How important is the campaign ground game?

[LuFins Dad]

So I saw this post by Stephen King

And it got me to thinking about the campaign ground games. Not the get out the vote efforts, but the information drive.

Obviously, it was hugely important 50 years ago. Campaigns had limited opportunities to get their messages out. People didn’t really know the candidates as well. So flyers, knocking on doors, etc… could have a huge effect. Is it really that important these days? I mean, Trump is all over every news cycle. His people are all over social media, and the television adds are constant. Do flyers really have an effect or are they nuisances?

And let’s ignore the fact that Trump probably isn’t focusing their resources on Maine…

[Doctor Phibes]

Not sure if this qualifies, but I noticed a Trump merchandise store just opened in our little Rhode Island town.

Maybe I'll visit to see if we can buy anything cheap for Halloween.

[Jolly]

The only old stuff I think is effective is person-to-person canvassing and persuasion. Plus ballot-harvesting, where legal.

[Rich]

I don't care who they are, anyone showing up at my door looking for votes is going to get told to 'fuck off' from my talking doorbell.

Ok, probably not that harsh, but the only time it's ever happened was for someone I was probably going to vote for anyway...but man the whole fake conversation was so awkard. There he was, fishing around for some important issue we could bond over. Waste of time for both of us.

[George K]

@Rich said in How important is the campaign ground game?:

I don't care who they are, anyone showing up at my door looking for votes is going to get told to 'fuck off' from my talking doorbell.

This.

Is anyone influence by this stuff? Is anyone influenced by yard signs, bumper stickers or rallies?

I don't get it.

[LuFins Dad]

@George-K said in How important is the campaign ground game?:

@Rich said in How important is the campaign ground game?:

I don't care who they are, anyone showing up at my door looking for votes is going to get told to 'fuck off' from my talking doorbell.

This.

Is anyone influence by this stuff? Is anyone influenced by yard signs, bumper stickers or rallies?

I don't get it.

I do think the yard signs and bumper stickers do help from a social perspective. In this area, being a conservative is like being a pariah. There were no Romney or McCain signs out and about in 12 and 08. It’s kind of discouraging. When you started seeing the Trump signs in 16? Even though I was against the guy? It made you feel better. Made you feel like you weren’t the only conservative in the area… It improved the desire to participate.

[Doctor Phibes]

@Rich said in How important is the campaign ground game?:

I don't care who they are, anyone showing up at my door looking for votes is going to get told to 'fuck off' from my talking doorbell.

"I'm sorry, I'm afraid I'm not a US Citizen" is my politely British way of saying that. I even give them a big smile.

[89th]

@LuFins-Dad agree, overall, that ground campaigns aren't that valuable in this information age, but also agree signage can improve comfort with your own vote. But at the end of the day I'd imagine most people already have their mind made up (or have voted... I got my ballot in the mail last week, too).

I think signage (or rather, ground game) does make a huge difference with local elections. Names are unfamiliar, everyone says the same thing "better schools, safer, better community".

What's funny, is my kids had a lemonade stand at the end of August. We had a good number of people show up, including one guy who was running for local city council. I remember his name and will vote for him just because of that, LOL. Don't get him in trouble for buying my vote via a 50 cent cup of lemonade!

[Jolly]

Never think everybody thinks like you do. Some people hardly think, but they vote. There exists a certain percentage of people that are strictly herd animals. If they become convinced the majority of people are voting one way, they do, too.