An open letter: 10 ways for Ron Paul to get many more progressives on board

[Matt Collins]

John McCain beat Bush in the Michigan primary in 2000 because of Democrat crossover votes.

Can you please cite the numbers?

Hillary undoubtedly won a lot of delegates against Obama in 2008 because of Republican crossover votes.

What are you talking about? Cite your source PLEASE.

 

[Matt Collins]

Do you fail to realize many RP supporters can multitask?

Resources, including time, is finite. That means you must use it most effectively.

You suggest we invest all efforts in targeting existing republicans only (that is the strategy to use only after the deadline to register republican). You must realize one could talk until they are blue in the face, and a significant percentage of republicans will never support RP as a delegate. So instead of wasting all our efforts on some people we will never convince… instead tap into a vast resource of potential RP republicans by encouraging non republicans to become Ron Paul Republicans up until the deadline to register republican (then go all out targeting republicans). It happened in a BIG way here in Nevada in 2008, I seen and was a part of it. We can do both. By limiting our resources now to “beating a dead horse” is the waste of time.

Again, it is easier to convince Republican primary voters to support Ron Paul than to get non-Republicans to vote in a Republican primary for Ron Paul.

 

[Brian4Liberty]

John McCain beat Bush in the Michigan primary in 2000 because of Democrat crossover votes. Hillary undoubtedly won a lot of delegates against Obama in 2008 because of Republican crossover votes. I don't think that it's spinning wheels for certain people to work on getting crossover votes for RP, especially for people who are better positioned to do that than they are to canvass traditional Republicans, and especially in certain Democrat-heavy districts.

Yeah, it might work in an Open Primary State, as a Primary strategy. California is not open for Presidential Primaries, and most people will not change Parties just for one vote. As for the General election, the majority of Progressives will vote for the Democrat or Third Party before voting for a Republican.

-----

Our best chance to gain votes are with Independents.

Feel free to attempt to convert Progressives. Don't expect a lot of pay off for the effort.

 

[erowe1]

Can you please cite the numbers?

What are you talking about? Cite your source PLEASE.

Given how your tone in this thread has been that of someone who fancies himself an expert on the subject, I shouldn't really have to do your research for you. But here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/23/u...-michigan-buoyed-big-crossover-vote-wins.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/03/us/politics/03crossover.html

I don't know how many states this affected in 2008. But speaking from the perspective of someone who was on the ground here in Indiana, which Hillary won very narrowly, I am pretty positive that Republican crossover votes in Hillary's favor made up far more than the difference she beat Obama by. The Republican contest had been long over by the time of our state's primary, and I spoke to many hardcore Republicans who were voting for Hillary in "Operation Chaos." I thought it was stupid, and ended up helping Obama win Indiana in the general election. But it definitely happened.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_Democratic_primary,_2008

 

[erowe1]

Yeah, it might work in an Open Primary State, as a Primary strategy. California is not open for Presidential Primaries, and most people will not change Parties just for one vote. As for the General election, the majority of Progressives will vote for the Democrat or Third Party before voting for a Republican.

-----

Our best chance to gain votes are with Independents.

Feel free to attempt to convert Progressives. Don't expect a lot of pay off for the effort.

There are a lot of open primary states. And, if I understand this correctly, California is now one of them.

I agree that crossover votes can't be the main goal of the campaign. But where liberals want to help us by getting their friends to do that, we shouldn't turn them down. Yes, you're right, the effectiveness of it will depend on geography. The places where it will be most effective will be in open primary states, especially ones that award RNC delegates by congressional district, and it will be in those congressional districts that are most Dem. heavy that it will make the most difference.

 

[Brian4Liberty]

California is a modified open primary, where Parties can decide if their ballot will be "open". During Presidential primaries, they opt for "closed". Believe me, this was difficult to get across during the 08 primary.

 

[erowe1]

California is a modified open primary, where Parties can decide if their ballot will be "open". During Presidential primaries, they opt for "closed". Believe me, this was difficult to get across during the 08 primary.

But didn't that change with that 2010 ballot initiative?

California is definitely a state where crossover votes could make a difference if it is open. I'm pretty sure that they award 3 delegates to the winner of each congressional district. Some cd's are so overwhelmingly Dem (especially Pelosi's), that if just 3% of Dems crossed over and voted for RP there, it would make up the equivalent of 12% of the votes in the GOP primary. I could easily see that happening (if it's an open primary at least), and if certain properly placed grassroots people were working on it, it could take less total resources to pull off than winning other more Republican-heavy districts. There are some places where the rules of thumb about low hanging fruit are going to be different than what they usually are, and the value of delegates from those places shouldn't be discounted.

 

[libertybrewcity]

I say we should stick to a realistic strategy of GOTV for Christians and Republicans in Iowa that are very much in tune with RP's homeschooling, local education, pro-life, pro-family message. And Republicans everywhere for that matter.

 

[Matt Collins]

Given how your tone in this thread has been that of someone who fancies himself an expert on the subject, I shouldn't really have to do your research for you. But here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/23/u...-michigan-buoyed-big-crossover-vote-wins.html

I think that was an exceptionally rare situation.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/03/us/politics/03crossover.html

That was nothing more than propaganda there.

I don't know how many states this affected in 2008. But speaking from the perspective of someone who was on the ground here in Indiana, which Hillary won very narrowly, I am pretty positive that Republican crossover votes in Hillary's favor made up far more than the difference she beat Obama by. The Republican contest had been long over by the time of our state's primary, and I spoke to many hardcore Republicans who were voting for Hillary in "Operation Chaos." I thought it was stupid, and ended up helping Obama win Indiana in the general election. But it definitely happened.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_Democratic_primary,_2008

Ok, yes, if the main action of the other side's primaries is over, then yes it can happen. That part makes perfect sense. Republicans want a piece of the action, and specifically want to affect the other side, and the Democrat primaries tend to often be contested right up until the convention.

 

[Matt Collins]

SOURCE:
​

http://ronpaultrainer.blogspot.com/2011/04/introduction-to-campaigning-for-ron.html

Campaigning for Ron Paul 2012


So, do you want to be involved to some degree in the upcoming Ron Paul campaign?
If so, here are the basics that you need to learn and don't skip the 6 Essential Rules
of campaigning at the bottom of this note.



1. This campaign will not be won on facebook, gasp!
You will need to get involved with your local Republican party, another gasp!
After all, you will be campaigning first for the Republican nomination. Hence,
you will need to convince actual blue haired old ladies, who only watch Fox News,
that they should vote for the Champion of the Constitution. Yes, it can be done.



2. Find or start your local Meetup group for Ron Paul.
Go explore here: http://www.meetup.com/
(Careful, there might be several groups--some defunct.)



Events

I won't bore you too much in this note, but there are 3 major events you need to plan for.
They involve traveling to Iowa and maybe even New Hampshire. While you probably won't
be able to vote for Dr. Paul at these events. The friends you will meet and the lessons you
will learn about campaigning will change your life. If you plan now, you can ask off work
and adjust your schedule. Don't worry about food and lodging--there will be so many
projects for funding all of that.



Make plans now to attend the Iowa Straw Poll this coming August 13th.

August 13, 2011 - Ames, IA
Ames Straw Poll
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ames_Straw_Poll



Later your help will be put into practice during the Iowa Caucus in January? of 2012 or
in New Hampshire. If you are serious about this, just plan now to spend Christmas in
Iowa or New Hampshire.



Okay, here's the important part. The key to being a good campaigner for a political
candidate involves cultivating a basic understanding of marketing and sales. By the way,
it is possible to keep your moral integrity through this process--but it is a tricky, no doubt.
You should never lie and misrepresent the truth--but this doesn't mean you bury your head
in the sand and not learn how TO SELL.



Canvassing is the process by which you interact with an individual, qualify that they are
a likely voter and persuade them to support the candidate you are representing.
The overarching principle to learn is to never show your cards before they show
you their cards. You need to know how to best approach each individual you speak with.



Here are 6 rules to guide you when selling your candidate:

1. Don't make your issue their issue.
2. Don't get into debates.
3. Don't go down rabbit holes.
4. Don't be afraid to say, "I don't know."
5. Don't trash-talk other candidates.
6. When you make a sale, stop selling.

I could write a couple paragraphs on each of these points, but I'll leave it at this for now...
And, wow, number 4 is profound! I'm considering adding a final step of "asking for a
commitment." If you've sold someone on your idea or candidate, you need to involve them
in an action that they can take to fulfill their verbal commitment.
This list was inspired by a video about campaigning for Ron Paul found here:

http://youtu.be/Ib1EEFzRqW4

That's all for tonight.

Aaron
Contact him here: [email protected]

 

[progressiveforpaul]

All of this is good, sound, practical advise but it still does not change the reality that Ron Paul will not get the GOP nomination without a significant number of progressives voting for him in the primaries. Ron Paul's campaign will have to reach out to likely Republican voters and to progressives as well. Neglect either group and he loses.

SOURCE:
​

http://ronpaultrainer.blogspot.com/2011/04/introduction-to-campaigning-for-ron.html

Campaigning for Ron Paul 2012


So, do you want to be involved to some degree in the upcoming Ron Paul campaign?
If so, here are the basics that you need to learn and don't skip the 6 Essential Rules
of campaigning at the bottom of this note.



1. This campaign will not be won on facebook, gasp!
You will need to get involved with your local Republican party, another gasp!
After all, you will be campaigning first for the Republican nomination. Hence,
you will need to convince actual blue haired old ladies, who only watch Fox News,
that they should vote for the Champion of the Constitution. Yes, it can be done.



2. Find or start your local Meetup group for Ron Paul.
Go explore here: http://www.meetup.com/
(Careful, there might be several groups--some defunct.)



Events

I won't bore you too much in this note, but there are 3 major events you need to plan for.
They involve traveling to Iowa and maybe even New Hampshire. While you probably won't
be able to vote for Dr. Paul at these events. The friends you will meet and the lessons you
will learn about campaigning will change your life. If you plan now, you can ask off work
and adjust your schedule. Don't worry about food and lodging--there will be so many
projects for funding all of that.



Make plans now to attend the Iowa Straw Poll this coming August 13th.

August 13, 2011 - Ames, IA
Ames Straw Poll
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ames_Straw_Poll



Later your help will be put into practice during the Iowa Caucus in January? of 2012 or
in New Hampshire. If you are serious about this, just plan now to spend Christmas in
Iowa or New Hampshire.



Okay, here's the important part. The key to being a good campaigner for a political
candidate involves cultivating a basic understanding of marketing and sales. By the way,
it is possible to keep your moral integrity through this process--but it is a tricky, no doubt.
You should never lie and misrepresent the truth--but this doesn't mean you bury your head
in the sand and not learn how TO SELL.



Canvassing is the process by which you interact with an individual, qualify that they are
a likely voter and persuade them to support the candidate you are representing.
The overarching principle to learn is to never show your cards before they show
you their cards. You need to know how to best approach each individual you speak with.



Here are 6 rules to guide you when selling your candidate:

1. Don't make your issue their issue.
2. Don't get into debates.
3. Don't go down rabbit holes.
4. Don't be afraid to say, "I don't know."
5. Don't trash-talk other candidates.
6. When you make a sale, stop selling.

I could write a couple paragraphs on each of these points, but I'll leave it at this for now...
And, wow, number 4 is profound! I'm considering adding a final step of "asking for a
commitment." If you've sold someone on your idea or candidate, you need to involve them
in an action that they can take to fulfill their verbal commitment.
This list was inspired by a video about campaigning for Ron Paul found here:

http://youtu.be/Ib1EEFzRqW4

That's all for tonight.

Aaron
Contact him here: [email protected]

 

[Matt Collins]

All of this is good, sound, practical advise but it still does not change the reality that Ron Paul will not get the GOP nomination without a significant number of progressives voting for him in the primaries. Ron Paul's campaign will have to reach out to likely Republican voters and to progressives as well.

You are not grasping the concept here. Campaigning IS winning over the likely Republican voters so that they do vote for us.

 

[sailingaway]

You are not grasping the concept here. Campaigning IS winning over the likely Republican voters so that they do vote for us.

Matt, you are speaking to a progressive who has been won over in this thread. With me you are speaking to a long time GOP who used to never vote in primaries because I thought all politicians were basically junk, anyhow. "Likely primary voters" will be targetted, but Ron Paul is unusual in that he appeals to broader swaths of the electorate, so much so, that we NEED some to register GOP or he won't win the primary. Some in the 'likely primary voter' pool can be swayed our way, but a significant segment are set against him. Those set against him in the 'likely primary voter pool' are less likely to change their minds than those outside the GOP who like him are to change their registrations --- IF they think it will actually do some good.

 

[progressiveforpaul]

Well said and correct.

Matt, you are speaking to a progressive who has been won over in this thread. With me you are speaking to a long time GOP who used to never vote in primaries because I thought all politicians were basically junk, anyhow. "Likely primary voters" will be targetted, but Ron Paul is unusual in that he appeals to broader swaths of the electorate, so much so, that we NEED some to register GOP or he won't win the primary. Some in the 'likely primary voter' pool can be swayed our way, but a significant segment are set against him. Those set against him in the 'likely primary voter pool' are less likely to change their minds than those outside the GOP who like him are to change their registrations --- IF they think it will actually do some good.