What we learned from our PA delegate race that will help the next states

groverblue

groverblue

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Poll workers, Poll workers, Poll workers.

Forget Canvasing. Forget robo-calls. Forget mailing. They don't work in delegate races, because delegate races are not public offices.

My name is John Manko, and I was a delegate candidate for CD17 in PA.

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We spent countless man hours canvassing 4 counties in a 6 county district. We delegate had a team of people, and we completely covered our home counties (Luzerne and Lackawanna, with the exception of two boroughs - for reason), delivering cards to every single registered republican who voted in any election in the last 4 years. Over 40,000 pieces of literature hand delivered.

Since we canvased Luzerne and Lackawanna, we decided to focus our polling efforts on counties and precincts that we couldn't canvas. So, Luzerne and Lackawanna did not have any poll workers. Here are the results from those counties (RP delegates in bold - keep in mind that these are our home counties):

Lackawanna County
Republican Primary
Candidate Votes Percent
ANTONELLO, ANTHONY M. 926 9.0%
MANKO, JOHN 621 6.0%
DAUB, DANIEL L. 298 2.9%
MCANDREW SPANO, MARY ROSE 1,372 13.4%
KERR, ROBERT 594 5.8%
MILLER, TRENT 607 5.9%
STERNS, GRETCHEN D. 419 4.1%
GAETANO, ROSE ANN 1,087 10.6%
SPANO, CHARLIE 1,596 15.5%
MONTERO, MARIA 590 5.7%
THOMAS, SCOTT R. 664 6.5%
DOUGHERTY, MARY BETH 930 9.1%
ROCES, ELTGAD S. 112 1.1%
MEZZACAPPA, TRICIA J. 458 4.5%


Luzerne County
Candidate Votes Percent
ANTONELLO, ANTHONY M. 828 11.7%
MANKO, JOHN 452 6.4%
DAUB, DANIEL L. 228 3.2%
MCANDREW SPANO, MARY ROSE 712 10.1%
KERR, ROBERT 509 7.2%
MILLER, TRENT 538 7.6%
STERNS, GRETCHEN D. 393 5.6%
GAETANO, ROSE ANN 679 9.6%
SPANO, CHARLIE 516 7.3%
MONTERO, MARIA 429 6.1%
THOMAS, SCOTT R. 534 7.6%
DOUGHERTY, MARY BETH 856 12.1%
ROCES, ELTGAD S. 115 1.6%
MEZZACAPPA, TRICIA J. 286 4.0%


As you can see, we didn't do well, even though we indicated that we were from those counties.

Now, here are the results from a county we had poll workers:

Monroe County
Candidate Votes Percent
ANTONELLO, ANTHONY M. 1,097 12.9%
MANKO, JOHN 869 10.2%
DAUB, DANIEL L. 511 6.0%
MCANDREW SPANO, MARY ROSE 618 7.3%
KERR, ROBERT 716 8.4%
MILLER, TRENT 928 10.9%
STERNS, GRETCHEN D. 439 5.2%
GAETANO, ROSE ANN 553 6.5%
SPANO, CHARLIE 461 5.4%
MONTERO, MARIA 413 4.9%
THOMAS, SCOTT R. 631 7.4%
DOUGHERTY, MARY BETH 861 10.1%
ROCES, ELTGAD S. 114 1.3%
MEZZACAPPA, TRICIA J. 309 3.6%


In fact, if we look at a few precinct where we actually had poll
workers, here is the breakdown from Monroe County:


Precinct (ANTONELLO) (MANKO) (MILLER) (Next Competitor)
Polk 116 102 152 65
Tobyhanna E 107 83 95 60
Tobyhanna W 48 36 34 34
Ross 92 58 62 54
M Smithfield E 86 83 65 46
M Smithfield W 60 56 52 49
Eldred 33 29 33 30
Chestnuthill 2 54 49 55 37
Chestnuthill 3 32 21 25 31


and so on....


So, we've learned that the only effective way to win a delegate race is to put people at polls, and make sure that the literature the issues, and nothing more.

For the remaining states, all RP supporters need to reach out to them and help out. Volunteer to work their polls. If they want the Photoshop template shown above, have them contact me. It was HIGHLY effective, and a lot of positive feedback. The reverse is nice, too.

I'm beat, so that's all I'm going to type right now. If you want more Ron Paul delegates, you need to learn from our experience. We were able to elect one of our three delegates due to working the polls. Had we spent the time to find volunteers to work the other polls instead of canvasing, we all would have won. There is a secondary win, here, though. Our efforts were so successful that we stop delegates candidates who have been elected delegates for the past 4 presidential elections. That's power.

Learn from us. Find 100 poll workers for your district. Find them from other states. Volunteer to help other states.

The revolution continues.
 
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kathy88 said:
Very few states choose delegates the way we do.
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This is a lesson for all elections. We had the same results here in Virginia. Where we had poll workers we did much better(And it helped us ID people who wanted to be delegates to our conventions)
 
John,

I only had the chance to volunteer to collect signatures and not again until I worked the poll. And while I haven't seen any numbers, I really believe you are correct - the most important thing is working the polls. For anything other than the beauty pageant and maybe the senator seat, it seemed that almost no one came with a specific candidate in mind. For the delegate race, they were mostly happy someone was there to tell them what to do.

Unfortunately, there were also establishment people there, with their anti-RP delegate lit. I got to every person as they got out of their cars and helped them find the door(they had moved the polling place.) The establishment people were much more passive and waited inside the door (literally next to the voting booths). While I didn't have the personal relationships that the establishment people did with the voters at the precinct, I was able to build their trust by helping them and I am sure we got more than a handful to vote for our delegates by actively pursuing them.

Even more important than poll workers though is ballot placement. Looking statewide, in nearly all of the races, the first 3 (4) delegates on the ballot won. How is ballot placement determined?

BTW, I am glad to see my home district elected at least 1 RP delegate. I would be a CD17'er.
 
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Lindsey said:
Even more important than poll workers though is ballot placement. Looking statewide, in nearly all of the races, the first 3 (4) delegates on the ballot won. How is ballot placement determined?
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You hit the nail on the head for the MOST effective activity in PA.

The way you give yourself a HUGE advantage is get a coalition of dozens of volunteers together -- and all compete to be on the ballot -- pledging to support whoever draws the top spots.

PA has a lottery to determine the placement on the ballot.. So if RP people filed 100 candidates, and establishment filed 20.. We have a huge advantage for drawing the top 3 spots.
 
MadOdorMachine said:
What do mean by "working the polls?"
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It means going to a polling station and stay there from open to close (if possible). Handing out literature, pamphlets, delegate cards, etc. NOT STANDING THERE JUST HOLDING A SIGN!!!!!!!!!
 
RDM said:
It means going to a polling station and stay there from open to close (if possible). Handing out literature, pamphlets, delegate cards, etc. NOT STANDING THERE JUST HOLDING A SIGN!!!!!!!!!
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So you're saying go to the place people are voting and hand phamplets out there correct?
 
MadOdorMachine said:
So you're saying go to the place people are voting and hand phamplets out there correct?
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Yes. I don't know what state you're in, but there are a few things to consider. If it's a closed primary where you live, which means registered voters have to vote their party, then you identify voters as they approach and ask them are they voting Republican today. If yes, then you give them what literature you have. If it's open primary, then you give to ALL voters approaching polling station. Check with your district Ron Paul group and see if they have approved literature or pamphlets they plan on handing to voters. Depending on your area, they may be focusing on HOT issues like Gun Control or something else that relates to your area to persuade voters.
 
RDM said:
Yes. I don't know what state you're in, but there are a few things to consider. If it's a closed primary where you live, which means registered voters have to vote their party, then you identify voters as they approach and ask them are they voting Republican today. If yes, then you give them what literature you have. If it's open primary, then you give to ALL voters approaching polling station. Check with your district Ron Paul group and see if they have approved literature or pamphlets they plan on handing to voters. Depending on your area, they may be focusing on HOT issues like Gun Control or something else that relates to your area to persuade voters.
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I'm in Nebraska and my wife and I are going to be on the ballot to be delegates. It's a closed primary, so you have to be a registered Republican to vote. I'll make sure to make a broshure though.

groverblue, can you please PM me the file. I would like to use your templete if you don't mind.
 
RDM said:
It means going to a polling station and stay there from open to close (if possible). Handing out literature, pamphlets, delegate cards, etc. NOT STANDING THERE JUST HOLDING A SIGN!!!!!!!!!
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Don't forget the most important part:

BUILD YOUR LIST.

Keep in contact with those you meet. Next election you can call everyone you meet an ask them to pitch in.
 
tsai3904 said:
Illinois is the most similar.

Indiana and Nebraska elect delegates to attend conventions but some names won't show up on a ballot if the race is uncontested.
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West Virginia definitely allows their voters to directly choose their delegates, both district and at-large.
 
It's not just poll workers. You also really need to be someone in a lot of these places. Quite a few people who won delegate in PA were people that held offices.

Who knows where the Ron Paul Revolution goes past 2012, but I would say you need a combination of 3 things in PA.

1. Name recognition
2. Hold an office
3. Poll workers

none of these 3, you may as well stay home.
 
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