Surprise phone calls and 'selfie lines': Inside Elizabeth Warren's grassroots strategy

[brooklynite]

CNN

CNN recently sat in on one of Warren's "call time" sessions with small-dollar supporters, just days after she declared that she would not participate in any fundraisers, dinners, receptions or phone calls with wealthy donors during the primaries. She is already rejecting donations from PACs and federal lobbyists -- all part of her campaign's anti-corruption and anti-big money themes.

Warren's advisers say their strategy is about building a solid foundation for the long-haul. The time saved by skipping glitzy fundraisers and call times with deep-pocketed donors is being invested in more organizing events and town halls, they say. Warren has traveled to eight states -- Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Georgia, Nevada, California, New York and Texas -- as well as Puerto Rico so far this year.

There is time set aside every week for phone calls and meetings with grassroots supporters and small-dollar supporters, according to advisers, who say Warren has made hundreds of grassroots calls so far this year.

In an interview with CNN, Warren described these conversations as some of the best opportunities to get a raw sampling of the issues that are most pressing for voters. It's the same benefit, she said, of the photo lines that she does after every campaign event.

[Farmer-Rick]

1. Good info.

[crazytown]

2. K&R