Running a Successful Field Campaign Determine Your Strategic Task Establish Your Vote Goal Build the Coalition Write a Plan Secure a Voter File Execute a Voter Contact Plan GOTV Get-Out-the-Vote

Determine Your Strategic Task

Developing a Vote Goal How many votes does it take to win? Expected Vote _____ X (.50) + 1 = __________ Minimum Votes Needed To Win Expected Vote _____ X (.52) = ___________ Comfortable Margin of Victory

Why form a Coalition? Forming coalitions with other groups of similar values, interests, and goals allow members to combine their resources and become more powerful than when they each acted alone.

Advantages and Disadvantages Advantages Credibility Relationships Maximize resources Broaden scope and appeal Reduce competition Legitimacy Disadvantages Lose a measure of control Time Consuming Accountability and Follow Thru Politics

The Foundation Identify Your Allies Diversity! Create an Executive Board Different Interests/Same Goal

Build The Coalition Evaluate all pros and cons Develop compelling reasons to join Community leaders and political figures should be approached (with caution) Do your homework

Coalition Structure Steering Committee Organizations Endorsements

Get the Most from Your Coalition (some things you can ask them) Mailings and Regular s to Members Fundraise Volunteer Endorsement Outreach Donate or contact PACs and Funders Campaign GOTV Phone IDs and Persuasion

Principles of a Successful Coalition Understand and respect self-interest Choose unifying issues and agree to disagree in advance Recognize that contributions vary Clarify roles and decision-making procedures Distribute recognition fairly Communication is key

Writing a Field Plan Keep it simple Be creative Be flexible Detail every activity Keep everyone on the same page through training and measurable results IF IT IS NOT WRITTEN DOWN, IT DOESN’T EXIST

Field Plan Every plan will include: –Targeting –Voter files and other data management systems –Volunteers –Voter Contact methods- phones canvassing, internet, events –Precinct organizing/House meeting model –Voter Registration –Early, absentee and same day voting –Base vote/Constituency organizing –Get Out The Vote (GOTV) –Timeline/calendar

Voter File List of Every Registered Voter –Name –Address –Phone Number –Date of Registration –Birth Date –Gender –Vote History –Other Unique Info

Voter File Enhancement Previous election history Changes in addresses New phone numbers Commercial data addresses Ethnicity Census block information

Micro-Targeting and Data Mining

Grasstop and Influential Organizing Identify “grasstop” leaders Organize “grasstop” leaders when looking for endorsements Target engaging community leaders or “influentials” “Influentials” create positive word-of- mouth persuasion

Direct Voter Contact ID and Educate Voters via: –Phones –Canvassing –Direct Mail –Internet –Constituency Organizing

GOTV ID GOTV Targets Encourage Early Voting and Vote by Mail Determine Tools and Tactics –Phone –Mail –Door to door Coordinate Materials Organize Volunteers Plan transportation and communications

“If we are together nothing is impossible. If we are divided all will fail.” - Winston Churchill

Laurie Moskowitz FieldWorks, LLC