Rand Paul Blimp?

[SwordOfShannarah]

In this article Rand Paul mentions he really liked the blimp and would love to see it come back.

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washingt...-like-son.html

I personally don't think (at least not at this point) that a full sized $400K a month blimp makes sense at this time BUT there are other options. We spoke with another company that has smaller hot air ships that go for about $70 - $80 K per month (plus a one time cost for banners). That's still up there a bit but much more doable.

I think a blimp actually makes a lot more sense in a geographically focused area. It will be possible to get the kind of repetition you need to really make the marketing aspect of the effort work. Ron Paul's blimp was more of a national PR stunt and it did generate about 4 times what we paid for it in publicity. This blimp would get PR and traditional advertising/marketing value because it could stay pretty much in one place. Also the blimp can be deflated, packed up and moved from location to location which completely eliminates flyovers in low population areas.

This is a video from the company that makes the smaller blimps.

YouTube - Flying Carrot Lindstrand Balloons Airship

http://www.lindstrand.co.uk/our-products-airships.php

What do you think?

[dr. hfn]

hell no

[SwordOfShannarah]

hell no

lol- this thread is going to be fun

[TruthisTreason]

Rand's hometown is known for a balloon classic.

[Cowlesy]

lol trevor can we just get the moneybomb to be a homerun first and then talk air-ships and RandCopters

[Matt Collins]

I personally don't think (at least not at this point) that a full sized $400K a month blimp makes sense at this time BUT there are other options. We spoke with another company that has smaller hot air ships that go for about $70 - $80 K per month (plus a one time cost for banners). That's still up there a bit but much more doable.

I think a blimp actually makes a lot more sense in a geographically focused area. It will be possible to get the kind of repetition you need to really make the marketing aspect of the effort work. Ron Paul's blimp was more of a national PR stunt and it did generate about 4 times what we paid for it in publicity. This blimp would get PR and traditional advertising/marketing value because it could stay pretty much in one place. Also the blimp can be deflated, packed up and moved from location to location which completely eliminates flyovers in low population areas.

What do you think?

From a marketing perspective, it is better to do targeted advertising on TV, mailers, radio, etc. That is going to be the best spent money. And for that reason I was against the original Ron Paul Blimp because that money could've been spent in more effective places.

However, in such a small geographic area, for maybe the last week of the campaign, having a blimp hitting every major market in KY would potentially be beneficial because it would generate lots of PR in a small state like KY. The only thing to keep in mind is that in May KY weather can be turbulent and stormy.

So if every PAC and the campaign are fully funded and able to fufill their wishlish of advertising, then yes I think we should do a blimp. Short of that, traditional and proven advertising methods should remain the focus.

[Cowlesy]

though as an aside, I'd love to have one of those airships to take to work each day

[IPSecure]

What is wrong with the Mini-Blimp, cruising around Liberty Web Sites, or even the Kentucky State Fair?

Web Site Mini-Blimp: YouTube - Donate to Ron Paul's "Microscopic Ron Paul Blimp" campaign

Real Mini-Blimp: YouTube - Ron Paul Mini Blimp

[brandon]

Let's start out with a hot air ballon

[RonPaulFanInGA]

It'd be nice to have something gimmicky. In one state, instead of the whole country like with the original Ron Paul blimp, I think something like this would be very effective in obtaining media attention and getting Rand Paul's name out to apathetic people.

A blimp, a hot air balloon, a steamboat....something.

[Ethek]

Even the population centers in Kentucky are really spread out. A total car culture. You could say fly a blimp up 31W in Bowling Green or New Circle in Lexington and still only hit a small small fraction of the population. The rest will be just over a group of trees or in an air conditioned house. News media, signage and word of mouth referrals are where its going to be, im not sure how much playtime a blimp is going to get vs the drone of 'sec of state Greyson did this today' stories that would be time fillers for the networks stations.

[IPSecure]

Fly it over the Kentucky State Fair, starts on the 20th...

[Kotin]

Fly it over the Kentucky State Fair, starts on the 20th...

now that would be cool..

[IPSecure]

now that would be cool..

We need booths at all state fairs!!!

- C4L too...

[Michigan11]

In this article Rand Paul mentions he really liked the blimp and would love to see it come back.

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washingt...-like-son.html

I personally don't think (at least not at this point) that a full sized $400K a month blimp makes sense at this time BUT there are other options. We spoke with another company that has smaller hot air ships that go for about $70 - $80 K per month (plus a one time cost for banners). That's still up there a bit but much more doable.

I think a blimp actually makes a lot more sense in a geographically focused area. It will be possible to get the kind of repetition you need to really make the marketing aspect of the effort work. Ron Paul's blimp was more of a national PR stunt and it did generate about 4 times what we paid for it in publicity. This blimp would get PR and traditional advertising/marketing value because it could stay pretty much in one place. Also the blimp can be deflated, packed up and moved from location to location which completely eliminates flyovers in low population areas.

This is a video from the company that makes the smaller blimps.

YouTube - Flying Carrot Lindstrand Balloons Airship

http://www.lindstrand.co.uk/our-products-airships.php

What do you think?

This flying ballon airship carrot is exactly what we need!

I vote with an enthusiastic YES.

[fedup100]

What is wrong with the Mini-Blimp, cruising around Liberty Web Sites, or even the Kentucky State Fair?

Web Site Mini-Blimp: YouTube - Donate to Ron Paul's "Microscopic Ron Paul Blimp" campaign

Real Mini-Blimp: YouTube - Ron Paul Mini Blimp

Or hot air ballons, they are so awesome you can't help but stare at them and you could charge for rides to pay for it, plus they are much closer and easier to read.

If rand wants something like this it should be done. You know he is being put into place to be the Pres. since Ron will be too old.

[MRoCkEd]

A nice cheap gimmick would be good - but nothing near as expensive as the original blimp.

[He Who Pawns]

$#@! NO.

1 star.

We need Rand to be taken SERIOUSLY.

[MsDoodahs]

When Rand has SATURATED THE AIRWAVES with QUALITY television spots, then and only then is a "blimp" worth considering.

$400K for a BLIMP?

When there is not a SINGLE ADVERTISEMENT ON THE AIR RIGHT NOW?

You guys, don't be foolish - and don't be fooled.

Please.

[fedup100]

$#@! NO.

1 star.

We need Rand to be taken SERIOUSLY.

I think they are taking Ron Paul seriously. If you are judging by the msm coverage during the election, you were just watching the baghdad Bob's cover for the take over.

Trust me, Rand will get the same treatment no matter what he does by these thugs.

[MsDoodahs]

Rock - do you HONESTLY think that Rand would benefit by going with CHEAP GIMMICKS?

I don't think a cheap gimmick is what any voters are interested in seeing these days.

ISSUES ISSUES ISSUES on the TELEVISION TELEVISION TELEVISION.

If you think you'll win Kentucky by doing a few online things, you're dead wrong.

[dr. hfn]

We should do cheaper gimmicky things after we have alot of dough and have done real campaigning.

[MRoCkEd]

Rock - do you HONESTLY think that Rand would benefit by going with CHEAP GIMMICKS?

lol
on second thought, probably not

but i don't think a rand paul hot air balloon over some big fair would be the worst idea

i'm not saying we should replace traditional methods of campaigning though, such as direct mail and TV ads, which definitely need to be the main priority

[Aratus]

i agree with our wise and learned moderator!
it makes more sense to hand out FREE helium
campaign balloons at a fair to the very young!

[MsDoodahs]

i agree with our wise and learned moderator!
it makes more sense to hand out FREE helium
campaign balloons at a fair to the very young!

OOOOOOOOOOH I do LOVE THIS IDEA!

Booth at the fair, hand out ballooons to the kiddies - can you do that IN EXCHANGE for their parent taking written material on Rand Paul??

[gls]

Why waste tens of thousands of dollars on a blimp? Something like that could easily backfire.

Money should be spent on high-quality radio and TV ads, because that's what works.

[MRoCkEd]

Good idea, Aratus. Mommy, we want a balloon!!!

"Ugh, I guess I'll support Rand if that's what it takes to shut these damn kids up!"

[Aratus]

maybe we need an obvious yet quiet two or three ballon cut-off per child,
especially since that almost invariably at each Forth of July parade we have
some poor three or five year old crying and all turning to watch the child's
balloon go skyward... at the last one, i saw 12 balloons of varying colors
go aloft. any unhappy preschooler is going to desire a replacement. this is
where a longish & very supportive pitch would make the parnet's day...again!

[Eric21ND]

The blimp is kinda "cool" and media friendly, but in terms of hard votes what did it achieve?

The states it flew through were some of Dr. Paul's most dismal showings, both in hard votes and fund raising.

[Eric21ND]

We need booths at all state fairs!!!

- C4L too...

Now that would be far more effective. A mini blimp at the state fair I'd be fine with, but not a monetary sinkhole like the original Ron Paul blimp.