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Bush Doesn't Waver
Nancy Madsen is an intern for Campaign Leadership Company, LLCThe Washington Post has an article about Bush's Tuesday night speech. The Bush administration has learned from some political science research that staying positive about winning the war is THE crucial aspect in regaining public support for extended conflict, above number of casualties or length of time. Bush definitely stuck to that message on Tuesday. Read the article.
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5 Lessons Republicans Can Learn from Obama
 Nancy Madsen is an intern for Campaign Leadership Company, LLCOne of the most obvious talents of freshman Democrat Senator Barack Obama is his speaking ability. Besides delivering a riveting keynote address at the National Convention, his charisma overpowered audiences all across Illinois on his way to a blow-out victory. What does he have that many Republicans lack? Here are a few keys to Obama's speaking style: 1) Connects with the audience. Whether commencement speeches, political rallies, or the convention speech, Obama tells a personal story or joke to create report and gain credibility in the eyes of the audience. In a recent speech to the American Library Association, he acknowledged a staffer's mother who was present and made this joke, "Believe me, I have no idea how the biggest mouth in our office came from a family of two librarians, but we're proud to have him on board and I'm sure you are too." 2) Uses good historical illusions. Not only does he draw on the stories about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. or Abraham Lincoln, he connects those stories to the situation the audience is facing. 3) Utilizes repetition. In this speech before the NAACP, he uses the old preaching tool, "And sometimes, when I reflect on those giants of the Civil Rights movement, I wonder - where did you find that courage? John Lewis, where did you find that courage? Dorothy Height, where did you find that courage? Rosa Parks, where did you find that courage?" 4) Speaks with passion. In a basic speech class, I was taught the first rule of public speaking is to pick a subject you are passionate about. Even if the subject is birds or amoeba, the key is to show the audience you are passionate about the subject. If you don't care, they certainly won't. Obama definitely shows his passion in whatever subject he is speaking. 5) Ends with hope. While he often sets up stark divisions, he always concludes on an upbeat note. ". . . I also ask you to remember that in this country, our history of overcoming the seemingly impossible always comes about because individuals who care really can make a difference. America is great because Americans are good." Whether it's participating in a volunteer organization or turning out to vote, Obama motivates the audience to take action.
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Dick Morris Reports
Our good friend, David Sparks in Orange County, turned me on to Dick Morris' email alerts. They are quite good. If you like my email tips, you should also enjoy these alerts. You can sign up by sending an email request to DickMorrisReports@Vote.com.
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Wednesday Roundup ...
- I'll be on Adam McManus' show on KSLR in San Antonio today at 4 pm (ET). To listen live, go to www.kslr.com and click on "Listen Live to KSLR." - Tomorrow, I'm in San Antonio, TX speaking for the Rough Riders of Bexar County. Here are the details: Networking Reception: 6:15pm - 7:00pm, Program : 7:00pm - 8:15pm
Location: Grady's Bar-B-Q, 4109 Fredericksburg Road, (210-732-3636) one mile South of Crossroads Mall -Telephones are Still King: Doug Usher of the Mellman Group in Hotline: While the Internet has "dramatically changed the face of most aspects of today's political campaigns" it has "not lived up to its early promise for one key part of campaign consulting: polling." Unless "major changes" are made to email registries, privacy laws, and the way we interact with the Internet, "it may never be the same tool that the telephone has been" for more than 50 years. -Speed Kills: the Washington Post has an excellent article today regarding the picking of a Supreme Court nominee that highlights the importance of a quick response. Here are a few of the excerpts: (Regarding Bork's nomination) "We responded too late, and it got drowned out," said C. Boyden Gray, who was working in the administration and later became White House counsel to President George H.W. Bush. "We don't want that to happen again. The first hours are when the candidate gets defined."
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"Our goal is to not let their analysis or spin become defining, and put them on the defensive," said Sean Rushton, spokesman for Committee for Justice.
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"It's just like on the campaign," said Brian Jones, the RNC's communications director. "You wouldn't have a John Kerry or John Edwards statement without a response." Kerry Impersonator! VA Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine impersonates John Kerry in his latest TV ad: "As a Christian missionary in Honduras, I learned that life is sacred. That's why I oppose the death penalty. I'll carry out a death sentence because that's the law. But, I won't change my religious beliefs."
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Stake Out These Issues!
It's a fun time to be in politics. Lot's of good people I know are jumping into some exciting races and opportunities. And it's never too soon to start thinking about the 2008 Presidential Elections, either. ... Not that any of my friends are running for that (yet). But I do have some thoughts on how a conservative Republican could pull a Howard Dean (the 2003 version, that is) and come out of nowhere to be the front runner. Keep in mind that a few years ago Howard Dean was an obscure Governor of Vermont. He had no business being mentioned in the same breath as Kerry, Gephardt, and Lieberman. Yet, he became a Presidential front runner because he was willing to say some things that nobody else was willing to say. Because he was the only one willing to say it, the base rallied behind him. If I were advising an "outsider" conservative who was takign a long shot at a run for President, I would tell them to corner the market on these 2 issues: 1. Eminent Domain - There is a strong undercurrent of Americans who are outraged by the recent court decision which basically says the U.S. Govt. can seize your property if it's perceived to be in the best interest of the community. Unlike other hot-button issues that I care deeply about -- this issue will inspire many disaffected, libertarian-leaning supporters. It strikes to the heart of the American Dream. This is the stuff of rebellion. If a conservative were to stake out this territory, and not waiver, it would position him well. 2. Immigration - I do a lot of work in California and Texas, so maybe I'm more sensitive to this issue than others. But I really feel this issue is coming to a head. And it's not just from political people (I run into average people on airplanes who are outraged by the fact that we can't control the border). A candidate from the Right who is willing to take a hard stance on this issue (and not worry about offending some) will have a big advantage in the Primaries. There has never been a legitimate Presidential Candidate who has made this "The Issue" (I'm not counting Pat Buchanan). The voters who care about this issue are very cynical about Republicans who sort of agree with them. But if there was a serious candidate (this means someone who has been elected to something at some time who made this a cornerstone of their platform), they would have the immediate backing of a very fired up group of supporters. That would go a long way toward winning a Primary.
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Washington Post: It's a bit like Napster -- but for policy wonks.
A Washington research group has created a website where the public can read, submit and download the difficult-to-find public policy briefs members of Congress use to get up to speed on issues. More.
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Do You Agree With This List?
Here's my list of the 5 Americans of the last 20 years with the most natural political ability. Please note that some of these people are good, and some are bad. I'm not judging their philosophy, but rather their natural political acumen.  5. Donald Trump - Like him, or not, "The Don" has proven to be a very resilient self promoter who has survived decades of ups and downs to come out stronger than ever.  4. Lady Di - Instead of settling for being just another pretty face, Lady Di transcended the British crown to become more popular and influential than those born into the royal family -- even after her divorce from Prince Charles. More importantly, she actually took on substantive issues. Her tragic early death will do nothing but enhance her image. As they say, she now "belongs to the ages."  3. George W. Bush- Like Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush's big advantage was the fact that his opponents underestimated him. Much to the chagrin of his enemies, Bush connects with average Americans. You don't get elected President twice without being savvy.  2. Bill Clinton - Though his legacy is permanently tarnished by scandal, Bill Clinton is an incredibly gifted and charismatic pol. Even his critics admit that when they talk to him, "He makes you feel like you're the only person in the room." There's no telling what he could have accomplished if he had a moral compass.  1. Oprah Winfrey - From a small town in Mississippi to your living room, Oprah Winfrey has defied the odds. There is no doubt that she is one of the most influential and charismatic people of our era. Oprah is America's Sweetheart, and could give any politician a run for their money.
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 Latino Power? Robert Suro says it'll take time for the population boom to translate to politics. "... eligible voters made up 39 percent of the Hispanic population compared with 64 % of blacks."
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Overcoming the Fear of Rejection
I think a lot of political candidates are afraid to take chances. They are afraid to run for certain offices, for fear of losing. They are afraid to ask for a financial contribution because they are afraid of handling rejection. For years, we've taught that the main difference between good fundraisers and bad fundraisers is persistence. The current issue of Psychology Today seems to confirm this: "Studies of children -- and this is just as applicable to adults -- show that rebuffs are as much a part of life for the socially popular as for those less well-liked. The difference is how they deal with rejection." Likewise, I think it would be fair to say that rebuffs are as much a part of life for the successful fundraiser as for the less successful fundraiser ... Rejection happens to everybody. The key is to get back on the horse. If someone won't donate to your campaign or cause, don't take it personally. Get right back out there and ask someone else for their support!
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Ever Lost a Campaign???
 ... Ever lost a campaign? Read my new article, 6 Steps to Enduring a Political Loss. ... In other news, I'll be on Adam McManus' show on KSLR in San Antonio this Wednesday at 4 pm (ET). To listen live, go to www.kslr.com and click on "Listen Live to KSLR."
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No, he should not!
Nancy Madsen is an intern with Campaign Leadership Company, LLCDemocrats and Rinos are calling on Karl Rove to apologize for his comments to a group of Republicans: read this blog. The White House advisor's comments on Wednesday do not merit any apology. Perhaps, they want to divert attention from Senator Durbin. . .
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 You are cordially invited to the Leadership Institute's Annual Independence Day Picnic for ConservativesMonday, July 4, 2005, Noon - 5pm Bull Run Regional Park, Centreville, VA Admission is free, but please bring a side dish to share. For more information, call 703-247-2000 or visit
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Washington Times: A conservative who's who in Washington - David Keene, Becky Norton Dunlop, Morton Blackwell, Grover Norquist, Ron Robinson and Tony Perkins - huddled this week with Sen. Richard M. Burr, North Carolina Republican, and the family and office alumni of Jesse Helms, to plan what one dubbed a "long-overdue Washington tribute" to the senator, who retired in 2002.
It was decided that the gala, benefiting the Jesse Helms Center Foundation, will take place Sept. 20 at the Marriott Crystal Gateway. Mr. Burr and North Carolina Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole will be co-chairmen for the event, which is timed to coincide with the release of Mr. Helms' long-anticipated memoir, "Here's Where I Stand."
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Wednesday Tips ...
- Develop a great handshake - North Dakota's Governor doesn't have many constituents ... So why can't he remember their names?   "Governor John Hoeven, I'd like you to meet Julie Neidlinger."
"Governor John Hoeven, I'd like you to meet Julie Neidlinger."
"Governor John Hoeven, I'd like you to meet Julie Neidlinger."
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Ron Faucheux Interview
- Our own Ari Augenbaum just sat down with Ron Faucheux for an exclusive interview (coming soon for Premium Members). 
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Around the News
- Do you have the political gene?- Along with some other quotables, our good friend Chuck Muth contemplates the ever changing meaning of the word "mainstream." - 10 things you can do today to jump-start success.
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David Barton Re-education of America
Nancy Madsen is an intern for the Campaign Leadershup Company, LLCWhat does faith have to do with the United States' founding? Wasn't there separation of church and state? David Barton would respond that the Founding Fathers depended wholly on their faith in writing the Constitution. Recently, Matt Lewis interviewed David Barton. Premium members can hear it here. One of his videos, America's Godly Heritage, promoted my young interest for history and government. What most impressed me then was the fervor and direction of the faith of our Founding Fathers. They didn't just claim faith to please a certain set of voters. Their faith in and respect for God evidenced itself in both their public speeches and private writings. The education system has incorrectly taught many Americans that the Founding Fathers were deists, believing in a creator who left the world alone after making it. However, these Americans have not seen the evidence from our early leaders. In seeking to show Americans that the United States does have a religious foundation, David Barton incorporates original documents from the Founding Fathers. These show beyond a shadow of a doubt that most of the Founding Fathers believed in a living, personal God and trusted in Him to guide their steps and the future of the young nation. While the realization of our faith-filled founding most quickly spread through homeschool groups and conventions, of which I am a product, Barton has influenced public schools and colleges as well. His group, Wallbuilders, aims to remind Americans of our religious heritage so that we will rekindle the type of active faith that drove the Founding Fathers to be involved. WallBuilders' example brings great inspiration to investigate the true foundation of the United States. This knowledge arms us with the courage to seek positive changes in government. WallBuilders' website contains a quote from George Washington in which the first president stated, "[T]he propitious smiles of heaven can never be expected on a nation which disregards the eternal rules of order and right which heaven itself has ordained."
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How to Make a Room Look Full...
 One of the worst feelings on a campaign comes when your candidate walks into a rally or event and the room is empty. Here are some tips to minimize the chances this will happen to you. 1. Under Promise and Over Achieve Downplay the importance of a big turn out. If you think 100 people will show up, say that you are expecting 40. That way, if 50 people show up, you look like a star. 2. Book a Small RoomNo matter what, always book a smaller room than you think you need. It's better to pack a room full of people than have a room look empty. If you can't book a small room, see if you can use partitions to fit people into a smaller area. Ignore the whiners who complain that it's "too crowded." 3. Invite a BandBook a high school band (or any other large band) to fill up the room. Give each band member 2 tickets, telling them that they can invite their parents. Many parents will come just to support their child. If you really want a big turnout, have one band open up the event, and another band end it. Not only will this add numbers to your crowd, but the music will give the event some extra excitement.
4. BalloonsGive a room a full appearance by adding balloons. They are fairly inexpensive, and give the illusion that more people are at the event. 
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I found this article in today's Washington Post interesting... The Bush administration, it appears, is suffering from a serious but little-noted problem: a "marriage gap." That is, a top female official is almost five times as likely to be single as her male counterpart.
In a fact-filled survey of 367 top administration officials by the National Journal, 33 percent of the women, but only 7 percent of men, were single. This may suggest that, to get ahead, it's better for women to be single. Any thoughts on this???
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...My recent rant about how Republicans are better with technology than Democrats got me mentioned in Kate Kaye's most recent column.
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Politicial Points of Interest...
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Former liberal Congressman Martin Frost has some advice for Dems posted at FoxNews.com (because, obviously, that's where most Dems get their news...)
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 Maryland Lt. Governor Michael Steele announces exploratory committee for U.S. Senate race. According to the Baltimore Sun: "The governor is my homeboy," Steele said. "I always, regardless of what I am doing, am going to take care of my homeboy. ... It will be Ehrlich and Steele. This is a partnership that doesn't end and die if one of us changes and does something else."
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The NY Times has a story today about The Heritage Foundation's intern program...
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Congratuations are in order for Chris Craddock who ousted liberal Republican Rep. Gary Reese, yesterday. Chris is a true testimonial to the effectiveness of attending campaign training. He (along with his wife and his campaign manager) attended at least 3 different training programs I spoke at for The Leadership Institute and GOPAC (no telling how many other trainings he may have attended). Here's how The Washington Post reported it: In the 67th House District, which straddles Fairfax and Loudoun counties, Craddock successfully campaigned against Reese on such issues as taxes, abortion and same-sex marriage.
"I know [Reese] was one of the ones who voted to raise taxes. I thought that wasn't a good thing. We're Republicans -- that's not what we do," said 18-year-old Heather LeMunyon, a Craddock supporter, who was voting in her first election.
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Now is your chance to join our Premium Membership Site. ... It's a year's worth of training for the cost of a one-day seminar!
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Mobilizing Christians
...Sam Brownback's plan for 2008.
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Around the News
-There's a very good article in The Washington Post today about a young man running for Delegate in VA. Chris Craddock has attended at least three of my campaign trainings. He has a very good chance of taking out a RINO in VA! - Tucker Carlson's new show on MSNBC will debut tonight. Tucker wasn't playing to his strengths on CNN. He couldn't win a hardball debate against Carville or Begalla. I think he's much more suited to a calmer, more intellecutal environment. In short, I think it's a wise move for him. - ... To all those would-be campaigners out there -- now THIS is what I call advance work! ...Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao recently visited a plastics lab at Penn State University with Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) to hand out about $750,000 as part of a grant to retrain plastics industry employees.
She spent about 20 minutes touring the lab, meeting students and faculty and picking up a plastic Nittany Lion mask made while she watched.
"She would later describe her tour as exciting," Erie Times-News reporter Jim Martin reported. "What her tour wasn't was impromptu or spur of the moment," he noted. She was "preceded . . . by an advance team that spent hours preparing for her visit. Her every move across the plastics lab was planned, right down to the pieces of tape on the floor that directed her where to stand."
Exactly. And that's why it went flawlessly.
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Recently, I attended a conference on the use of technology in politics. Or, in short, bloggers talking to bloggers about how great blogging is... Most of the speakers were liberals. And while I believe in the maxim: "Know thy enemy as thy self," I couldn't get past the fact that I was listening to "experts" who had just been out-manuevered by Republicans. True, Democrats get a lot of press for their use of technology. But Republicans use technology to win elections. It occurs to me that this phenomenon has to do with the fundamental differences between Republicans and Democrats (in short, our worldview is different). Here's my theory: Democrats view technology as a game. They like to put a lot of effort into blogging and hope to be able to, "create an internet community." Republicans (who by nature are outcome-based and serious) tend to use technolgy (like micro-targeting) to identify, persuade, and turn-out voters on Election Day.The normally annoying Susan Estrich has just published a column that seems to corroborate my position: At the time Dean pulled out of the race in 2004, his much-vaunted website was getting one-tenth as many hits as George Bush's. Even more important, the Bush team, under the leadership of then-Rove deputy Ken Mehlman, was embarked on a sophisticated technological project that allowed it to communicate with voters in key states and key groups the same way Amazon does with regular purchasers: Understanding more than name, address and serial number, Amazon knows what I like, and what my family likes, and what other people like me like, so that when they write to me, they know how to sell to me. So did Bush.
On the Sunday before the election, Karl Rove was in a position to squeeze out every single Bush voter he needed, a capacity Democrats couldn't match. I hope the Dems keep on talking to the converted and let the business of identifying, persuading, and turning-out voters to us...
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I was down in Beaumont, TX this weekend and was honored to get to interview David Barton, President and Founder of Wallbuilders. The topic of discussion was "Why and How People of Faith Should be Involved in Politics... David is one of the leading experts in America on the subject. The interview will be posted soon, and I hope you get to hear it.
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Have you ever worked for a candidate who was very smart...maybe too smart to actually win? ...He had good ideas -- trouble is -- he had too many ideas? Or have you ever run into a genius political consultant who (for some unknown reason) also takes stupid and unnecessary gambles? If this rings true to you, then this is for you: Clinical psychologist John Gartner has written an interesting book about this very subject... "Entrepreneurs ... are often arrogant, provocative, unconventional and unpredictable. They are not "well adjusted" by ordinary standards."
From his website: "Hypomania is recognized by psychiatry, as John Gartner points out, as a genetically based condition that endows people with high energy, creativity, accelerated thinking, inflated self-esteem, impulsivity, aggressiveness, and a propensity for taking risks. It is not, by contrast, clinical mania-also called manic depression or bipolar disorder, which is a serious psychiatric illness." Now I'm not at all saying that this is widespread. But I have definitely run into this situation a time or two...
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There is an excellent article out today about how voters make a "blink" decision regarding which political candidates to support. Here are a couple of interesting quotes... "A baby face may win hearts but it doesn't win votes, United States researchers said on Thursday."
"Students picked the winning US congressional candidate nearly 70 percent of the time merely by glancing at their photos and deciding which one looked more competent, they said."Click here for the AP version.
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Thanks to Maureen Pratt for sending me an excellent Peggy Noonan article that underscores my point that people who work in politics are different from the average American. (As Dick Morris said, "The hardest thing in politics is to be an insider and think like an outsider.") In this article, Peggy shows how Howard Dean's rhetoric turns off the average American. In short, Howard has been spending too much time in Washington ...
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"Can't find the right word? You might want to start moving your hands. New research at the University of Alberta suggests that gesturing while you talk may improve your access to language..."
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Memo: You're Not Normal!
You're not normal. Neither am I. Some would say we're "weird" -- I would say we're extraordinary. You read this blog, listen to Rush, watch Hannity ... in short, politics is important to you. ... So you're not really in tune with the average person. See, I've been saying for years that the average person spends just 7 minutes a week thinking about politics. Now, the Washington Times corroborates this ... 61% of Americans could not define a "filibuster"; 4% said it was a medical procedure ...
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The not-so-subtle way to "spin" the press
According to Hotline, when asked about her possible plans to run for Governor, Senator Kay Baily Hutchison (R) said: "I will talk a lot, but if you think you've understood anything I've said, you're misunderstanding" (Levine, Houston Chronicle, 6/8). This is rare: A politician that tells you they're not going to tell ya'...
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5 Indispensable Tools Every Conservative Insider Needs ...
1. AP Stylebook - The Associated Press Stylebook has been called "The Bible of the newspaper industry." Here's why: Most newspapers base their styles on this manual. ... And if you want your press releases to get ink -- you should too! 2. The Almanac of American Politics "Full of maps, census data, and information on topics ranging from campaign expenditures to voting records to interest group ratings, this latest edition of the Almanac of American Politics presents everything you need to know about current American politics in snappy prose framed by cogent analysis." 3. The U.S. Congressional Directory - Includes information on Members of Congress, their picture, phone and fax numbers, key staff, District office contact information. 4. Tray.com - Want to know who Bill Gates gives money to? Check here. In my opinion, this is the best campaign finance disclosure sight out there. 5. Washington Representatives - A must-have for fundraisers and political insiders, this book is a compilation of lobbyists, law firms, unions, legal advisors, and public affairs and government relations representatives.
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Question of the Day
Texas Governor Rick Perry just signed the Abortion Concent Bill. This is a very good picture.  I like it much better than the picture taken when the Partial Birth Abortion Ban was signed (below) ...  Why do you suppose that is?
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The Washington Post has a story today about so-called "centrist" Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson. I know first hand how difficult it is to beat a Democrat in the Heartland. Here's the first trick they pull: "Nelson will never say he's a Democrat," said University of Nebraska political scientist John Hibbing. It's a smart strategy, he said, in a state where registered Republicans heavily outnumber Democrats but voters embrace an independent spirit reflected in their one-of-a-kind nonpartisan, unicameral legislature." Nelson is clearly a smart politician. He repeats this message over and over again: "I'll support the president when I can, oppose when I must. I'll always look for a compromise and solution when possible, and I won't obstruct." Why it Works: "Contrast" is one of the essential ingredients for a persuasive message. By avoiding the "liberal" label -- or even the word "Democrat" -- Nelson deprives his opponents of the ability to make the race be about a conservative Republican vs. a liberal Democrat. This is good news for Nelson because once the conservative vs. liberal issue is taken off the table, Nebraska voters are left with the following criteria to pick a Senator: "Who has the most experience?" "Who is the most likeable?" and "Who can bring home the bacon?" Nelson, of course, wins these contests hands down. This is straight out of the Dick Morris playbook of "triangulation." To use Morris' language, Nelson "hugs" Republicans on issues where Republicans win (In Nebraska, that's God, guns, etc.) and draws contrast with them on issues where Republicans are unpopular. It appears to me that it is nearly impossible for an insurgent campaign to win in this environment. It would take an opponent of an equally large stature -- and a commitment of support from the White House -- to oust Nelson. It's going to be hard for Republicans to get to 60 seats, giving them a "filibuster-proof" majority...
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John Kerry sent out a very nice email offering to help former campaign staffers find a job (if they just fill out this form). The trouble is, he waited until yesterday to send it out (let's see, that's what, seven months after the election?). "Um, I actually was going to help you find a job, before I decided against helping you find a job..." Nevermind a jobs plan for America -- he can't even get his own staffers hired! Morton Blackwell says, "A well run movement takes care of it's own." I guess it's fair to say the liberal movement isn't "well run."
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Kate Kaye writes that online advocacy groups are wasting millions of dollars in futile attempts to influence politicians thru the use of phone calls and form letters... If the way to change the mind of a Senator on issues instead of through lobbyists is phone calls, just hire a speed-dialer," quips Stephen Hourahan, press secretary for Senator Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island..." I say if you really want to influence a politician, don't worry about those form letters. Instead, find a way let him know you are going to raise millions of dollars...for his Primary opponent!
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Here's a lesson for political candidates: Be careful when doctoring photos... From National Journal's Hotline: Schundler's Web site had been displaying a digitally altered photo originally taken at an '04 rally featuring Howard Dean. "In the doctored version, Schundler campaign signs replace the Dean signs," and a "staid Schundler in suit and tie" replaces the space "once occupied by a grinning Dean in shirt sleeves." Laura Reznick, featured in both photos: "I think it's pathetic that he couldn't get a group of his own enthusiastic young people. There are plenty of people my age who are, sadly enough, Republican." Pascoe said the modified photo, used to promote the purchase of Schundler gear, was removed when the camp became aware of it. Schundler's site is operated by Big Fish, which also worked for Dean in '04. Big Fish Creative Dir. Tom Frank apologized to the Schundler camp, and said a junior staffer pulled the photo from the company's collection to make the Schundler ad. Reznick was worried the altered ad "would be used against me." Reznick: "The only way I would volunteer for [Schundler] is if I was trying to jinx him" (Fasbach, Bergen Record, 6/3). Both photos can be seen here.
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A Maxim from Morris...
"Bill Clinton had a rule: Never sleep under the same roof of an unanswered allegation." -From Dick Morris' appearance last night on The O'Reilly Factor:
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Bret Schundler's campaign for New Jersey Governor recently sent an email asking supporters to help pick his next TV spot. A year ago, I used this same technique on a Congressional race in North Dakota. I'm not mad: I stole the concept from Howard Dean's campaign manager Joe Trippi (that's what he gets for putting his ideas in a book). Truthfully, the concept is a terrific mixture of new and old: Using a new medium (the internet) to make strategic decisions about a medium that has been around for forty years -- and still dominates -- TV ads. Here's why the idea works: The contest may generate free publicity (I'm writing about it) and who can ever have enough of that? Voters will view the ads at no charge to the campaign (this is especially important in New Jersey where political candidates must purchase air time in the New York and Philadelphia media markets.) Allowing voters to view the ads before buying air time also allows the campaign to "focus group" the spots. Supporters can help nix bad spots before they are aired. Some supporters may email the campaign and recommend tweaking certain parts of the ad. And perhaps most important, supporters who have been allowed to participate in the strategic process are more likely to become involved in more traditional forms campaigning (they might make a contribution, volunteer, or call friends and ask them to vote for the candidate). This idea flies in the face of the traditional top-down approach taken by most traditional campaigns. These campaigns pay lip service to inclusiveness, but the big decisions are really made by the so-called "smart people" from Washington, DC and New York who decide (from a smoke-filled room, preferably) which ads to run. You can vote for the ads here.
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The Personal Political Science Master's Degree...
If you are willing to spend your time in search of knowledge, you can get the equivalent of a Master's Degree in Political Science -- without spending thousands of dollars. Here's how: 1. Read these books to learn how to win. And read these books to learn about conservative political philosophy. (It's important to be both philosophically sound, and technologically proficient.) Let's be honest, you can get just as much out of reading 40 books as you can from attending most colleges. So pick 40 of these books that interest you...and get busy! 2. Read Matt Lewis & The News regularly, listen to our Expert's Interviews and sign up for our email list. Here's why: Unlike books, this website is interactive. It's designed to be a dialogue that provides you with daily mentoring. Additionally, because of the "real-time" format, we can teach lessons based on current events and cutting-edge technology. Books can't do that, either. 3. Attend at least 10 Leadership Institute courses. Take plenty of good notes, and review them frequently. LI provides top-notch training -- and most of the courses can be attended for around $100. I would say that the training is actually worth tens of thousands! 4. Volunteer on a political campaign or intern on "The Hill." Too many people graduate with a degree in political science without having any real experience...not so with the Campaign Leadership Master's program. I highly recommend you find a way to get some real-life experience. Roll up your sleeves, and get to work.
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Incumbent Advice...
Someone emailed and asked for advice for an incumbent. Here are my thoughts... If you are the incumbent, you are in a very enviable position. At the federal level, incumbents literally win 99 percent of the time (that's not an exaggeration, it's a statistic). Incumbents have better name ID, can raise more money (many PACs have rules that they will only give to incumbents), and often have perks like paid staff and mail franking privileges. Generally (compared to a challenger), an incumbent can afford to be more subtle in drawing contrast between himself and the opponent. For example, instead of saying the opponent is inexperienced, an incumbent can merely talk about how he is experienced (this is a very subtle way of attacking the opponent). This is true so long as the challenger is not posing a serous threat. I would say that as long as the challenger is polling below 40 percent an incumbent can afford to take the approach of not mentioning the challenger by name, which is sometimes called the "Rose Garden" approach. Even if this is the case, the incumbent must still aggressively raise money (to be used in case the race tightens). I also recommend running a vigorous but positive grassroots campaign -- as well as going ahead and doing some oppo research on the challenger. If you notice a challenger is making headway and closing the gap, the incumbent's strategy must change immediately. The incumbent can no longer afford to play nice. At this point, it basically becomes a free-for-all where both sides go on the attack. The incumbent must now demonstrate why the challenger shouldn't represent the district. An incumbent who does not realize the challenger is creeping up on him -- and continues to play by the old rules -- will often be surprised on Election Day. (Note: All Presidential races are close enough that they warrant both sides aggressively going on the attack from day 1.)
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And the Winner Is...
Mel Pinnington in South Carolina has won the prize for the best sign...so far... 
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On "Going Negative"
(Yesterday I sent this out to my email list. It resulted in several emails back and forth, so I thought I'd post it and see if anybody wanted to comment...)  I can tell a challenger candidate is in trouble the minute I hear him say, "Matt, I'm not gonna' do any of that negative political stuff. I'm just gonna' put my resume out there and let the voters decide." He is in trouble because (until you give them a reason to do otherwise) voters will continue re-electing an incumbent. The truth is that elections are about choices and you must give the voters a reason to vote for you -- and a reason to "fire" the incumbent. Now let me say right here that I do not condone unethical campaigning. This includes lies, smears, and the like. What I do relish, however, is good old fashioned hardball politics where the voters are given enough information to choose who will represent them. That's Representative Democracy at its best. Of course, as soon as you start doing this, your opponent will accuse you of "going negative." According to liberal professor George Lakoff, John Kerry's mistake was that he listened to these critics: "(Kerry's) polls told them that the people don't like negative campaigns. It was foolish to listen to that. You cannot be quiet while they make you out to be a villain. You have to find the ways to explain the positive attributes of your candidate, while you campaign negatively about the other candidate." George Lakoff's opinion is certainly not unique. In fact, here are some other respected opinions regarding "negative campaigning": -Roger Stone (Republican consultant) - "Voters will tell you in focus groups that they don't like negative ads, but they retain the information so much better than the positive ones."
-Susan Estrich manager of the 1988 Dukakis campaign) - "Candidates engage in negative campaigning because it works."
-Charles Krauthammer (pundit): "It is easy to discount advertising on the grounds that no one could believe it...Can anyone really believe that beer makes men attractive to women? Yet that pitch continues to be made, year in and year out, for the simple reason that it works. So does negative political advertising."Why elect Reagan in 1980? Because Jimmy Carter was too weak. Why elect Clinton in 1992? Because it was time for a change, and because (so they said) George H.W. Bush had gotten out of touch. Why elect you instead of your incumbent? (It's your turn to fill in the blank). The bottom line is this: If you are a challenger you must be willing to attack your opponent's record. To me, that's not "negative," it's "comparison advertising." If you are not willing to do this, you might want to reconsider whether or not you really want to run for political office. Source Notes: George Lakoff's comment came from an interview in Start Making Sense, Turning the lessons of election 2004 into winning progressive politics. All other quotes all are from Crowded Airwaves, Campaign Advertising in Elections.
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Human Events has published their list of the "10 Most Harmful Books of the 19th & 20th Century. The Communist Manifesto gets top "honors." 
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