Citizens Dedicated To Preserving Our Constitutional Republic

Musing On Conservative Party Building--Does This Make Sense To You???

Assumptions:
1. The party has been left very weak in some sections of the country. The people literally aren't there on which to rebuild the party. Usually this is described with the statement, "The grassroots are really weak," but I'm not convinced grassroots exists anymore in the exact way we understood it.

2. The candidates and the campaigns they run ARE the party. Run good candidates and good campaigns, and the perception of the party begins to change immediately. When considering this, style and tone appropriate to the jurisdiction are important.

3. Expand political options, don't reduce them.

4. The genius of the Obama campaign was casting the widest possible net. They gave basic, two-day organizer training to 5,000 people. Perhaps all 5,000 didn't work out, but certainly more than a couple did. More bodies means more ground covered. In contrast, the Republican model is to create a much smaller group of people who have broad-based campaign training -- "campaign school."

Actions:
1. Train casting the widest possible net. Run sessions every single Saturday. Produce a simple training manual that nonetheless incorporates the cutting-edge principles from RNC, Obama Campaign, etc. The purpose is to build the talent base of organizers -- people with the basic knowledge to start the phone bank, open the office, recruit the lit drop, etc.

This concept of training is, in my experience, fundamentally different from the Republican model. We train fewer rather than more. And we train for the entire campaign, with "campaign schools" with sessions on media, TV, polling, etc., -- not simple, basic field skills. One tremendous exception is RNC Victory School.

2. Recruit casting the widest possible net. To have the best chances of electing a state senator, one should encourage candidates for mayor, first selectman, city council, county legislature, etc., all at the same time.
Ask 10 people to run, not 2, and with homegrown organizers, you don't have to lift a finger. Some candidates will work out and some won't, but the process will go on independently.

3. Public polling can be key. Only through understanding the coalition can we advise on better candidates and better campaigns. Second, it can bring research to races where campaigns can't afford good polling. (cf. Democracy Corps)
In certain respects, folks who coordinate this process BECOME the party. They become the network that organizes to elect candidates.