Conservatives using John Kerry as example of how to bring in $$$...

[_dynamicdems]

This is very interesting. Conservatives using John Kerry as a positive example of a strategy that they begrudgingly have to admit is working.

Two Lessons Learned From John Kerry

By: Matt Lewis
Posted 05/01/06


As this RollCall article points out, John Kerry's failed presidential bid left him with at least one reward: His email list.

"He lost his bid to become president in 2004, but that campaign left him with an invaluable commodity: an e-mail list 3 million strong that he can call upon to rally support for causes and candidates -- or another presidential run." "...A Kerry e-mail 'has the ability to transform an election,' said Jenny Backus, a Kerry consultant. 'Not everyone knows who Rahm and Reid are; they all know who John Kerry is.'"

I derive two lessons that conservative political candidates should take from this:

1. You and I should start building our email list, today (I have one and you can sign up for it at www.campaignleadership.com). Even if it is on the local level, and you only collect a few thousand addresses, it's worthwhile. And (at least for now) it is virtually free to contact your supporters via email.

2. Investing in building an infrastructure means you can benefit even if you lose. That's not always the case. For example, if you invest all your resources in TV campaign ads, there is little benefit if you lose your election. If you lose, those messages are lost in the ether. Conversely, if you invest some of your resources into building a donor or volunteer base, it's yours to keep. You can use it to help other conservative candidates -- or to possibly run for office in the future. This is one of the many reasons it's wise to invest at least a portion of your resources in the grassroots (and in this case, the netroots).

Mr. Lewis has managed political campaigns and served as director of grassroots for the Leadership Institute, as well as political director for GOPAC. In 2002, Campaigns & Elections Magazine selected him as a "Rising Star of Politics." He is the author of "Teaching Elephants to Talk." His blog can be read at MattLewis.org.

http://www.humaneventsonline.com/blog-detail.php?id=14472

[wisteria]

1. It's surprising they are giving Senator Kerry credit for a smart idea,

but it bothers me they can use the idea too. Oh well, it won't be as effective as Kerry's though because you need Senator Kerry in order to raise the big $$$.

[kerrygoddess]

2. Building an email list

is a marketing technique long used by businesses who are online.

[karynnj]

3. True, but in a way the Kerry list has been used in a different way

It may be that the first email after the election addressed the feeling that many of us felt after the election very honestly and ended with a promise that he would keep fighting and a plea that people stay involved. (from memory - so it may be more an impression than what was actually said.

Since then, the various calls to action or to contribute have all been written in a way that explains the request, respecting the intelligence of the person addressed. (No phony surveys that attempt to hide the real message - give money).

Email can be labeled spam and easily deleted - just as snail political mail can be junk mail and recycled. I think this guy does realize that Kerry's list is not just a list but netroots, which is why he said they learned two things. The real question is how well can people copy what Kerry did. How much is Kerry the long time activist, instead of the sophisticated politician? Also, ironically considering CW - is it that Kerry simply connected very very well because he doesn't speak down to people and treats them with respect.

[kerrygoddess]

5. The list has been used very effectively. N/T

[_dynamicdems]

6. This is what surprises me. They cite him as an example of how this

technique can be successful.

E-mail is free but annoying mail is soon deleted. People will remove their names from a list that no longer suits their purposes or from mail that becomes too frequent or overbearing. The fact that Senator Kerry knows how to manage and grow his mailing list is one of the reasons it has been so successful. The fundraising success of Senator Kerry's mailing list also indicates that the people on the list are interested in the causes he champions. It also reflects the respect, trust and esteem with which Senator Kerry is held by many Democrats.

There is simply no way for the Republicans to duplicate this kind of success with the sorry state their party is in today. The base is scattering to the four winds and party "leaders" are busy covering their own asses and promoting their their own futures. Let them e-mail to their heart's content. They have a lot of catching up to do and a lot of Republicans to gather back into the fold. More likely, any Republican e-mail campaign that tries to duplicate Senator Kerry's success will end up alienating more Republicans than it will do anything else. For one thing, their cause is no longer as unified as it was and their message has become confused and half-hearted. E-mail campaigns bring in funds from your average Americans, the ones who don't have the big bucks. And those are the Republicans that are starting to wise up.

[karynnj]

7. The fund raising part of it may be

both respect and trust in Kerry, but also because the solitations have very nice concise and focused descriptions of the races he is asking people to consider giving to. In addition, there is a politeness that comes across, although I really don't know what gives that feel.

It also may be that both Shummer and Emanuel can be annoying. We got a DSCC call yesterday, my husband told them we gave via KAP, they asked what that was, but when he said Keeping America's Promises and said it was Kerry's organization, the telemarketer gave up quickly.

[ray of light]

8. they do this already through anti-abortion lists.

[jillan]

4. As usual - John Kerry is way ahead of everyone else. n/t