Vibrant campaign (Dean) vs. dead office space

[jburton]

If you've ever worked or volunteered for a campaign (for county delegate, state rep, whatever) you know what's going on here.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/09/politics/campaigns/09DEMS.html?pagewanted=all&position=


quote...

Increasingly, Dr. Dean's strength is evident not only in early polls, but on the ground in places like Iowa and New Hampshire. At 11:30 the other night at Dr. Dean's New Hampshire headquarters in Manchester, the lights were on and the office was buzzing with paid aides and volunteers. A block away, at Mr. Kerry's headquarters, the lights were dark.

...unquote

[dfong63]

1. very telling

[Cha]

2. I saw this on DU last night...about Mayor Rendell's

statement.."Gov. Edward G. Rendell of Pennsylvania, who has so far not endorsed a candidate in the race, said: "He's the only Democrat who can keep pace with Bush financially. And he wears well. He's not flashy or slick. He gives you direct answers to questions. He has the potential to be our strongest candidate."

Thanks for the link to this article on Dean's New Steps Reshape Contest
By ADAM NAGOURNEY~

[Closer]

4. That's a great quote Zidzi

Thanks for sharing!

[CMT]

19. wonderful Zidzi

it would be a big coup for Dean if he got Gov. Rendell's endorsement.

[Padraig18]

3. It says tons about the numbers, and why they are that way. n/t

[LuminousX]

5. Awesome article

One of the reasons I believe I can vote for Dean is stuff like this. He isn't as polarizing as I originally believed. He inspires people to take action. Why was Kerry's office darkened? Why isn't he busting his ass and his staffs asses in New Hampshire?

[jburton]

6. Dean is not polarizing

When I volunteered there there was quite a mix of people, from skater boys to little old ladies, and everybody in between.

[LuminousX]

7. You have to admit, especially taking DU as a sample

that people either love him or hate him. That is what I meant by polarizing. He doesn't have a lot in the middle... people who sort of like him or sort of dislike him.

The thing is, all in all, more people end up liking him than disliking him. And I do think he'll be able to sway those who dislike him to maybe not dislike him as much.

[jburton]

8. I agree

He is much more polarizing here on DU

Most "folks" I meet at Dem events aren't too scared of him.

[blm]

9. 11:30 on a Friday night?

That's a great time for a comparison.

[AP]

10. never mind.

[Padraig18]

11. It says a great deal about...

... outside the Beltway work ethic, vs. inside the Beltway work ethic.

[LuminousX]

13. What better time for a comparison?

It's 11:30pm ... do you know where your campaign is?

[Padraig18]

15. It reminds me of last November in IL

There we would be at HQ, working into the wee hours of the morning; the Repukes, in contrast, shut up shop at 5:00 every day, and went home.

Guess who won? :evilgrin:

[Lady President]

16. I do!

My candidate and staff were at the Manchester Institute for the Arts speaking to a veterans group Fri. night.

Edit to add that the snip of the article didn't say what day the lights were out early, but this past weekend Kerry's calendar was packed. A friend of mine working in Iowa said that much of the communication is done with blackberries and cell phones, so everyone can be on the streets working. This article was just mean-spirited and one-sided.

[blm]

17. Thanks...but why stop their Kerry hatefest.

Didn't you know Kerry is worthless and has never done anything in 35 years of public service to earn any of their benefit of the doubt or their respect?

Welcome to their black and white world.

[Padraig18]

18. It's not a Kerry hatefest...

... it's a hypocrisy hatefest.

[LuminousX]

20. The entire staff?

No one manning the phones?

[Lady President]

21. Why not?

Why not have the entire staff at various Fri. night fundraisers? Not that many people call campaigns on weekend nights, so a better way to get the word out would be at functions that are more social. It's cliché, but political races are marathons and having a staff campaign in fun ways is helpful to keep everyone enthusiastic.

Besides, with palm pilots, blackberries, laptops, cell phones with email and call forwarding, and people working at home there doesn't need to be someone physically present to handle most situations.

[LuminousX]

22. The War Room

I just remember Carville and Begala's view of campaigning and the war room. I understand remote offices can't be 24 hour . . . well, if there isn't work to be done, having people there is stupid. Of course, why isn't there work to be done, especially if you are behind?

[jburton]

14. What's the big deal?

Were all the Kerry folks drunk?

How Boston!

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

12. Even as frontrunner

the Dean camp is working hard for every vote and every donation, while Kerry still has the attitude that he deserves his votes/contributions. Quite telling. Can't imagine why Kerry's numbers haven't budged in 6 months.