Campaigns (Learn how to be of the most value to a campaign, how to benefit your candidate and discuss expectations with former campaign staffers)

Full training materials, samples and supplements will be provided to help you apply what you learn to your organization, candidate, cause or community.  Dinner will be provided.

Political Training Registration

If you have any questions or would like additional information, call Rachel Hassani at 417-838-3067 or e-mail Rachel@AmericanMajority.org.

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan political training organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

* Topics are subject to change.

Our nation was founded by ordinary citizen activists desiring a government that was accountable to the people. Today, ordinary citizens across our nation are tired of the status quo and ready to engage for the betterment of their communities. American Majority’s political training addresses these passions by providing education and resources to help you meet your goals.

American Majority Missouri is pleased to announce an Activist Training will be conducted on Thursday, August 19th in Kirksville, MO to provide citizens with the tools necessary to become effective activists.

The political training will take place at Rosie’s Northtown Café located at 2801 N Baltimore St in Kirksville from 6 pm to 9 pm. Registration opens at 5:45. The cost is $15 if you pre-register online by August 17^th and $20 at the door. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

Topics* to be covered during the Training include:

• Government 101 - How government structures work, what your elected officials’ job descriptions actually are.
• Patriot 2.0 - Effectively communicating using blogs, wikis, Facebook, Twitter, and much more (including traditional media)
• Micro Targeting Precincts and Volunteering in Campaigns – Understanding your district, identifying the precincts needed to win, and understanding the voters who live in those precincts.
• Organizing Meaningful Events - Learn how to organize events from candidate coffees to legislative townhalls, candidate forums, watch parties, rallies and more.

Full training materials, samples and supplements will be provided to help you apply what you learn to your organization, candidate, cause or community. Dinner will be provided.

Political Training Registration

If you have any questions or would like additional information, call Rachel Hassani at 417-838-3067 or e-mail Rachel@americanmajority.org .

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan political training organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

* Topics are subject to change.

Our nation was founded by ordinary citizen activists desiring a government that was accountable to the people.  Today, ordinary citizens across our nation are tired of the status quo and ready to engage for the betterment of their communities. American Majority’s political training addresses these passions by providing education and resources to help you meet your goals.

American Majority Missouri and the Johnson County Patriots are pleased to announce an Activist Training will be conducted on Monday, August 16th in Warrensburg, MO to provide citizens with the tools necessary to become effective activists.

The political training will take place at the Johnson County Fairgrounds Building located at 386 NW 145 in Warrensburg, MO from 7 pm to 9:15 pm.

Topics* to be covered during the Training includes:

• Building Coalitions and Reaching Your Community (ideas and practical steps to engage your community and organize a coalition of volunteers)
• Government 101 (how government operates, how legislative and executive bodies work, how to get involved)
• Holding Government Accountable (how to hold leaders accountable once they are in office)
• Effectively Communicating Your Views (how to write effective letters to the editor, opinion editorials and blogs, using social networking tools and wiki projects)

If you have any questions or would like to register for this training, please call Rachel Hassani at 417-838-3067 or e-mail Rachel@americanmajority.org .

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan political training organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

* Topics are subject to change.

In politics there are several sayings that are tossed around as good advice.  Whether it is, “always stay on message” or “don’t be the first to go negative” (the former is sound, the latter may be up for debate) there are few that are essential to political success.  One of them is:

If it isn’t in a database, it doesn’t exist.

Working in politics, either as a campaign operative or grassroots organizer, soon becomes all about lists, lists, and yet more lists… being able to manage all this information becomes an essential part of the operation as your list/network/database is the primary means of contacting, understanding, messaging to, and mobilizing your assets.

Therefore, simple and effective information management is a skill quickly developed… or you fail and die.

Whether you’re running a campaign or are engaged in the type of grassroots electioneering discussed by my colleague from Kansas, I always tell people, “Your two greatest sources of political capital are 1) your reputation and 2) your network.”  Put these together and you come to the conclusion that even if you have the most expansive and involved network of people and assets connected to you, but no way to effectively access them, your network becomes useless.

Your ability to access your network is key, so in the most simple of terms:  you must keep good records.  In an effort to discuss the basics of political information management without writing an exhaustive manual, here are a few simple, common sense tips I’ve picked up along the way as I’ve built and managed lists:

• Define your list’s purpose – Like anything else, set goals.  When setting up a new list, have a clear understanding of what you want it to do (and build it to suit your needs).  Is it a donor list?  Is it a volunteer list?  Is it a precinct voter turnout list? Is it a master list?

• Determine what the key data points are at the beginning – After laying out your list’s purpose, be sure to identify the most important fields of information you want to keep track of.  Ideally you want to set this thing up and run with it.  You don’t want to have to go back later to add or change data fields, complicating and possibly compromising the full potential of your list.  Decide what information you absolutely need for the list, determine what info would be nice to have, and then prioritize and develop the data fields.  Think ahead and think strategically.

• Make it work for you – Build your database/spreadsheet/list to fit the Data, not the other way around.  Keep it user friendly.  Use a program or software that isn’t overly complex.  If this is a political list, chances are you won’t be the only person editing or adding to the list, so use something that lots of folks are comfortable with (like Excel).

• Use common sense – Properly name fields and have a standard procedure for updating data.  One of the most common list mishaps is making ambiguous data fields that are populated incorrectly or inconsistently.  A simple example would be using the “Address” field to capture all location data: street, city, state, and zip.  By doing this you not only limit your ability to segment and sort your list by specific data like ‘state’, but you also set yourself up for mail-merge nightmares when you find the “Address” data is inconsistent and looks bad or you can’t target specific areas for specific messages.

• Structure it so that it’s searchable – Following on the last point… You want a list that you are able to search, segment, target, compartmentalize, slice, dice, and serve on a sushi platter by different data points.  Maybe that last part is a little too much, but you get the idea: the value and ability of your list is greatly increased by the ability to target specific points of interest.

• Keep it clean – As with anything else, you want to keep your list organized.  Keep an eye out for redundancies and regularly tidy up/scrub your list.  Also, if you ever have a request to be taken off a certain list, make sure you follow up with the request… nothing worse for building a positive relationship than for the other party to feel bombarded.

Remember, in politics, your lists are some of your most potent and effective tools.  You’d be wise to keep those tools in working order.   You’re only as influential as your network, so you want to ensure your ability to properly access, utilize, and leverage it for your purposes.

Yesterday, the 2010 Primary Election was held in Oklahoma.  Record numbers of Republicans and Democrats turned out to cast votes for the candidates of their choice.  Many of the races produced results predicted by the polls.  However, the race for governor in the Democratic party had all of the pundits talking after the dust had settled.  Jari Askins, the current lieutenant governor, defeated favored candidate and current attorney general, Drew Edmonson by 1,493 votes out of over 263,000 cast.  Her margin of victory equated to less than one vote per precinct statewide, according noted Oklahoma blogger Mike McCarville.  A Sooner Poll, released two days before the election placed Edmonson 16 points ahead of Askins. 

What, if any, lessons can be learned from this race?  To be sure, smart people will be analyzing this race for the next few weeks, but I think there are a few pointers that can be gleaned now.

• Hard work is essential – Askins campaigned as if her life depended on it.  She showed up at every small town festival, parade, and forum in the state.  Many times, she visited multiple locations throughout the state on the same day.  Known as one of the hardest workers in Oklahoma politics, she cemented that reputation after last night’s win.

• Keep the message simple – One of the things I really liked about her campaign commercials was their simplicity.  She didn’t air long commercials which mixed messages about multiple issues (i.e. taxes, jobs, education, etc.).  Each commercial focused on one issue of importance to her constituency.  It wasn’t hard for voters to figure out what she stood for. 

• She stayed positive – Contrary to conventional wisdom, Askins kept her message upbeat and positive despite being down in the polls.  This complimented the image of her as a matronly, grandmotherly type.  She gave people a reason to vote for her instead of against her opponent. 

• She got the right endorsements – In most cases, endorsements don’t make or break a candidate.  Nevertheless, a few key endorsements can really bolster a campaign.  Just days before the election, Askins notched the support of Oklahoma football god, Barry Switzer.  Commonly referred to as “The Kingmaker,” Switzer ‘s endorsement was a major factor in relatively unknown state senator Brad Henry’s ascent to the governor’s mansion in 2002.

• She mastered social media – I followed both the Askins and Edmonson campaigns on Facebook and Twitter.  Askins was a constant presence in the social media realm.  She Tweeted her campaign appearances, news from the trail, and links to pertinent articles and commentary about her candidacy.  When someone asked her a question via social media, she was usually quick with a response.  Contrast that to Edmonson’s campaign, whose updates were much more sporadic.  Askins genuinely connected with her supporters and it paid off in loyalty at the ballot box.

 Askins faces a tough general election battle with the Republican gubernatorial candidate, Mary Fallin.  No stranger to politics herself, Fallin has won all eight of the previous elections she has entered.  Both candidates are hard workers who will leave no stone unturned in search of votes.  One thing is sure, Oklahoma will have woman governor for the first time in state history when the final results are tallied in November.

In every American Majority training that I’ve conducted a frequent topic of discussion centers around one of the most undesirable yet critically important activities, political fundraising.

Candidates will ask, “so how do I effectively raise money…what are the secrets to being a good fundraiser?”  Well, there are no “sure bets.”  Each candidate and campaign is unique and what might work for one won’t necessary work for the next.  And most importantly (I can’t emphasize this enough) there are NO secrets to fundraising.

You simply can’t wave a magic wand to fill your campaign coffers.  There isn’t a concrete, fail-proof step-by-step method that every campaign can implement to raise a targeted amount of dollars.  If one did exist, well, among other things, I wouldn’t be wasting my time and yours by writing this post.

However, having said that, there certainly are tools and strategies available that candidates/campaigns need to consider using in order to successfully raise the necessary funds for their race.  In today’s post I’m going to touch on using social media, specifically a Facebook application called BlueSwarm, as a way to assist you in raising dollars for your campaign or candidate.

BlueSwarm is a tool available on Facebook that allows you and your Facebook friends/fans to raise money for your candidate of choice.   Several entities from universities and non-profits to political candidates and organizations such as Marco Rubio, Rob Portman and the Democratic Governors Association are using this application to raise substantial sums online through their network of Facebook friends/fans.

What is so great about BlueSwarm is that it creates opportunities for “average citizens” to raise meaningful dollars for candidates, an activity that in the past was primarily reserved for just large donors.  Furthermore, by enabling “average citizens” to participate in fundraising, you have opened the door for campaigns of any size to use this resource.  You don’t have to be a campaign that is national in scope, candidates running for school board, city council and county commissioner can and should consider giving this method a try.

Empowering individuals and volunteers is far too often underestimated, yet one of the most powerful and rewarding strategies available to any campaign.  BlueSwarm or other related applications might not be for everyone, but it definitely offers potential to motivate individuals in large numbers.

So candidates/campaigns, why not give it a shot?  There are few certainties when it comes to fundraising strategies, but what I can promise you is that if you don’t try something, it certainly won’t work…

This event has been cancelled- please contact Jessica Bradford at (913) 940-7398, Jessica@AmericanMajority.org for information about rescheduling.

Our nation was founded by ordinary citizen activists desiring a government that was accountable to the people.  Today, ordinary citizens across our nation are tired of the status quo and ready to engage for the betterment of their communities. American Majority’s political training addresses these passions by providing education and resources to help you meet your goals.

American Majority Kansas is pleased to announce an Activist Training will be conducted on Saturday, October 9 in Columbus, Georgia to provide citizens with the tools necessary to become effective activists.

The political training will take place at Homewood Suites located at 6614 Whittlesey Blvd in Columbus from 10:30 am-2:00 pm.  Registration opens at 10:00 am. The cost is $25 if you pre-register online by October 1st, and $30 at the door. Space is limited.  Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

Topics to be covered during the Training include:

• Hardwiring Precincts and Effective Campaigning (learn how to organize and impact campaigns on a precinct level, and the practical steps to campaigning or being an effective campaign volunteer)
• Holding Government Accountable (how to hold leaders accountable once they are in office)
• Effectively Communicating Your Views (how to write effective letters to the editor, opinion editorials and blogs, using social networking tools and wiki projects)

Full training materials, samples and supplements will be provided to help you apply what you learn to your organization, candidate, cause or community. Lunch is provided.

Political Training Registration

If you have any questions or would like additional information, call Jessica Bradford at (913) 940-7398 or Beka Romm at (913) 940-7369 or e-mail Jessica@AmericanMajority.org or Rebekah@AmericanMajority.org.

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan political training organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

One of the fundamental challenges the liberty movement currently faces is getting individuals to put down their protest signs and stop attending rallies in favor of instead picking up a clip board and getting to know their neighbors.  We have all heard about the importance to door-to-door campaigning for candidates; what you might not have been told is that you should organize your own area.

We must be responsible for our own neighborhoods, blocks, and precincts.  Understanding who lives around you, targeting them to learn what issues or values they care about, reaching out to them about upcoming events (perhaps a tea party or campaign fundraiser?), and talking to them about candidates you support or issue petitions you’re working on will help you to radically change the makeup of your community and state.

So where do you start?

1. Know your terms.  What’s a precinct?  A precinct is the 10-block radius around your polling place, or where you vote.  Precincts are the most local level of government organization in America.  In some areas of the nation, precincts are referred to as wards.  On average across the country, precincts tend to have about 1,100 voters, and a statehouse district is generally made up of 15-25 precincts.  Make sense?

2. Now we know what our precinct is, let’s figure out the dynamics of our particular precinct.  Go to your local county clerk or board of elections.  Ask for the voter registration list and historical voting totals from 2008, 2006 and 2004 for your local precinct.  This part is important: Ask for it on disc.  This will not only save you money and time because the staff don’t have to print it all out, but it will also allow you to manipulate the data and have a lasting database of your area.

3. Look at the numbers.  Try to identify what you can learn about your precinct.  Which candidates did your precinct vote for in 2008, 2006 and 2004?  What were the overall voter turnout numbers?  By what percentages did your type of candidate win?

4. Determine your goal.  I strongly believe that we must have a goal in mind if we are ever to achieve it- so what is your goal?  Are you going to survey the voters in your precinct to understand the issues they support or care about?  Do you want to talk to everyone in your neighborhood about a candidate you support?  Are you going to flyer each door in regards to an upcoming event, maybe a candidate BBQ you’re holding at the neighborhood park?  Determine your goal.  Then make it happen.

5. Start walking- or calling, depending on your physical limitations.  Knock on doors, explain that you live down the street, or across the road, and tell them what you’re working on.

6. Make notes!  This is the real key, and where many people fail to pay attention to detail.  Look around as you walk up to a house- is there Americana decor on the front porch?  Kiddie toys in the yard, which would indicate a young family, whose voters would likely care about different issues than, say, a senior citizen?  What about bumper stickers on the car?  Anything you can see that gives you a personal insight into the life of that voter, make a note of it on your notepad.

7. Talk to the voter- ask them some “yes or no” questions.  Do you believe that your property taxes are too high?  Do you believe that increased education spending will lead to better test scores?  Know your goals and that will help you determine what your questions should be.  Make notes about the voter’s response- not just the “yes” or “no” answer, but if a particular issue excited them or got them going.

8. Victory is in the margins- and here is where it matters: go home and input that information and all your notes into your database that you got from the county clerk/board of elections.  Now you know something about most voters in your area- something about them on a personal level.  You know whether they’re registered to vote or if the database is up to date.  You know what issues they care about most…

9. Now what do you do with all that information?  Make yourself valuable to a candidate who you trust by offering that information to the person you are supporting.  Engage people in your neighborhood who agree with your values by inviting them to events you’re holding to meet candidates in the area or to join your tea party group.  Make a call list of the voters who are most like you and take it upon yourself to call through the list in the days and hours prior to election day to make sure they remember to vote, or to offer a ride to the polls.

10. Keep it up!  After election day, keep in touch with people who agree with you on the issues.  Is there a bill in the state legislature dealing with this issue?  Make sure they know about it and have their representative’s contact information.  Is there a townhall meeting scheduled for your congressman or senator?  Put a flyer on everyone’s door inviting them to join.  Keep them engaged in the process. Use your database as a tool to reinforce accountability amongst elected officials.

Does this sound like campaign work to you?  Well, in some ways it is.  But if change begins on the state and local level- and I firmly believe that it does- then shouldn’t we each be responsible for our own community?  Take these tips and go, make a difference!  It’s time to take back our nation.