Hello, I was on the phone banks for weeks at NH-HQ and canvassed, signed and poll checked, too. Having seen the campaign from the inside I wanted to offer my perspective on what went right, what went wrong, and what there is to do about it, including suggestions on how RP can win this election.
First of all, 8% wasn't that bad considering what RP was up against. McCain outstumped everyone and had name recognition from 2000. Romney had a name from across the border. Giuliani spent three times as much on TV advertisement in NH.
Phone banks were effective at getting out the vote. I estimate from my experience that a high percentage of the approx. 8,000 voters on the GOTV list actually cast their ballots for RP. Canvassing with some 400 dedicated people had a positive impact all over the state. Unfortunately, phone banking, canvassing, signing, and advertisement didn't produce enough votes for RP.
Another observation: TV and radio ads are bland and are in the mold of the competition. Yes, RP is a good doctor, father, Air Force surgeon, legislator, but these ads do not DIFFERENTIATE him from the others.
The Texas strategy of placing enough feel-good TV/radio ads and picking up votes from phone banking is a safe strategy for someone who is well known, as in the 14th Texas district. This strategy didn't work in NH because RP isn't well-known here. Why vote for a newcomer who, from TV ads, appears to be just like an established feel-good candidate?
The debates are positive because RP brings out a sharply contrasted message on several issues. Because he isn't threatening to the frontrunners, they choose to ignore and marginalize him and not to engage him on substantive issues. IF RP WERE MORE POPULAR, THEY WOULD HAVE TO ENGAGE HIM, AND THAT WOULD JUST DRAW THEM ON TO RP'S TURF, INTO A FIGHT THEY CAN ONLY LOSE.
What RP needs to do is STAND APART, TO SHARPLY CONTRAST HIS MESSAGE WITH THE COMPETITION, AS THE DEBATES AND PROTESTS DEMONSTRATE.
Here are my suggestions:
MAKE TV ADS THAT DIFFERENTIATE AND CONTRAST RP'S MESSAGE WITH HIS COMPETITION. MAKE THEM BOLD AND CONTROVERSIAL. RP'S MESSAGE HAS TREMENDOUS FIREPOWER BUT THIS IS NOT BEING HEARD BY THE MASSES.
IF RP IS ABLE TO ACHIEVE THIS, AND THIS STIRS UP CONTROVERSY AND ATTENTION, AS THE DEBATES AND PROTESTS DO, THEN INCREASED MEDIA COVERAGE WILL FOLLOW.
What follows is only an outline for a TV Commercial, and you must use your imagination:
Opening Scene:
Paul Revere at early dawn, in a tri-cornered hat, frantically riding a horse down a dirt road in a New England town complete with white steeple church. It is relatively dark:
Strong hoofbeats: bud-a-dum, bud-a-dum, bud-a-dum, bud-a-dum.
Paul Revere, shouting: "The Politicians are Coming! The Politicians are Coming!"
Old man, looking like Ebenezer Scrooge in a nightgown and long pointed cap, holding a candle, walks out the door, squinting through wire-frame glasses, mouth agape.
Paul Revere, shouting: "Big Government is HERE! We are SURROUNDED!"
More and more people stream out of their houses, looking interested, beginning to cheer...
Next scene shows the horizon, where the sun is poking up, rays streaming outward... Simultaneously, stirring music commences, lots of fifes and horns, faint drums...
Paul Revere, shouting: "Take Back LIBERTY! RON PAUL HAS ARRIVED!! "
By now, people have lined the street, shouting and cheering. Music hits a crescendo with a blare of trumpets and a rolling fife salute.
Scene segues into a large liberty bell (cracked of course), peeling away slowly:
Dong.........dong..........dong.........dong.
On the bottom, Paul Revere on horse in miniature rides from left to right, hoofbeat still audible yet lower volume. Horse and rider are still galloping while the image becomes stationary when it reaches the right margin, then "Ron Paul for President 2008" appears below the bell.
This commercial has many of the attributes RP needs to win. It presents several well-known yet subliminal messages and can be aired in a 30 second slot. It is powerful, bold, and energetic and it is NOTHING like what the other candidates can offer or hijack for their own purposes. It differentiates RP from the rest.
To wit, observe how powerful these messages are:
a) This is a second revolution.
b) Big government and the politicians are the problem.
c) People are waking up to a new dawn.
d) This message is popular and stirs patriotism when heard.
e) RP is the only hope for our future.
The tolling Liberty Bell beckons: "Are You Listening?" This is the way a commercial should work, on a subliminal, visceral level. It's not the conventional fluff ad with flags, balloons and babies; just like the campaign, it's about substance.
Here's another commercial that I believe will give RP an advantage. It is relatively easy to produce. Just have RP talk to the American people for a 30 second spot. He can be engaging and friendly, in contrast to the debates, which show him as aloof and scolding. He needs to charm people, and not to distance himself. Have him mention, for instance, what RP told me the night of the NH election:
"Other candidates talk about change, but what they are really talking about is a change in management style. I offer real change, eliminating the IRS, Federal Reserve, and the War."
Statements like this set him apart and show that he cares.
Another improvement I would suggest is to use a different slogan. "Hope for America" is accurate, but it is bland and lacks any characteristics that would distinguish RP from the competition. I suggest substituting "Take Back Liberty" or something similar, as it is difficult for others to misappropriate as they have several of RP's themes thus far in the campaign.
With peace and liberty,
Jim Azzola
(800)604-1256
First of all, 8% wasn't that bad considering what RP was up against. McCain outstumped everyone and had name recognition from 2000. Romney had a name from across the border. Giuliani spent three times as much on TV advertisement in NH.
Phone banks were effective at getting out the vote. I estimate from my experience that a high percentage of the approx. 8,000 voters on the GOTV list actually cast their ballots for RP. Canvassing with some 400 dedicated people had a positive impact all over the state. Unfortunately, phone banking, canvassing, signing, and advertisement didn't produce enough votes for RP.
Another observation: TV and radio ads are bland and are in the mold of the competition. Yes, RP is a good doctor, father, Air Force surgeon, legislator, but these ads do not DIFFERENTIATE him from the others.
The Texas strategy of placing enough feel-good TV/radio ads and picking up votes from phone banking is a safe strategy for someone who is well known, as in the 14th Texas district. This strategy didn't work in NH because RP isn't well-known here. Why vote for a newcomer who, from TV ads, appears to be just like an established feel-good candidate?
The debates are positive because RP brings out a sharply contrasted message on several issues. Because he isn't threatening to the frontrunners, they choose to ignore and marginalize him and not to engage him on substantive issues. IF RP WERE MORE POPULAR, THEY WOULD HAVE TO ENGAGE HIM, AND THAT WOULD JUST DRAW THEM ON TO RP'S TURF, INTO A FIGHT THEY CAN ONLY LOSE.
What RP needs to do is STAND APART, TO SHARPLY CONTRAST HIS MESSAGE WITH THE COMPETITION, AS THE DEBATES AND PROTESTS DEMONSTRATE.
Here are my suggestions:
MAKE TV ADS THAT DIFFERENTIATE AND CONTRAST RP'S MESSAGE WITH HIS COMPETITION. MAKE THEM BOLD AND CONTROVERSIAL. RP'S MESSAGE HAS TREMENDOUS FIREPOWER BUT THIS IS NOT BEING HEARD BY THE MASSES.
IF RP IS ABLE TO ACHIEVE THIS, AND THIS STIRS UP CONTROVERSY AND ATTENTION, AS THE DEBATES AND PROTESTS DO, THEN INCREASED MEDIA COVERAGE WILL FOLLOW.
What follows is only an outline for a TV Commercial, and you must use your imagination:
Opening Scene:
Paul Revere at early dawn, in a tri-cornered hat, frantically riding a horse down a dirt road in a New England town complete with white steeple church. It is relatively dark:
Strong hoofbeats: bud-a-dum, bud-a-dum, bud-a-dum, bud-a-dum.
Paul Revere, shouting: "The Politicians are Coming! The Politicians are Coming!"
Old man, looking like Ebenezer Scrooge in a nightgown and long pointed cap, holding a candle, walks out the door, squinting through wire-frame glasses, mouth agape.
Paul Revere, shouting: "Big Government is HERE! We are SURROUNDED!"
More and more people stream out of their houses, looking interested, beginning to cheer...
Next scene shows the horizon, where the sun is poking up, rays streaming outward... Simultaneously, stirring music commences, lots of fifes and horns, faint drums...
Paul Revere, shouting: "Take Back LIBERTY! RON PAUL HAS ARRIVED!! "
By now, people have lined the street, shouting and cheering. Music hits a crescendo with a blare of trumpets and a rolling fife salute.
Scene segues into a large liberty bell (cracked of course), peeling away slowly:
Dong.........dong..........dong.........dong.
On the bottom, Paul Revere on horse in miniature rides from left to right, hoofbeat still audible yet lower volume. Horse and rider are still galloping while the image becomes stationary when it reaches the right margin, then "Ron Paul for President 2008" appears below the bell.
This commercial has many of the attributes RP needs to win. It presents several well-known yet subliminal messages and can be aired in a 30 second slot. It is powerful, bold, and energetic and it is NOTHING like what the other candidates can offer or hijack for their own purposes. It differentiates RP from the rest.
To wit, observe how powerful these messages are:
a) This is a second revolution.
b) Big government and the politicians are the problem.
c) People are waking up to a new dawn.
d) This message is popular and stirs patriotism when heard.
e) RP is the only hope for our future.
The tolling Liberty Bell beckons: "Are You Listening?" This is the way a commercial should work, on a subliminal, visceral level. It's not the conventional fluff ad with flags, balloons and babies; just like the campaign, it's about substance.
Here's another commercial that I believe will give RP an advantage. It is relatively easy to produce. Just have RP talk to the American people for a 30 second spot. He can be engaging and friendly, in contrast to the debates, which show him as aloof and scolding. He needs to charm people, and not to distance himself. Have him mention, for instance, what RP told me the night of the NH election:
"Other candidates talk about change, but what they are really talking about is a change in management style. I offer real change, eliminating the IRS, Federal Reserve, and the War."
Statements like this set him apart and show that he cares.
Another improvement I would suggest is to use a different slogan. "Hope for America" is accurate, but it is bland and lacks any characteristics that would distinguish RP from the competition. I suggest substituting "Take Back Liberty" or something similar, as it is difficult for others to misappropriate as they have several of RP's themes thus far in the campaign.
With peace and liberty,
Jim Azzola
(800)604-1256
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