Sheff is the Right Choice for Governor's Council 2012
I have a question for Patch-nation.
As I have blogged about before, I am running for Governor's Council in District 3. For a list of cities in District 3 please go to my website and check out if you live there. If you do, obviously I would appreciate your support.
There are approximately 800,000 voters in District 3 and I am guessing roughly 250,000 households. Out of the 800,000 voters, roughly 250,000 people voted in the general election in 2010. That year was a mid-term election and since there will be a presidential election in this years election, I am figuring that voter turnout will roughly increase by a at least 50 percent or another 125,000 votes (375,000 in all). I can't get to everyone, but I certainly want to meet/write to as many people as possible, on limited funds.
A mailer to every household (250,000) in the district seems to be out of my budget. I can meet people, but since I am an Independent I dont get invited to the Democratic events or to the Republican events (a real problem). Going door to door and meeting people at community events, I'll probably only meet 10,000 people maximum.
What do I do? Obviously this was on my mind when I first ran, but I'd love your input. How do people feel about emails sent or robo-calls (automated political calls) sent? Do the positives outweigh the negatives? Thank you.
Tom Sheff
6:28 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
After giving it some more thought, I have decided not to bulk email my district, even though it's the cheapest. I am still looking for ideas from everyone.
PREDATOR
6:38 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Tom....that's a tough question....emails are probably the least offensive yet are probably the easiest to simply discard....there is nothing worse than a robo-call or a phone call at all for that matter....no one wants to work all day then be assaulted by phone calls while trying to unwind...atleast I don't. I would suggest that some small town by town gatherings may work best.
Tom Sheff
7:31 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Hi Predator, I only have 4 1/2 months until the election...which gives me roughly 18 weekends. Even if I got 100 people per gathering, we're only talking about 1800 people (of course thats better than none). How about a robo-call or a message on your voice mail or answering machine? There's a way one can do that. No personal messages, but a voicemail/answering machine message.
PREDATOR
8:09 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Sorry Tom....just not a fan of calls. Now that you spell out the math the gatherings don't sound effective either. Perhaps, newspaper ads plus gatherings....nice 1/2 page ads with info and facts....not political talk...
Tom Sheff
8:41 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Hi Predator,
Thanks for the ideas. I'm not sure about a half page ad because that would probably cost close to $1,000 per ad (guessing on price depending on readership, etc.) and I have 35 cities/towns to advertise in. I can't imagine how much a half page in the Globe or Herald would cost. Unfortunately I dont have the money of a Kennedy:). I may have to target certain groups of voters. Tough. Any other thoughts?
Tom Sheff
8:41 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Predator, also, what do you consider political talk?
PREDATOR
8:59 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
General statements not based in fact. I'd prefer facts and exact examples of what yo would do were you to be elected. How you would respond or not respond, how you would act or not act.
Tom Sheff
9:45 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
The incumbent often answers questions with stories, does that appeal to you? Many times the stories have nothing to do with the question. If I were to run against the incumbent and she gave facts and I gave facts and they conflicted, how would you decide who to believe?
PREDATOR
9:50 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Have a moderator who actually does something....stops the garbage answers and calls out the lies.
Tom Sheff
9:56 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
In debates, you can't choose moderators. You're invited to an event and the people who put on the event chooses the moderator. But, maybe the challenger needs to call her on some of these things, even if it makes him/her look bad.
PREDATOR
10:26 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Of course call im/her on it....too much is a stake to worry about someone's feelings. Professional moderator? And while we are at at....a return to professional journalists. ( a reference to NBC's recent hack job on Romney which has gone nearly unreported)