Daily newspapers are not house organs for political parties, and in that regard, we are no different. We wouldn't know how to conduct a political campaign. But we think we've learned over the past couple of months how not to conduct one.
Based on what we've observed, plus what readers and callers have told us, we've seen some tactics during the recent congressional campaign that would prompt us to advise against a repeat.
Here are some of the tips we'd offer future candidates: Make yourself available to the public and the news media. Notice we didn't say make your spokesman available. One thing reporters seemed to find annoying was that the candidates in the 23rd Congressional District were rarely on hand for comments, though we received plenty from spokesmen.
Try to address issues and what you'd do about them, rather than just talking about what an inferior job your opponent would do. All the negative advertising surely got under voters' skin, and very early on. They cared a lot more about the problems in the district and the country and the candidates' proposed solutions to them than looking at unflattering photos of your opponents and hearing a string of insults.
Ease up on the roadside and front-yard signs in favor of more substantive advertisements. Your name on a roadside sign doesn't illuminate voters much on how you're going to vote on key issues.
Whatever you do, don't let anyone on your team near a telephone next campaign. We heard more complaints about the so-called robo-calls than anything else. Those are those phone calls wherein the phone rings, the resident picks it up, only to hear a taped recording of why we should vote for one candidate and not another and reminding us that Election Day is right around the corner. More backs, and dispositions, were thrown out climbing out of the recliner seven or eight times a day than either candidate would want to hear about.
Suspend all the polling-place harassment. Many people told us that vehicles with advertising on them were patrolling parking lots within reach of voters into and out of the polling place, which is in contravention of election law. Some zealots were shouting to or at people going in to vote, which is another violation. That kind of behavior is destined not to fulfill its intended purpose.
To sum up, run a campaign of which your mother would be proud. Don't harangue, obfuscate or equivocate. Don't assail, insult or pester. Formulate and state your position and trust the voters to take it from there. If they agree with your position, they will vote for you.
If they don't, all that other falderal is only going to make matters worse.
Opinion
November 7, 2009
EDITORIAL: Campaign etiquette was missing
- Editorial
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Editorial: A pair of aces among the Cards
How fitting was it for Bob Emery and Kevin Houle to achieve coaching milestones on the same day and in the same building.
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Editorial: A pair of aces among the Cards
- Cheers and Jeers
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Cheers and Jeers: Feb. 6, 2012
CHEERS to Dr. Anne Cahill and JEERS to drivers who don't signal for turns and changing lanes.
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Cheers and Jeers: Feb. 6, 2012
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In My Opinion: E'town water, sewer essential
Elizabethtown has a history of economic ups and downs, Town Supervisor Margaret Bartley writes.
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In My Opinion: E'town water, sewer essential
