mkeller
02-13-2008, 12:51 PM
Well, maybe not. But it's pretty close. It's faster than going door to door. And it's cheaper than mailing. It's . . .
Phone Canvassing!
Yes people, it's really effective. If you do it the right way - i.e., not the way they tell you to do it on the official site.
I tried doing the Non Advocacy poll last Saturday, and I got hung up on six times in a row, and then when one person finally took the survey, she turned out to be a Democrat. :( But then I remembered a couple of the members on here recommending telling people up front that you're volunteering for Ron Paul, and saying that you're a neighbor of theirs. I PM'd an old hand on here, and he said the same thing, so I tried it - yesterday evening (between 5 and 8 p.m. is the best time to call during weekdays, I think); using the following as a script:
Hello, is this Mr/Mrs. Surname?
I'm Mark Keller, a neighbor of yours from over on County C, and I'm calling all the people in our precinct to remind them that our presidential primary is on the 19th. And I'm wondering if you've considered Presidential Candidate Dr. Ron Paul?
And it works wonders! I called 19 people, and only got hung up on twice! One couple said that they were voting for Ron Paul, and just about everyone else said they'd consider it (I even nearly converted a Democratic Quaker!).
(On second thought, it might be better to tell them the date of the primary after you find out if they're considering Ron Paul, so that you don't encourage any McCainers to vote. ;) )
If they sound interested, I then ask them if they want any more info. For people who know nothing about Ron Paul, I read the short description of him from his Issues page, and for everyone who wants more information, I either direct them to the website or ask for their address, so I can send them some slim-jims.
So folks, if your state hasn't voted yet, and you aren't a Precinct Leader yet, become one! That's an order! And then call people.
And: being shy is no excuse. I'm rather a shy guy myself, but I survived, and I'm planning on continuing until I've called everyone in my precinct. Also, doing it the neighborly way is much easier than doing the poll. If you survey your neighbors as recommended by HQ, they think of you as a telemarketer, and get mad and hang up. But if you come across as a friendly, sincere neighbor, they're almost all very friendly themselves (or at least they all were where I live, but then I live in a rural, mostly-senior community).
So . . . get started!
(and yes, this is cross-posted - but people need to know!)
Phone Canvassing!
Yes people, it's really effective. If you do it the right way - i.e., not the way they tell you to do it on the official site.
I tried doing the Non Advocacy poll last Saturday, and I got hung up on six times in a row, and then when one person finally took the survey, she turned out to be a Democrat. :( But then I remembered a couple of the members on here recommending telling people up front that you're volunteering for Ron Paul, and saying that you're a neighbor of theirs. I PM'd an old hand on here, and he said the same thing, so I tried it - yesterday evening (between 5 and 8 p.m. is the best time to call during weekdays, I think); using the following as a script:
Hello, is this Mr/Mrs. Surname?
I'm Mark Keller, a neighbor of yours from over on County C, and I'm calling all the people in our precinct to remind them that our presidential primary is on the 19th. And I'm wondering if you've considered Presidential Candidate Dr. Ron Paul?
And it works wonders! I called 19 people, and only got hung up on twice! One couple said that they were voting for Ron Paul, and just about everyone else said they'd consider it (I even nearly converted a Democratic Quaker!).
(On second thought, it might be better to tell them the date of the primary after you find out if they're considering Ron Paul, so that you don't encourage any McCainers to vote. ;) )
If they sound interested, I then ask them if they want any more info. For people who know nothing about Ron Paul, I read the short description of him from his Issues page, and for everyone who wants more information, I either direct them to the website or ask for their address, so I can send them some slim-jims.
So folks, if your state hasn't voted yet, and you aren't a Precinct Leader yet, become one! That's an order! And then call people.
And: being shy is no excuse. I'm rather a shy guy myself, but I survived, and I'm planning on continuing until I've called everyone in my precinct. Also, doing it the neighborly way is much easier than doing the poll. If you survey your neighbors as recommended by HQ, they think of you as a telemarketer, and get mad and hang up. But if you come across as a friendly, sincere neighbor, they're almost all very friendly themselves (or at least they all were where I live, but then I live in a rural, mostly-senior community).
So . . . get started!
(and yes, this is cross-posted - but people need to know!)