Wellstone

Digital organizing can positively impact every part of your campaign, but it cannot be the only part of your campaign: it’s important, but it can’t achieve every campaign objective on its own.

That is what Politics the Wellstone Way is about—the Wellstone model of winning elections and winning on issues, down to the nuts and bolts.

Winning Your Election the Wellstone Way is a comprehensive guide for people running for offi ce and for those helping them.

So you’ve been hired to manage a campaign?  Your job is now to lead a team of people who stay focused on goals, follow the campaign plan, and help the candidate (or organization) be at his or her best every day.  

Every campaign role comes with different responsibilities. In many campaigns –particularly smaller, down-ballot ones – one person may hold many of these roles. 

Earned media – in other words, media that is not “purchased”– is one of the most important elements of a winning progressive grassroots campaign.

Volunteers are vital to winning the Wellstone way – and creating a volunteer culture around your campaign will have effects that go far beyond the moment the polls close on Election Night.  

As the campaign manager you are CEO and CFO. Your number-one job is managing how your campaign’s scarce resources (time, people and money) are allocated and spent. 

Here's a sample code of conduct developed for a gubernatorial race.  It was distributed and discussed – first with the entire staff and subsequently with every new hire – including volunteers. 

The campaign plan is one of the most critical elements of a winning electoral campaign. A strong plan is your roadmap to victory. It allows the campaign to maximize scarce resources to meet specific goals.