instead of holding rallies should kerry, be using other forums?

[mike from ri]

such as town hall meetings, serious speeches, small audience meetings, press conferences?

rallies are fun for the participants, but wider audiences are unswayed. also kerry is not an effective large-crowd speaker. he does better in more sober settings: witness the debates. also, recent events (the OBL) tape call out for less overtly "political" settings and more a serious tone.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

1. Ever been to a rally in the last days of a campaign?

It's rally time.

[Quadrajet]

2. I think large venues are the best way to reach a lot of people.

By holding small meetings with only a few select participants, you're alienating a whole slew of potential voters. Kerry was in my city of Rochester, MN a couple of months ago and held a "front porch meeting" in someone's backyard. There were only about 100 invites and if you didn't get one of those invites, you didn't get it. Republican friends of mine wouldn't let it rest that Kerry invited only a "select few" to the meeting. Although I was going to vote for Kerry no matter what, I was quite upset that he didn't have a public rally.

Adding insult to injury, President * had a public rally in a local Rochester outdoor baseball stadium only weeks after Kerry's front porch meeting. He drew a crowd of 7000, but there was some bad press regarding how the press and protesters were treated.

Fast forward to last week when Kerry appeared again in Rochester, MN only this time he appeared at the largest arena within 70 miles of the city. He brought in a crowd of 8500 people, 7500 inside and 1000 outside. I was there and I was absolutely stoked that he came back in such a big way!

Feel free to see my gallery of that event HERE. I'll be adding more photos as I get the chance.

I think large venues are the best way to reach undecideds. They can come and see the candidate for themselves, get a read on his body language and make judgements on his charisma.

Showing a candidate and their supporters in person is a powerful tool being used to sway the undecideds on both sides...because it works.

[mike from ri]

4. i agree for the people who are there

but even the biggest rally only attracts a small slice of the local electorate; most folks observe candidate appearances only indirectly. What they see on TV might seem to them to be a scary mob rather than an earnest thoughtful discussion.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

5. "What they see on TV might seem to them to be a scary mob"

A political rally for Kerry is a "scary mob"?
Who are you talking about, hermits or monks or somebody?

[DemsUnited]

8. Oh, very good pics!

Thanks for sharing them!

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

3. Excite the base and GOTV - It's winnin' time

It's too late for the policy sit downs and other small events. JFK's right to be holding big events now.

The election is less than 72 hours. Get people excited and get them to the polls.

If the turnout is anything like what I expect, Kerry will win big.

[Meryton]

6. good question

everybody loves a winner

when one is drawing 80,000 it's hard not to pay attention

Edwards drew 7,500 yesterday in Raleigh, Yahoo reported Cheney drew hundreds earlier this week..

btw, did anyone else notice empty seats at the Pres' event yesterday at the early confetti rally?

[tomfodw]

7. Town hall meetings, etc., are great, for earlier in the campaign

Especially during primaries, and the start of the general election campaign. But now you have to reach as many people as possible in a shorter period of time.

Big rallies generate enormous local media coverage. You can't get better publicity than Kerry got this week for appearing in Philly with Clinton and in Wisconsin, Ohio & Florida with Springsteen.

Also, if you've seen any of Kerry's rallies in person or on CSPAN, he has been an excellent speaker. No, he's not Bill Clinton, and neither is anyone else.

I don't know the best way to respond to the OBL tape. You can make an argument for ignoring it, you can make a case for confronting it. Since the actual tape has no meaning whatsoever, I think ignoring it is the best course.

[snippy]

9. It no longer is about persuasion. It now is about enthusiasm and GOTV.