Wellstone Action!

posted by elana

NOVEMBER 25, 2008

At our trainings, we spend hours upon hours on the many elements that come together to make a successful campaign.  But at the end of the day, the campaign that prevails is often the one that can successfully embed the following four elements into their campaign:

1. Authenticity.  This word gets thrown around a lot, and while every candidate can be authentic, not every candidate is able to effectively convey it.  Authenticity comes when a candidate's message, story, and agenda ring true to people.
2. Highly disciplined and strategic message. A strategically smart campaign has a laser-beam focus on message and sticks to it, rather than being reactive to the media cycle.
3. Investment in (and commitment to) an organizing infrastructure.  Campaigns that put an emphasis on "field" organizing to have direct conversations with voters will have the infrastructure required to move the voters needed to be victorious.
4. Raising the resources to win.  Running a grassroots campaign is a great thing, but don't assume you can do it on the cheap.  Grassroots campaigns are expensive - they mean staff, offices, resources for your volunteers, and more.

Check out Jeff speaking in Minneapolis last week on these four elements and how they played out in the Obama presidential campaign: