This is just a little trick you’ll need to know that will help you as you are out on the road campaigning. Keep a binder with you at all times. That binder should contain all the planks in your platform, where you stand on important issues that concern your potential constituents, questions that are asked in forums, town hall meetings, and cottage meetings, the research you’ve done on those questions, and your supporting materials to give you all the ammunition you need to skewer your opponent and answer hardball questions from reporters, delegates, potential constituents, etc.
Organize your binder as follows:
Section 1 – Your Platform, where you stand on each issue, proposed solutions to those issues. Each issue should have its own divider within that section
Section 2 – The communities within your voting district. If you are running for city council or mayor, break it down precinct by precinct. If you are running for a state or federal office, then break it down city by city. Each city or precinct gets there own tab. What are the issues or concerns that that specific bloc of constituents cares about the most? Have that in there and cross referenced to the material in sections 1 & 2.
Section 3 – Your Opposition research. Where does your opponent stand on key issues? What areas do you differ? What is his/her voting record and how can you capitalize on it and how he/she has conducted themselves while in office. How have they responded to their constituents? Who have they taken money from. Who have they given earmarks to. And so on and so forth.
This binder can be a key element to your success if you have the discipline to maintain it and use it properly.
Comments
One other thing to note in the binder is the name and contact number of any individual that you feel you may need to contact again to consider them as an advisor or perhaps to serve on some committee should you be elected. You can never tell who you may meet along the way.
That’s a good idea Jim. I also had a candidate ask me, “I’m meeting so many people, how do I keep all their names straight?” I suggested that in the community section of the binder, he include names and pictures, especially of local dignitaries and influencers who could make a difference in his campaign in that area.