Fundraising, Grass Roots Organization, Views on News • November 25th, 2008

The Franken & Coleman show

by Chris Lato

I don’t see a scenario where this ends well – at least, not without a bloody legal battle. The margins are just too small. So unless someone suddenly, legitimately turns up a box of previously uncounted boxes stashed in a town hall basement (kidding!), this threatens to drag on for months and become 2008’s version of Florida – admittedly, with somewhat less at stake.

I have no horse in this race. As regular visitors to this blog know, I have little use for party-flippers, who typically act more in their own interests than anything else, so Sen. Norm Coleman has a black mark next to his name. As for Al Franken, well, he stopped being funny approximately 28 years ago. He has since then become little more than a shrill partisan hack’n’slasher.

It is amazing to consider that out of 2.9 million votes, a race could come down to fewer than 200 ballots. That’s what I call a divided state (and yes, I realize there was a third-party candidate in the mix).

The Dems are positioning this as the last great political battle of the Bush administration – Coleman’s harshest critics paint him as a Bush/Rove puppet.

However, both parties have the opportunity to use this contested result as a rallying point. Feelings tend to harden during such bitterly-contested elections, with both sides seeing fraud and deceit. If nothing else, it’s a great tool to rally the base and raise money.

As someone who has pitched in for a recount or two, I can tell you that tensions can run extraordinarily high in those rooms. No kidding - pushing, shoving and trash-talking happens. It’s akin to fans of opposing football teams getting together in the same stadium. The only thing that’s missing is beer, face paint and giant foam fingers.

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Fundraising • August 18th, 2008

Kagen vs. Karl

by Chris Lato

U.S. Rep. Steve Kagen says Karl Rove is out to get him this November.

Kagen (who has referred to himself in the recent past as ‘Dr. Multimillionaire’) is a freshman Democrat Congressman in the Fox Valley’s 8th district, which gently leans Republican. So, of course, Republicans have visions of Jay Johnson dancing in their heads – and they have a big fat target painted on Kagen’s back.

Let’s face it. If you’re a freshman, you’re vulnerable. There are degrees of vulnerability, but that’s just the way the game is played.

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Events, Fundraising, Global Concerns, Grass Roots Organization • May 13th, 2008

Help needed ASAP

by Chris Lato

Regular visitors to this site know we’re all about the politics, the public affairs, the public relations, the messaging…you know the score. Today I’m doing something a bit different - asking for your help for a good cause.

This Saturday, in downtown Milwaukee, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – Greater Milwaukee Chapter is holding its annual NAMIWalks event. The honorary chairman is Green Bay Packer Greg Jennings and his lovely wife Nicole, who I understand will be there to walk as well.

Avicom Marketing Communications is involved as a sponsor of the event and has a team entered in the fundraiser. I will be peeling my butt off the couch and taking part. I’m asking you to do what you can to support the cause and give what you can. The program is worthy, the effort needs your help and anything you can pitch in would be welcome. NAMI is heavily involved in supporting those struggling with mental illness, along with offering support services to their families. Check out their website if you’d like to learn more.

If you can even give a few bucks, it is very easy to donate online by visiting my NAMIWalks webpage. I’m aiming low ($100 in donations) and hoping to succeed beyond my wildest goals. But I need more than donations from mom and dad to help out.

A sincere thanks for anything you can do. And now we return you to your regularly scheduled blog…

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Branding Politix, Fundraising, Messaging, New Media, Report from the Field, Research & Ideas • April 8th, 2008

It’s a millennium thing. Get used to it.

by Greg Batiansila

For years, American culture – from politics to entertainment to our interpretation of law – has been under the influence of the Baby Boom generation. Boomers will continue to enjoy considerable power and sway even while they gray and retire. But Americans will now have to reckon with a new force – the Millennial Generation.

Millennials – the name given to those born between 1978 and 1996 – boast Boomer-like numbers, education and clout. Researchers are finding this new generation is very different from previous generations in their view of the world and how they vote. For example, almost 50% of Millennials identify themselves with the Democrat party while only 35% align themselves with Republicans.

Laying claim to the media platforms where Millennials communicate, shop and visit is an essential part of today’s and all future campaigns. McCain’s may be the last of the dinosaur campaigns that ascend almost solely through traditional fundraising and media. Look for all campaigns in the future to use the web – perhaps exclusively – create and enhance community, and raise money.

In 2008, close to 50 million Millenials will be eligible to vote. How many actually vote, and how they vote, and what moves them remains to be seen. But you’re already seeing the beginning salvos…like here and here and here…in a battle for the heart, soul and vote of the Millennial generation.

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Fundraising • April 7th, 2008

The money chase

by Chris Lato

Part of the fallout from last week’s Supreme Court election has focused on whether taxpayers should pick up the tab for these campaigns.

Jump into the Wayback Machine with me for a moment. Imagine public financing of Supreme Court races was already in place. It is exactly one week ago, the day before the election. The last rounds of TV ads are running, over and over again. You are sitting on the couch, shaking your head, trying to find a channel, any channel, to get away from these ads.

Then, it dawns on you. YOUR tax dollars are paying for the ads! That’s your money at work! Look at the politicians and how they’re spending your money - money that, if it was in your pocket, could buy your family groceries, fill your gas tank, or buy some school clothes for your kid.

That’s at the heart of this issue for me. I don’t know why I should have to fund the campaigns of those I disagree with. It would solve nothing. Also, taxes are high enough already.

The next question: as part of the plan for public financing, will the messages being disseminated with taxpayer dollars be ‘regulated’? Otherwise, how will the negative messages go away?

As our friend on the left Ed Garvey might say, “Whoa, Nelly!” I mean, it sounds kinda like socialism. Is that really the solution?

Few politicians enjoy the process of fundraising. It’s a grind, with endless phone calls, meetings and handshakes. You are out there, hat in hand, constantly selling yourself and hoping people will respond by writing a check. It can be humiliating. I get it.

But it also forces politicians and their campaigns to gain focus, to work, to make contact, to go through the process of proving your worthiness. The idea that candidates should just kick back and let the taxpayers foot the bill would actually be a loss to the democratic process.

Fundraising can be unpleasant, but it is necessary. It is part of what makes good candidates better, and helps weed out the bad candidates, the ones who aren’t serious, the ones who hope to coast, the ones who don’t have their act together. It is healthy.

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2008 Primaries, Branding Politix, Fundraising, Grass Roots Organization, Messaging • March 10th, 2008

I’ve seen the future & it will be… (part 2)

by Greg Batiansila

Barack Obama’s fundraising is making considerable waves - and not just because of the incredible amount of money he’s brought in (Obama reports raising 55 million dollars in February alone) - but how he’s raising the money - on the internet.

“Obama’s staggering sum is made all the more frightening for Republicans because much of it came over the Internet in small sums — support that not only underscores Obama’s organic appeal but that also signals an ability to raise more money from a donor pool that now totals more than 1 million individuals.” (read more here)

Running for office? Regardless of whether its local, regional or national - how’s your website? Today’s campaigns are using the web for more than some show ‘n’ tell. The web platform is quickly becoming the focus for practically every aspect of a campaign.

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2008 Primaries, Fundraising, Leadership, Messaging • March 6th, 2008

The value of endorsements

by Chris Lato

No big shock – President Bush has endorsed John McCain for President.

This is how the game is played, even though the two have had a stormy relationship in the past, particularly in the 2000 campaign. The Bush team was accused of dirty tricks that helped knock McCain out of the race.

However, McCain soldiered on and even campaigned for Bush’s re-election in 2004. As an aside, I had the pleasure of being in McCain’s presence for a 2004 Bush event in Madison – we walked him from the Historical Museum to a speaking engagement and he handled the hecklers in style. He has a forceful, even intimidating presence, but he dutifully did everything that was asked of him without complaint.

Consider the value of endorsements. Much like yard signs, endorsements don’t vote. Some say they hold little to no value. I disagree, to a point.
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2008 Primaries, Fundraising, Leadership, Messaging, public relations • February 24th, 2008

3 reasons why Hillary is losing

by Chris Lato

I’m told people on the internet love lists. I know there are more than three reasons for Hillary’s slide, and you may disagree with the three I cite. But the three I’m taking on in this post offer a PR/messaging/media relations perspective.Why is Hillary Clinton losing? Let me count the ways…

1. Money - and the perceptions tied to it

As a national candidate loses momentum, money dries up and shifts to the candidate gaining ground. We are seeing that happen with Barack Obama. Clinton is no slouch in the fundraising department, but she has had to loan her own campaign millions - a sign of fundraising weakness. Questions about her campaign’s spending habits are also being raised. This is campaign mismanagement, which leads to a legitimate messaging problem: if she can’t manage a campaign budget, how can she be counted on to manage a federal budget?

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