1836
02-06-2012, 04:48 PM
This has been discussed before, but in light of a new ABC News poll, I think it bears some more consideration.
Our best shot at winning might be to reinforce Ron's strength's with voters while not mentioning what are (in the GOP primary electorate) his weaknesses.
In other words, we need to simplify the message about Ron to voters and make a simple, but positive impression.
Here are a few messages we need to emphasize:
Ron Paul is honest. He tells it like it is, and he doesn't mince words.
Ron Paul is principled. He stands up for what he believes in, no matter whether it is popular or not.
Ron Paul understands the problems facing regular Americans.
Ron Paul is the only candidate serious about our nation's debt crisis.
A summary of these points might be:
"Ron Paul is the most honest, principled candidate running for the Republican nomination. He understands how our nation's mounting debt and overspending threaten the American dream for regular people. Ron Paul will stand up to big government and fight to restore the promise of America for all of her citizens.
You may say, "duh." And yes, this is obvious to all of us who have been around and followed Ron and campaigned/volunteered/worked for him in some way or another. However, it is clear from this poll (and many, many others) that these are the messages which seem to resonate most with voters.
I think a lot of times, when Ron Paul grassroots volunteers (and even the campaign) swing into messaging mode, there is a tendency to get too detailed. We think that because we know so much about Ron Paul and that because Ron Paul knows so much himself about all these little economics details and so on and so forth, that we should somehow include that in our messaging about him.
While that works to an extent, there is a point where people do not care any more. There is a point where people simply want to have an impression of who the candidate is. Maybe we aren't doing as good a job as we could.
If we started making a concerted effort in our grassroots activities and in campaign related messaging to paint Ron Paul as the honest guy who will go to Washington on behalf of average people, we might make some serious inroads.
The supporters we have would not be turned off by such a message. But the people who might be turned on by it could add tremendously to our numbers at the voting booth.
We don't need to overthink this. We need to remember that people often vote on the basis of simple impressions about candidates.
Maybe it is time that we make more of an effort of distilling what voters see as his best qualities, and pushing those, instead of trying so hard to convert people to the entire liberty message.
Here is the Washington Post/ ABC News poll I referenced. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/polls/postabcpoll_020412.html)
Our best shot at winning might be to reinforce Ron's strength's with voters while not mentioning what are (in the GOP primary electorate) his weaknesses.
In other words, we need to simplify the message about Ron to voters and make a simple, but positive impression.
Here are a few messages we need to emphasize:
Ron Paul is honest. He tells it like it is, and he doesn't mince words.
Ron Paul is principled. He stands up for what he believes in, no matter whether it is popular or not.
Ron Paul understands the problems facing regular Americans.
Ron Paul is the only candidate serious about our nation's debt crisis.
A summary of these points might be:
"Ron Paul is the most honest, principled candidate running for the Republican nomination. He understands how our nation's mounting debt and overspending threaten the American dream for regular people. Ron Paul will stand up to big government and fight to restore the promise of America for all of her citizens.
You may say, "duh." And yes, this is obvious to all of us who have been around and followed Ron and campaigned/volunteered/worked for him in some way or another. However, it is clear from this poll (and many, many others) that these are the messages which seem to resonate most with voters.
I think a lot of times, when Ron Paul grassroots volunteers (and even the campaign) swing into messaging mode, there is a tendency to get too detailed. We think that because we know so much about Ron Paul and that because Ron Paul knows so much himself about all these little economics details and so on and so forth, that we should somehow include that in our messaging about him.
While that works to an extent, there is a point where people do not care any more. There is a point where people simply want to have an impression of who the candidate is. Maybe we aren't doing as good a job as we could.
If we started making a concerted effort in our grassroots activities and in campaign related messaging to paint Ron Paul as the honest guy who will go to Washington on behalf of average people, we might make some serious inroads.
The supporters we have would not be turned off by such a message. But the people who might be turned on by it could add tremendously to our numbers at the voting booth.
We don't need to overthink this. We need to remember that people often vote on the basis of simple impressions about candidates.
Maybe it is time that we make more of an effort of distilling what voters see as his best qualities, and pushing those, instead of trying so hard to convert people to the entire liberty message.
Here is the Washington Post/ ABC News poll I referenced. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/polls/postabcpoll_020412.html)