California Billboards

[Paulistinian]

Please direct any California Paul supporters to this thread... I want to know what the overall consensus is, whether or not this is a good idea...

So I was talking with a friend today and we had a solid idea... RevolutionPAC ran some very nice billboards in Iowa, and I am sure they were super effective. We need to run them in California. So here's the general idea...

So, in doing some research, I'm finding that billboard prices range from 1500 to 3500 or even up to 10,000/month. So let's assume we work off of 1500/month budget billboards.
We choose them by region where Ron's message will resonate the strongest..
So, maybe San Diego, Orange County, Riverside, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Santa Rosa/Sonoma Counties, Mendocino, Humboldt (by the university).
Now that we have our target regions, the idea is to 'break the mold' of political billboards. In the same way that "Google Ron Paul" broke the mold. Using 2 artist friends of mine (I run a skateboard company that is centered around the arts and have run multiple galleries across the state), we run a series of ads, each one with a different message, but as with any ad campaign there has to be consistent theme...

So here's an example... In San Francisco, we run a billboard with Ron's face, perhaps done in American Realism Propaganda style along with a quote of Ron's on gay marriage.. I am paraphrasing but I know he has said essentially "Everyone has the right to be married, take the government out of it, I don't care if gays get married and they can call it whatever they want!"
In downtown LA or Humboldt, perhaps the ad would have a Ron Paul quote on Marijuana and the drug war... in the orange county billboard, the quote would be specific to the housing crisis, etc etc.

Each ad would be all graphic art, think Sheperd Farey's "Change" poster, but on a grass roots billboard sized scale.

What are your thoughts?

 

[danda]

I think the Peninsula would be a good spot. A lot of people travel the 101 each day north and south. Let's get the silicon valley crowd behind us.

 

[Libertydad88]

I like your idea overall, however I would be concerned of some of the billboards being taken out of context on national news. "Up next, is Ron Paul pandering to homosexual voters?"

I would love to see some concepts.

 

[kah13176]

Include anti-war.

 

[Paulistinian]

Ok, we're on to something... let's compile a list of Ron's messages that would best appeal to California voters:

Legalize marijuana(SF, LA, NorCal)
Stop the drug war(SF, LA, NorCal)
No Federal involvement in gay marriage(LA, SF)
He will end the wars.(LA, SF)
Kill the TSA (put this one by SFO? or LAX?)
Predicted housing crisis(IE, OC)
Legalize the sale of raw foods (Venice, Sonoma)

...

I will do some research on prices. Keep suggesting areas so we can try to pin down billboard prices. I will research and maybe some of you can research pricing as well. Once we figure out an estimate of how much we need to raise, we can really start to move forward. Maybe a chipin or a paypal account. Do any of you know people who own tall buildings? Property by freeways? Things of this nature... Let's say you own a piece of land off the 5 in the Central Valley. We can erect massive billboards there, because it is private property. If you own a warehouse in downtown LA, we can hang a giant sign on the side of it... These are ways to lower costs and maximize exposure.

...

Research exact quotes from Ron Paul pertaining to the issues that best suit California. They need to be powerful and concise.

Let's get to work! The deck is stacked against us and if we want Ron Paul to win the nomination, it is going to require each and every one of us working hard to make it happen.

Also, feel free to email me any time. My email is [email protected]

 

[eleganz]

This is a great idea, I'd like to add that along with themed billboards and ads to include a website that includes the entire series of california ads, this brings the whole picture together and also lets the people see RP on other issues.

BTW, I'm LA suburb RP supporter and willing to join up any LA/OC meetups. I'm going to hang around California forums more often but I'm usually in the Grassroots Central.

 

[kah13176]

For predicted the housing crisis, I hope those are the areas with the highest foreclosure rates.

We might want to fund newspaper ads with Ron Paul's quote in those areas

"The special privileges granted to Fannie and Freddie have distorted the housing market by allowing them to attract capital they could not attract under pure market conditions.

Like all artificially-created bubbles, the boom in housing prices cannot last forever. When housing prices fall, homeowners will experience difficulty as their equity is wiped out. Furthermore, the holders of the mortgage debt will also have a loss. These losses will be greater than they would have otherwise been had government policy not actively encouraged over-investment in housing."


-Ron Paul, September 2003

 

[eleganz]

How come nobody has ever tried to reach the Hollywood celebrities? if they only knew about Ron Paul, they'd back him instead of the 'popular/no substance' Obama. Celebrities have the ultimate power...

 

[MJU1983]

A lot of CA is pretty conservative too, don't forget that.

 

[eleganz]

A lot of CA is pretty conservative too, don't forget that.

In California, it is cool to be liberal even if they don't know what it means or have any clue about politics.

 

[Paulistinian]

For predicted the housing crisis, I hope those are the areas with the highest foreclosure rates.

We might want to fund newspaper ads with Ron Paul's quote in those areas

I thought the same thing... run that in the OC Register or other areas where the housing bubble hit hard!

Eleganz:
I know people on DailyPaul are always reaching out to Tom Petty and Willie Nelson, but I recently learned through a friend that Tim Armstrong (from punk band Rancid) is a big Paul supporter, but too busy to be active at all. Drew Carey is an out and about Libertarian, he is a good one to reach out to. You are also spot on with your assessment that its cool to be Liberal in California... I was out with a friend tonight for his birthday and this girl he started dating asked me Who is Ron Paul? As she had heard me talking about him to other friends.. I told her he was a Texas Congressman running for President and he was going to end the wars (try to keep it simple). She said "Wait, is he a Republican? Nevermind. I don't trust Republicans. Maybe I'll google him". Perfect example of a Californian being liberal for no reason what so ever.

 

[MJU1983]

In California, it is cool to be liberal even if they don't know what it means or have any clue about politics.

LOL maybe in the big cities, you're right. BUT large parts are conservative so you definitely want to tailor the messages accordingly.

Recent trends:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election_in_California,_2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_gubernatorial_election,_2010
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections,_2010

 

[ForLibertyFight]

Not to be a downer or anything but I think we should funnel all the money and resources into the early primary states like: IA or NH.

 

[Paulistinian]

Not to be a downer or anything but I think we should funnel all the money and resources into the early primary states like: IA or NH.

That's what the campaign and RevolutionPAC is for... we are the grassroots support, it is our duty to do what the campaign isn't. Ron doesn't waste his time in California because this is Romney territory, but I believe through clever grassroots marketing we can help build Ron's support base here. Say we need 25,000 to run 3 billboards for 4 months.. That is only $250 from 100 of us... This is totally doable with small donations.

 

[eleganz]

Of course there is a decent split but let's look at how brown won the governorship, democrats always been winning the big seats.

I think before any funds are raised, the designs will need to be shown, and possibly the funds will need to be raised by local meetup groups first, then the California forums second (since we're keeping it local and grassroots).

LOL maybe in the big cities, you're right. BUT large parts are conservative so you definitely want to tailor the messages accordingly.

Recent trends:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election_in_California,_2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_gubernatorial_election,_2010
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections,_2010

 

[Calstorm]

Northern Ca (north of Sac) is pretty conservative.

 

[Paulistinian]

Of course there is a decent split but let's look at how brown won the governorship, democrats always been winning the big seats.

I think before any funds are raised, the designs will need to be shown, and possibly the funds will need to be raised by local meetup groups first, then the California forums second (since we're keeping it local and grassroots).

Well, before I can get my business partner to do some concept art, I need to know the messages you guys want to send... So what are our top 4?

 

[Wiseburn]

Two suggestions I would like to make on Billboards.

1. We need to time them so they stay up thru the primary in June.

2. We should focus on the [congressional] districts with the lowest Republican Registration. We need fewer votes for Ron in these districts to get delegates to the National Convention.

In the Bay Area, could look at ads on Bart or near Bart stations. Or even homemade signs overlooking the tracks.

 

[Paulistinian]

Two suggestions I would like to make on Billboards.

1. We need to time them so they stay up thru the primary in June.

2. We should focus on the [congressional] districts with the lowest Republican Registration. We need fewer votes for Ron in these districts to get delegates to the National Convention.

In the Bay Area, could look at ads on Bart or near Bart stations. Or even homemade signs overlooking the tracks.

Great plan! I've been having some difficulty finding billboard listings online... If anyone can assist with this research it will be very helpful.

 

[Libertydad88]

Not to be a downer or anything but I think we should funnel all the money and resources into the early primary states like: IA or NH.

1: It raises morale for those of us that live in California
2: It attracts more (potential)donors
3: We, as a community, will always put the campaign's needs first but there's nothing wrong with side projects.

=======================

To OP:

I live in the IE, and the drug war along with the foreclosures are huge issues here. I can see a clever billboard on the 91 eastbound somewhere between the 15 and the 60/215 having a HUGE impact. I will see what I can dig up regarding quotes.