Holidays are a time we all take a break and spend time with family and friends. For candidates who need to talk to voters and raise money, holidays can be hard because you have to find the right balance between keeping focused on your race and also giving folks the space to not talk about politics :) Not easy…I remember these moments when I ran YDA or when I would get calls from candidates anxious to get going.
Our friends at National Democratic Training Committee put out these great tips for how to campaign over the holidays!
I look forward to seeing everyone at the Jan. 14 State Central Committee Meeting. All Dems and Indys welcome to come! You can get the details on the NDP Facebook page.Merry Christmas Fellow Dems,
Jane Kleeb, Nebraska Democratic Party Chair
? HOLIDAY TIPS FOR CANDIDATES ?
1. Send Holiday Cards – Now is a perfect time to send a holiday card to every supporter, volunteer, and donor in your database. Holiday cards are a little work, but worth the effort. They help maintain your list and keep relationships warm with those who support your campaign. Don’t just do an email, send a letter. Write personal notes on the cards to special volunteers and important supporters.
2. Volunteer at Charity Events – If you’ve just run for office, often you’ll find the volunteers and people who were working on your campaign 24/7 leading up to Election Day may be experiencing a bit of withdrawal. Get them together again to volunteer, not for the campaign, but at a local soup kitchen, homeless shelter, or other charity in your community.
3. Raise Money for Good Causes – Again, not for your campaign, but use your list to support a good cause. Ask your donors to give to an organization you believe in and is working in your district. Most organizations will work with you to setup a webpage or some donor portal to make it as easy as possible.
4. Make Thank You Calls – When is the last time you called your VIP volunteers, political allies, and donors without an ask? Use the time between now and New Years to make a call without an ask, just to say Happy Holidays. Too often campaigns only communicate when they need something. This is a chance to let these people know they are appreciated and grow a relationship with them. It will pay big dividends next year when you are calling to make an ask.
For candidates with primaries in early 2017, you can combine the above with asks for support and contributions. You don’t have time to spare. For incumbents, local parties, and others use the next few weeks to make new friends and catch up with old ones.
The National Democratic Training Committee offers free online, on-demand training to any Democrat running for office. The Nebraska Democratic Party created the new Blue Bench Project, chaired by Senators Morfeld and Wishart, to train candidates and party leaders. You can sign up for the Blue Bench Project here!
