What were the biggest mistakes of the RP 08 campaign?

[Matt Collins]

So what were the biggest mistakes of the Ron Paul 2008 campaign?


I am asking this question in order to learn, not to bash on Ron, the campaign staff, or anything of that nature. As we move forward with the next election cycle I believe that our rising limited-government candidates and our country as a whole deserves the very best that we can give... our full effort. So in a constructively critical way (as opposed to a negative way) please list both major and minor mistakes by the RP08 campaign so that we can glean knowledge, wisdom, and insight on how to do things better next time.

"Those who do not learn their history are doomed to repeat it...."






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[TonySutton]

I honestly believe the only mistake he made was going into the fight with intent of pushing issues and not really believing he had a chance to win.

I think if he had started with the belief and desire to become president he would have made a bigger impact.

 

[klamath]

Letting the grassroots define a message that wasn't his.

 

[acptulsa]

I don't know how helpful this would actually be. In some instances we could stand not to repeat our mistakes. In other instances, I believe we've made enough of an impact that what was a mistake then won't be a mistake now. His campaign broke the ice in a lot of areas. That could mean much smoother sailing for some of our concepts from now on--and could mean that former bad moves are now good moves.

We have come that far. It wasn't that long ago that it wasn't common knowledge that the Fed isn't part of the government, was it?

 

[Elwar]

TV ads should have been the main expense of the campaign. With negative or no media, the only way the sheep could overcome the bias would be through TV ads.

 

[angelatc]

He did not advertise on TV.

 

[nullvalu]

He did not advertise on TV.

yeah he did, in some key primary states.. don't you remember "He's catchin' on, I'm telling ya!"?

 

[Meatwasp]

He didn't spend enough time in New Hampshire at first until it was too late.

 

[brandon]

The mistakes really come down to a state by state issue. Every state has a different system and encountered different problems.

In PA, I think it was a mistake for the campaign not to send us any money at all. We also should have campaigned for our delegates better, but many of us were just learning the system for our first time.

 

[angelatc]

yeah he did, in some key primary states.. don't you remember "He's catchin' on, I'm telling ya!"?

Those ads were not professionally created, and they did not represent his platform well.

I will revise my statement: He did not effectively advertise on television.

 

[DeadheadForPaul]

In this order:
1.) Dr. Paul not openly denouncing 9/11 conspiracy theories
2.) Not spending more time and money in both Iowa and New Hampshire
3.) Allowing Lew Rockwell to write racist/homophobic things under his name in the Ron Paul Report
4.) Not refusing to accept donations from the Stormfront owners and also not denouncing white supremacy

The media loves a story about extremism and we gave it to them on a platter

 

[acptulsa]

We also should have campaigned for our delegates better, but many of us were just learning the system for our first time.

Yeah, us too. Sorry to say it, but many of the biggest mistakes were made by us, not the official campaign. Not that we don't have reason to pat ourselves on the back. We do. But one of the things we've done right is we've learned a lot.

 

[james1844]

A mistake the campaign made was hiring people of variable quality. Some were really terrific, some not so good.

Also, from what I gather there was some problems with oversight, logistics and communication in some of the key races.

 

[AuH20]

Letting the media and the GOP freeze and frame his anti-war message. There were many distortions that arrived from his clumsy approach in some of the telelvised debates. Some of the people I still talk to do not realize he holds conservative positions. Of the entire GOP field, he was the most conservative of the candidates, but many people act surprised when I bring up the other key areas of his platform. Paul got tied up exclusively as the anti-war candidate, when he's so much more than that.

 

[Kraig]

Yeah, us too. Sorry to say it, but many of the biggest mistakes were made by us, not the official campaign. Not that we don't have reason to pat ourselves on the back. We do. But one of the things we've done right is we've learned a lot.

Noobs or not, I think are grassroots was overall far superior than any other candidate hands down. I think the main shortfalls were in the MSM area, such as weak TV ads that angel is talking about.

 

[angelatc]

The mistakes really come down to a state by state issue. Every state has a different system and encountered different problems.

In PA, I think it was a mistake for the campaign not to send us any money at all. We also should have campaigned for our delegates better, but many of us were just learning the system for our first time.

We has some problems too. Although it runs against my very essence to say this, I think they were too tight with the money, as evidenced by the staggering amount they had left over at the end of the campaign.

Getting signs because their printer of choice was backlogged....we were begging for them just to release the art work to a local supplier, but to no avail. We *never* had enough of the metal sign holders, and eventually a couple of the local guys just bought 100 cases out of their pocket.

We were lucky because the Michigan crew sent us their leftovers, or else we would have gone weeks with no slim-jims, or any material. Their logistics weren't handled very well.

 

[DeadheadForPaul]

Letting the media and the GOP freeze and frame his anti-war message. There were many distortions that arrived from his clumsy approach in some of the telelvised debates. Some of the people I still talk to do not realize he holds conservative positions. He was the most conservative of the candidates, but many people act surprised when I bring up the other key areas of his platform. Paul got tied up exclusively as the anti-war candidate, when he's so much more than that.

This really bothered me too

During a question on ANY issue, he would bring it back to the American Empire. You need to know your audience, and he seemed to either not care that he was turning them off or was oblivious to that fact

I think he would have converted far more conservatives to his side if the anti-war message was just a part of his larger small government ideology rather than its central point

 

[nullvalu]

Those ads were not professionally created, and they did not represent his platform well.

I will revise my statement: He did not effectively advertise on television.

Agreed!

 

[Falseflagop]

I love RP ideas However I question him being the Savior?

After donating alot of money, handing out RP flyers and such I had to step back and truly ask I simply question.

If RP really really cared he would have run as an indepenedent solely based on his followers and support he had. So he would have lost but at least he tried and tried hard.

If he really cared about the country he would have RUN!! Period end of story no excuses. Sure he can make up all the excuses in the world. But if the country was in the shape he says it was, he WAS THE CURE and he should have run!! (Please make no excuses for him)

Plus where is all those millions in his campaign fund he collected? What happens to this money. Yes and Obama's Billion and McCain's where is it?

I am glad many people woke up, and I thank RON for that. But dont preach Constitution, country and Patriotism and then walk away when the country needs you most. It needed you then not 4 years from now because imho it will not matter.

I am disgusted by the whole thing. sure the game is rigged and Obama was the appointed one but hey if he was Real he would have woken up way more people.

Something just does not add up. I guess my Dad is right in the end they are all the same.

 

[angelatc]

If RP really really cared he would have run as an indepenedent solely based on his followers and support he had. So he would have lost but at least he tried and tried hard.

If he really cared about the country he would have RUN!! Period end of story no excuses. Sure he can make up all the excuses in the world. But if the country was in the shape he says it was, he WAS THE CURE and he should have run!! (Please make no excuses for him)

I trust his judgment on the decision. And his message would have died if he wasn't still in Congress.