New Opportunity: Like Kerry Bentivolio's Page - Running for Michigan's 11th Congressional

Michigan11 said:
Any campaign strategists around here to give some input on what Kerry should be doing right now?
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I am not even close to being a strategist. My advice would be to concentrate on his national and in district name ID and fundraising while Thad is busy destroying himself. He doesn't need to talk about McCotter to do this. He needs to concentrate on the free new media markets too. I would also hope his campaign is talking to tea party and liberty politicians, groups, and PACs about endorsements. They might not too keen until his campaign shows more viability though. I would be talking to Amash about something as simple as a FB shout out asking for Justin's fans to "like" Kerry's page. That would alert at least the entire liberty network in Michigan, if not nationally to his campaign.
 
Adrock said:
I am not even close to being a strategist. My advice would be to concentrate on his national and in district name ID and fundraising while Thad is busy destroying himself. He doesn't need to talk about McCotter to do this. He needs to concentrate on the free new media markets too. I would also hope his campaign is talking to tea party and liberty politicians, groups, and PACs about endorsements. They might not too keen until his campaign shows more viability though. I would be talking to Amash about something as simple as a FB shout out asking for Justin's fans to "like" Kerry's page. That would alert at least the entire liberty network in Michigan, if not nationally to his campaign.
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When has an incumbent ever failed to get on their own ballot though? For a campaign strategist maybe this is politics 101, but Kerry will be the only one on the ballot, why bring too much attention to this, or why help alert the general public to this? Maybe there is strategy involved here. I don't know, but being the only one on the ballot, I would think he is getting the biggest ground game in the district right now, we all know RP supporters crush the establishment.

I think right now the most important thing we can do is to spread the word within our movement, and then moneybomb him and watch it take off.

Ballot vs. 2 write-ins, with a normal turnout of 40,000 voters, and each write in must get between 25,000 to 40,000 votes each to even qualify. Will the majority of primary voters actually write in a name and whose name vs. circling a dot on a ballot? I don't know.
 
Michigan11 said:
When has an incumbent ever failed to get on their own ballot though? For a campaign strategist maybe this is politics 101, but Kerry will be the only one on the ballot, why bring too much attention to this, or why help alert the general public to this? Maybe there is strategy involved here. I don't know, but being the only one on the ballot, I would think he is getting the biggest ground game in the district right now, we all know RP supporters crush the establishment.

I think right now the most important thing we can do is to spread the word within our movement, and then moneybomb him and watch it take off.

Ballot vs. 2 write-ins, with a normal turnout of 40,000 voters, and each write in must get between 25,000 to 40,000 votes each to even qualify. Will the majority of primary voters actually write in a name and whose name vs. circling a dot on a ballot? I don't know.
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He doesn't need to bring attention to the write in campaign in order to raise money and his name ID. I think you are right that he will get through the primary easier now that there is two write in candidates. Even McCotter alone is okay, I just read that the MI AG is launching a fraud investigation over the signatures. If he gets known with the Republicans in his district, the tea party groups, and the liberty group then the establishment will follow suit. They just want signs of a competent campaign so they can hold the seat. The name ID and funds will also let him define himself before his primary opponents or general election opponents do.
 
Adrock said:
He doesn't need to bring attention to the write in campaign in order to raise money and his name ID. I think you are right that he will get through the primary easier now that there is two write in candidates. Even McCotter alone is okay, I just read that the MI AG is launching a fraud investigation over the signatures. If he gets known with the Republicans in his district, the tea party groups, and the liberty group then the establishment will follow suit. They just want signs of a competent campaign so they can hold the seat. The name ID and funds will also let him define himself before his primary opponents or general election opponents do.
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Good points! I wonder if Thad will be caught up in the courts for this? Kerry show us what you got brother, and let us know what we can do.

I threw him $20 in this thread for now(I'm saving up some loot for a mini-moneybomb as well as the big one, while also giving to all the other candidates...liberty is expensive :http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?379120-Going-to-give-to-3-different-liberty-candidates.
 
trey4sports said:
we need a subforum!
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I second this. I didn't know who this guy was, until I saw that Michigan11 donated to him in another thread. Now, I'm pumped. We need to make sure that McCotter and the MI GOP don't try anything. Sounds like an amazing opportunity.

Can someone give me background on Bentivolio? Did he support Ron's campaign, does he have any political background to speak of?
 
Michigan11 said:
Good points! I wonder if Thad will be caught up in the courts for this? Kerry show us what you got brother, and let us know what we can do.

I threw him $20 in this thread for now(I'm saving up some loot for a mini-moneybomb as well as the big one, while also giving to all the other candidates...liberty is expensive :http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?379120-Going-to-give-to-3-different-liberty-candidates.
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You have good points too. This is the only concern I have. Other than that, he has a great platform and compelling story. It is not that I am down on him or the campaign. I just think this is an excellent opportunity, and I am getting stoked. I really want him to do well. If he gets known and funds right now, he will not get seriously challenged in the primary. If appears really strong in the general then his Democratic opponents will have a harder time raising money and support. I am planning to donate some seed money during the upcoming Amash money bomb and work to spread his name in the liberty community. If his campaign picks up the pace then he will get more support.
 
malkusm said:
I second this. I didn't know who this guy was, until I saw that Michigan11 donated to him in another thread. Now, I'm pumped. We need to make sure that McCotter and the MI GOP don't try anything. Sounds like an amazing opportunity.

Can someone give me background on Bentivolio? Did he support Ron's campaign, does he have any political background to speak of?
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There is a lot of good info in this thread. The interview linked on page six is informative. I didn't hear about support for Ron specifically, but someone said he is involved with C4L. Other than that we are all learning and trying to spread the word. I hope we can get him a subforum here, but things seem to be moving really slow lately. I think we are still waiting on a Kurt Bills sub forum too!
 
malkusm said:
I second this. I didn't know who this guy was, until I saw that Michigan11 donated to him in another thread. Now, I'm pumped. We need to make sure that McCotter and the MI GOP don't try anything. Sounds like an amazing opportunity.

Can someone give me background on Bentivolio? Did he support Ron's campaign, does he have any political background to speak of?
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He is involved with the grassroots, a part of C4L, check out his likes on Facebook Mises institute, Rand Paul, Amash, Peter Schiff, etc.. He ran in 2010 for a state senate seat, came in 2nd in the primary in a crowded field. He also was at the state convention to run as a delegate for RP. He's the real deal, he was most likely running an education awareness campaign, before this news of Thad not getting on the ballot. I am fired up for this race. Look more into this thread Malkum, alot of the info was posted as it was breaking. Now there are going to be two candidates running write-in campaigns. This is an unbelievable opportunity. Right in the heart of the Michigan GOP too. Wayne and Oakland County. Solid repub district too. The dem candidates have no chance, even they are admitting this.
 
This man has only 230 likes on his facebook page. We got Ben Swan 10,000 likes and the best we can do for someone actually running for congress with our message is 290??? Come on people!
 
Ron Paul Republican running in the 11th District

At the past few weeks have unfolded many surprising events have taken place. First we have all heard about Congressman McCotters scandal involving fraudulent signatures. The other surprise was Rocky Raczkowski apparent attempt to smear Kerry Bentivolio by questioning his military service. To me this non-issue was resolved some time ago when Kerry Benotovlio made his DD-214 (Discharge Papers) public. Rocky Raczkowski has never released his military records, ever.
One doesn’t have to look very far to see what Raczkowski’s motives are. He is currently campaign manager for Congressman Thaddeus McCotter (R) of Livonia. He joined team McCotter after losing his race in 2010 to Gary Peters. He also sued Congressman Gary Peters (D) of BloomfieldHills for defamation alleging harm after Peters ran adds about an ongoing lawsuit against Raczkowski in which he is being sued for fraud by a failed concert promoter.
So as team McCotter sinks to unpredicted new lows he smears a man who, served his nation without hesitation ever.., who continued to give to his community by teaching new generations, a man who has remained steadfast in his beliefs threw good times and bad. And now, right here in our very own district an outsider questions a man whose integrity is that of a Hero.
Rocky Roczkowski’s motive is clear, he failed McCotter so he just opens fire hoping to distract from his latest gaffe. When I was in the military you did not shoot your fellow soldiers in the back, nor did you openly criticize someone over their personal beliefs. Also, why has no one been fired or held accountable? Well we can only speculate as to why no swift action is being taken other than the age old Washington political genre (I am cooperating fully with this investigation).
Is it possible that more than a lone individual was involved, or if as some have suggested it truly was sabotage.

So lets give Justin Amash some company in Washington and help kerry.

Ted McAvoy
 
anewvoice said:
McCotter has officially ended his write-in campaign. We need to help Kerry leverage the desire of the GOP to retain the seat to get another Liberty in office!

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/...ign/-/1719386/14439596/-/lrbmhez/-/index.html
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GeorgiaAvenger said:
This is worth celebration!
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Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(what gift has the establishment bestowed upon this movement for liberty?)

Justin Amash and Kerry Bentivolio are going to be representing!!!!!!

We need a breaking news thread in the grassroots central maybe the front page of this forum ASAP!
 
trey4sports said:
lol, love what he said.... ....and to those of you who are happy, you're welcome.
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Good on him to bow out gracefully. That said, it's on! Official
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I went ahead and liked the facebook page. It'd be great if Mr. Bentivolio's campaign became active on there. If we can get him to 5,000 in the next two weeks that'd be very impressive.
 
First off, I want to thank Rep. McCotter for his years in the House of Representatives. While I haven't agreed with him on everything (actually I have disagreed with him on a lot of things), I never want anything bad to happen to any of our leaders, even if I oppose them. I wish him and his family all the best, and I wish Rep. McCotter a good private life. Best wishes to them.

Kerry Bentivolio really has a chance at this seat. It won't be easy though...rumors are that the NRCC may try to put another write-in candidate. Also, this district voted for President Obama 50%-48%. This isn't impossible though since Rep. Justin Amash holds a district that voted for President Obama 50-49%, but still won it.

Here are some things we can do to help Kerry win:
1) If you can, donate to him: http://bentivolioforcongress.com/index.php?option=com_artforms&formid=1&Itemid=99999
2) If you can't donate, nominate him at the Liberty for All Super PAC website: http://pacliberty.com/2012races/
An endorsement from them will supply him monetary funds to get his message out!
3) Ask Peter Schiff and his PAC to endorse Kerry: http://www.makeschiffhappen.com/candidates/state/MI
4) RESPECTFULLY (being disrespectful will get us nowhere) ask Rep. Amash to support Kerry Bentivolio: http://www.facebook.com/justinamash
5) RESPECTFULLY ask Rep. Paul to support Kerry Bentivolio: http://www.facebook.com/ronpaul
6) This may be the hardest, but if we can do it, this will make the race a lot easier for Kerry...ask the NRCC to allow Kerry to be the GOP nominee. Respectfully argue that he has won the right through his hard work and his careful following of the procedures to be the nominee: http://www.facebook.com/NRCC or email Chairman Sessions at: [email protected] .

There is a lot of things you can do for Kerry. #7 probably would be to post encouragement and support on his facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/KerryBentivolio?sk=wall
Running for office isn't easy, especially on a candidate's family. Posting support or just a kind word can give the candidate the energy he/she needs to run a good race. I encourage everyone to do at least one thing that I have listed and working together, we can get Kerry to Congress! KERRY BENTIVOLIO 2012!!!
 
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Michigan11 said:
This has got to be the most interesting race going on in politics in some time.

BREAKING: Another establishment will wage their own write-in campaign. Establishment vs. Establishment = Kerry victory. There won't be enough votes for either write in to win.

]
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That's the former state legislator from Caton I mentioned before.

He's been out of office for 10 years and he only represented about 5% of this district; however, he's stayed more or less active and the establishment may coalesce around him.
Michigan11 said:
Ballot vs. 2 write-ins, with a normal turnout of 40,000 voters, and each write in must get between 25,000 to 40,000 votes each to even qualify. Will the majority of primary voters actually write in a name and whose name vs. circling a dot on a ballot? I don't know.
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Michigan11 said:
I don't see why Kerry should speak up right now, too much, he should hang low, for a bit, get his campaign together under the radar, gathering the ground forces, strategy and then wait to pounce. Like I said, I would like to hear from others here that are much better with strategy on this
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The primary is in 2 months.

I wasn't saying he should be running tv adds or canvasses or hosting major fundraisers already. Nevertheless, there's plenty he could and should be doing. He could have spent these past days to get his name on the local press by providing statements about McCotter's debacle, fundraising off it on social media and conservative blogosphere, reaching out to organizations like the national Tea Party chapters and to like-minded elected officials and organizing the campaign: getting his team together, scheduling Q&As and fundraisers, designing the flyers, building a social media network, ordering campaign material and all that jazz. I was and am a bit puzzled by the apparent inactivity - appearances can be deceiving though and maybe they're keeping things under wraps as you suggest.

That said, without an experienced, well-known and powerful incumbent like McCotter, things get much easier for Mr. Bentivolio. Still, he won't win by merely being the one guy in the ballot, assuming the write-in dude campaigns hard. Not to mention that a bigger name may still get in: a guy like Rocky Raczkowski, for example. So far Bentivolio's candidacy has been a non-entity and he needs to change that. Luckily for him, things are less pressing now.

Anyway I mostly wanted to see McCotter gone after his uber-embarrassing screw up. This race isn't that important to me anymore; I'll donate to Bentivolio if he makes it to the GE. Good luck to you guys.
 
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