Topics: The Campaign
Manual Series
Topic 1 - The Development of Campaign Strategy
A Definition of Campaign Strategy
The Political Consultant - what can I expect
Topic 2 - Characteristics of the Candidates
Physical, Intellectual, Emotional Characteristics - you and your opponent
What's so important about Name ID and Favorability Ratings
History - Personal, Career, Civic - what to focus on
Topic 3 - The Candidate
The Candidate - Appearance and Image
Candidate Checklist - Questions to be asked …. and answered
Candidate Do's and Don'ts - avoiding campaigning mistakes that hurt
Candidate Fund-raising Activity - are you cut out for it?
Developing "a thick skin"
Protecting the family - is it their campaign too
Topic 4 - Characteristics of the Campaign
Financial Resources
Personnel Resources
District Demographics
District Geographic, Economic, Voting Characteristics
Media Characteristics of the District
Impact of Other Races, Election Regulations, Time Constraints
Impact of Financial Constraints
Topic 5 - Developing and
Implementing the Game Plan - Part 1
Starting with the Candidate's Campaign
Prepare, prepare, prepare - The Campaign Task List
Without a plan…. is the campaign over
Implementation - It's time for the action
Understanding the voting groups
Understanding voter methodologies
Considering a prototype plan
Building Name ID… how, how much
How to create that favorable impression
Topic 5 - Developing and Implementing the Game Plan - Part 2
Communicating the right message to the right voter group
Cost effective communications with voter groups
What to communicate to voter groups
Establishing and reaching voter objectives
Media strategy…what's free… what's not - getting coverage
Campaign Activity - what are the choices
What activity to use when - do's and don'ts
GOTV - getting out the vote - strategies and techniques
Topic 6 - The Game Plan, Budget, and Cash Flow
Why create a budget after you've created the Game Plan
Are two budgets necessary
Creating The Preface
Developing the Political Timeline
Creation of a realistic campaign budget
Crisis management and damage control
Topic 7 - Organizational Flow Chart
The Campaign Organization - the foundation to success
Topic 8 - The Finance Committee
Recruiting and organizing the committee
Why Objectives
Finance Committee Methods - tools to the end
Letting the budget be the driving force
Making use of the Internet… the truth
Topic 9 - The Fund-raising Game Plan
Focusing on the fund-raising campaign
Getting specific - the timeline and fund-raising schedule
The Fund-raising Direct Mail Program - targeting for success and savings
The PAC solicitation program
Out-of-District Fund-raising Program
Organizing major and minor (Fund-raising) events
What about the Candidate's role
Topic 10 - What the Opponent Will Be Doing
First Stage - strategy and activity
Second Stage - campaigning gears up
Third Stage - moving into high gear
Opposition Strategy and Tactics - how to counter
Topic 11 - Variations for Other Type Campaigns
Spend time focusing on and getting the answers to your questions about the
differences regarding your campaign district.
Learn the differences between The Congressional, the State Legislature and
local campaigning techniques as they apply to your campaign
Topic 12 - Sample Plans That Work
Discuss and create sample Political Game Plans and Field Operations Manual
based on plans that work
Discuss and create a sample Finance Committee Operations Manual based on
your new understanding of campaign finance needs
Review a sample Phone Bank Operations Manual that works