Rand Paul Money Bomb Promotion Planning

[Uriah]

Some dates to think about as we plan:

April 13: Thomas Jefferson's birthday
April 15: Tax Day
May 25: Memorial day
June 1: statehood day(Kentucky)
June 6: D day
July 4: Independence day
August 6: Voting Rights Act turns 50
November 30: Cyber Monday

We should shy away from the term "money bomb". It's a fundraiser.

 

[Warlord]

I like tax day to kick things off

 

[Bastiat's The Law]

Shouldn't we be focused on winning CPAC before anything?

 

[Warlord]

Shouldn't we be focused on winning CPAC before anything?

Yes... but a tax day moneybomb seems appealing.

 

[eleganz]

Nevermind...I said first day announcement money bomb would be good but thinking about it again, we wouldn't want to draw money away from Rand's main coffers, maybe a week or two down the line would be great to keep him in the news cycle as the most serious contender (aside from Jeb..sigh...)

Anyway, if anybody is going to take this on, I can refer a fellow support to make videos, he's done this and I'm sure he would have an open mind and most likely would do it.

 

[Sentinelrv]

Something to consider, I seem to remember the campaign saying that the money raised on December 16th came too late for them to really make effective use of the funds, so I think it's going to be important to put more emphasis on the money bomb prior to Tea Party 15. I remember 11/11/11 being a disappointment and it's probably the one that we should have been focusing on so the campaign would have had the money accounted for and a plan to use it in Iowa and NH. November 5th seems like the more inspiring date, (Given its past history) but I'll leave that to you guys to decide.

 

[Uriah]

They say every dollar donated Early is worth five times every dollar donated late.

 

[Okaloosa]

What about a grassroots website with pledges of donations for after Rand announces that include checks as well as online donations.

 

[Bastiat's The Law]

Something to consider, I seem to remember the campaign saying that the money raised on December 16th came too late for them to really make effective use of the funds, so I think it's going to be important to put more emphasis on the money bomb prior to Tea Party 15. I remember 11/11/11 being a disappointment and it's probably the one that we should have been focusing on so the campaign would have had the money accounted for and a plan to use it in Iowa and NH. November 5th seems like the more inspiring date, (Given its past history) but I'll leave that to you guys to decide.

Good point. Winning Iowa and NH is vitally important to a candidate like Rand, who needs to establish credibility as a serious contender; do that and big money donors will take notice. Does anyone see a scenario where Rand wins the nomination without winning one or both of these states? I don't.

 

[orenbus]

Good point. Winning Iowa and NH is vitally important to a candidate like Rand, who needs to establish credibility as a serious contender; do that and big money donors will take notice. Does anyone see a scenario where Rand wins the nomination without winning one or both of these states? I don't.

No and in fact remembering the amount of effort that was focused on Iowa in 2011 by the campaign/supporters gave some a good indicator of the chances and after the results came in it was apparent to some (even perhaps those in the official campaign) that the chances to win the nomination dropped considerably, while a victory in that state could have solidified the argument of legitimacy in his favor, and set the tempo for the rest of the campaign.

Even in 2007 while the grassroots including myself were running around not really knowing what we were doing, but full of energy, in NH I noticed that something was wrong prior to the primary while going door to door canvasing in that state weeks leading up to it. Although many people in the community including the official campaign were saying we were fine, I had a sense that we weren't.

Enough can't be said about the importance of securing victory in the first two states and what that means for the entire election, it's sad to say but unfortunately the entire process almost hinges on these especially for candidates that aren't considered establishment favorites.

"New Hampshire is the key to winning" ~ Rand Paul 2007

 

[Bryan]

I didn't have time to post in full this morning, so wanted to add a lot more as I have given these issues a lot of thought.

There are many factors that will maximize the returns on grassroots fundraising efforts, each of which need to be taken into considerations, these include:

* Quarterly filing periods
* Amount of time given to promote an event, which will differ at the start of the campaign vs. the end.
* The timing of when people tend to get engaged in the race
* When the campaign can best use the money
* The theme of the event, and how it can broaden the appeal to donate
* Timing around major holidays
* Consideration and timing around other major events, including:
-- debates
-- major straw polls
-- primaries
-- major political events (such as CPAC)

We are well beyond hap-hazard planning and are converging on the science complete with a history of past results to support strong positions.


Fundraising principles:
* No moneybomb should be promoted at the end of a quarter since that could be viewed as having people hold back donations across a quarter.
* After the last moneybomb of a quarter, we go right to an "end of quarter push", but no sooner than 3 weeks for a push.
* Moneybombs should be at least 3 weeks apart late in the campaign, as things get started, 6-8 weeks can be better.
* Moneybombs timed a day or two after a major media event can get added returns as more people will be looking into Rand Paul. A theme can play in well into this.


Grassroots fundraising schedule - DRAFT:
(note most dates could be adjusted up or back a few days)

MB#1: 4/15 - A perfect start on Tax Day.
MB#2: (theme TBD) Between 6/3 - 6/11 - would allow 7-8 weeks for promotions.
End of Quarter Push: 6/12 - 6/30.

8/8 Iowa Straw Poll
MB#3: (theme TBD) Between 8/10 - 14. Could play off the straw poll. 5+ weeks for promotions.
9/16: Reagan Library Debate
MB#4: 9/18-9/20 - a weekend long moneybomb. 5 1/2 weeks for promotions. Could be themed toward Reagan.
End of Quarter Push: 9/21 - 9/30

MB #5: 10/21. (theme TBD) 3 weeks for promotions.
MB #6: 11/11 Veteran's Day. 3 weeks for promotions.
MB #7: 12/16 Tea Party. 5 weeks for promotions
End of Quarter Push: 12/17 - 12/31

Mini-moneybomb 1/7 Rand's birthday. Start promotions on 1/1.
1/18: Iowa Caucus
MB #8: 1/20 - (theme TBD) Play off the media of the caucus. 3 weeks for promotions.
MB #9: 2/11. (theme TBD) 3 weeks for promotions.
3/1: Super Tuesday
MB #10: 3/9. (theme TBD) 4 weeks for promotions.
End of Quarter Push: 3/10 - 3/31

I'll leave it at that, of course the tail end is dependent upon campaign strength.


Some other notes:

* While 7/4 is an ideal date in some ways, it's also 4 days into the start of a new quarter so it should not be used in 2015.
* As for the 12/16 being too late, at some point the bigger money happens because that's when people are engaged. The campaign is going to have to anticipate some. We know what works.


Other debates with dates not set yet:
August - Fox
October - CNBC
November - Fox Business
December - CNN
January - Fox
February - CBS
February - ABC



Other theme ideas:
- play off his REDEEM Act
- Audit the Fed
- Play off his Ophthalmologist background, and mix it with politics.
- Perhaps an anti-neocon theme would fit after a Fox debate.

 

[Uriah]

Wow, I remember that post Orenbus...I remember how crushed I felt after Iowa and then NH.

We each need to put as much in as early as possible. Time, talent, and treasure.

 

[Bastiat's The Law]

No and in fact remembering the amount of effort that was focused on Iowa in 2011 by the campaign/supporters gave some a good indicator of the chances and after the results came in it was apparent to some (even perhaps those in the official campaign) that the chances to win the nomination dropped considerably, while a victory in that state could have solidified the argument of legitimacy in his favor, and set the tempo for the rest of the campaign.

Even in 2007 while the grassroots including myself were running around not really knowing what we were doing, but full of energy, in NH I noticed that something was wrong prior to the primary while going door to door canvasing in that state weeks leading up to it. Although many people in the community including the official campaign were saying we were fine, I had a sense that we weren't.

Enough can't be said about the importance of securing victory in the first two states and what that means for the entire election, it's sad to say but unfortunately the entire process almost hinges on these especially for candidates that aren't considered establishment favorites.

"New Hampshire is the key to winning" ~ Rand Paul 2007

Fortunately there's a strong Paul presence in both states to built off. I think we can definitely finish in the top 3, but damn it I want to win!

 

[orenbus]

I don't like Maddow obviously, although some interesting points made at 6:58 here on current state of fundraising of big donors in the GOP I'm seeing echoed in other places. Specifically perhaps a reason why Romney decided to not get in the race is because he was beat to the punch on the fundraising sources he would have liked to have tapped for a potential run. I know the anticipation by some leading up was that Rand would be able to pull enough fundraising from traditional GOP resources and that the liberty grassroots (not necessarily rank and file Repubs.) wouldn't be required, I wonder if that still stands true.

If Jeb Bush can pull in 4M dollars an event fairly easily (at least that is the perception) what type of fundraising would be needed to match or at least stay competitive? Obviously monthly MB wouldn't be able to do it alone if the past is any indication, but perhaps the combined sources may be enough if traditional fundraising of larger donors can pan out?

 

[Natural Citizen]

I don't like Maddow obviously, although some interesting points made at 6:58 here on current state of fundraising of big donors in the GOP I'm seeing echoed in other places.

There is entirely too much special interest money in politics. Jiminy crickets. How the heck does Jeb bag that kind of cash? And every time I see him he's reading off a piece of paper. The people just don't have a voice any more. Unbelievable. If we get another Bush or Clinton, I'm moving back to the mountains and to hell with politics. Maybe I'll grow a freakin garden or something.

4 million for a dinner date. Phhht.

 

[CaptUSA]

If Jeb Bush can pull in 4M dollars an event fairly easily (at least that is the perception) what type of fundraising would be needed to match or at least stay competitive?

You can't go toe-to-toe with the red coats. You will always be outnumbered and outgunned. You have to attack their supply lines.

Bush is already trying to put out the air of inevitability to win the nomination. That draws donors. After all, they want to have influence on the side that wins. (and it doesn't matter about the general - they'll gain enough influence with the GOP if they have backed the eventual nominee.)

Right now, the war is on to establish the supply lines (big money donors) and Bush is easily winning. However, if he falters at any point, he runs the risk of those lines drying up very quickly. Thus, his relatively low visibility. You will see very few interviews and even fewer that are not choreographed.

The best way to defeat this kind of machine is to make the donors nervous. It becomes a trickle-down effect then. If they see the emperor with no clothes, they'll begin to panic. At that point, it is wise to have a strategy in place to capitalize upon it. It is unlikely that we will ever gain enough through moneybombs to defeat this army head on. Moneybombs are to display the base of grassroots support. They can draw in bigger donors to the PACs. More importantly, they can give pause to the opposition's donors.

 

[IndianaPolitico]

Bump! Let's get this party started again!

 

[Sentinelrv]

I see that you guys are starting to get serious about money bombs again, so I just wanted to bump this thread again in case you can use any ideas from it.