There’s a terrific front-page Globe article today on Carol Shea-Porter’s astounding victory in New Hampshire’s first congressional district. My favorite excerpts:
Shea-Porter and [campaign manager Sue Mayer] were told they needed to raise money — perhaps as much as $1 million — but they never really tried. Instead, Mayer said, she used her master’s degree studies in medieval history to spread Shea-Porter’s message by word of mouth, learning lessons from centuries-old rebellions that turned on word of mouth and “spread like wildfire.”
Excellent — bringing 13th century technology to a 21st century campaign! And then there’s this gem about Shea-Porter’s relationship with the Beltway gang:
Democrats are beginning to learn Shea-Porter’s name. The morning after the election, the DCCC called with its first offer of financial support. “They asked us if we wanted them to pay our debt, and we told them we didn’t have any,” Shea-Porter said. “But it was nice of them to offer.”
You go, Carol.
She just went up another notch in my book!
For a few reasons:
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1. It will help head off future challengers. The less time she needs to spend working hard on the campaign trail, the more time she can spend legislating.
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2. She can always take those raised funds and contribute them to the DCCC to cover dues, as well as help other Democratic legislators maintain the Dem majority in the House.
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3. People who donate money — especially those who donate $100 or less — tend to become more invested in your campaign. They’re more likely to also phone bank, canvass, or at the very least, spread the word in 13th century fashion.
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4. Getting a list of donors is like knowing where the life jackets on the boat are stored. If she ever does need a cash infusion, having a deep and broad list of past donors can help raise cash in a hurry if need be.
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I’m not arguing that she should abandon principles, just that some money in the bank can ward off future problems.
All the more so since Jeb will almost undoubtely run against her again in ’08, in what will (presumably) be a less Democratic year. I’m sure he’ll be better prepared; it’s never too early for Shea-Porter to get as prepared as possible for the rematch as well.
“Instead, Mayer said, she used her master’s degree studies in medieval history to spread Shea-Porter’s message by word of mouth, learning lessons from centuries-old rebellions that turned on word of mouth and “spread like wildfire.”
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Like in Salem 350 years ago.
What is the implication of your comparison?
It is what you think it is.
were read in Andover. Then the man reading stopped and refused to go any farther.
The community was so angry that he had to leave town.
But because of him the authorities in Boston finally paid attention and helped stop the madness.
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His refusal to read the names of people he didn’t believe were guilty spread like wild fire.
What is ergot?
Imagine that? Word-of-mouth campaigns, as we’ve learned in Massachusetts this election cycle, can really work. Especially when the tide is with Democrats and you’re facing a Republican =)
I’m not trying to put down Shea-Porter or the people who campaigned for her. Any Dem win in NH is one to be celebrated. But let’s not get carried away in the euphoria of last week’s wins nation-wide and not recognize the fact that some wins were not soley a product of their own campaigns. There were certainly other forces at work.
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Someone very involved with “on the ground” campaigning in New Hampshire told me that her campaign wasn’t much to talk about. Said it got a huge boost from the Dem wave.
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She can now benefit a bit from incumbency and what I’d expect would be excellent constituent service. But I hope she raises money and does some of the things that more successful modern campaigns to. It can be done without sacrificing her sould, I’m pretty sure.
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There are said to be a large number of dems in NH who were elected in races that weren’t being considered possible wins a week before election day.
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To me all of this strongly supports the popular dem blog line that says rather than focusing on a few key races, we should first work on fielding a large number of credible candidates. That way, at the very least we can take advantage of suprise, scandals and momentum.
Would be to do what haffingtonpost is suggesting.
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Check out the story and commnents about how powerful a message it would be to hold the Democratic convention in the city that needs our support the most:
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http://www.huffingto…