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Common Cause International a project of the Common Cause Education Fund

Common Cause International a project of the Common Cause Education Fund. a project of the Common Cause Education Fund Lauren Coletta Guwahati, India September 8, 2009. Basic Strategic Assumptions. Elected officials want the voters approval. Elected officials want to be re-elected.

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Common Cause International a project of the Common Cause Education Fund

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  1. Common Cause International a project of the Common Cause Education Fund a project of the Common Cause Education FundLauren Coletta Guwahati, India September 8, 2009

  2. Basic Strategic Assumptions • Elected officials want the voters approval. • Elected officials want to be re-elected. • Elected officials want to do the "right" thing. • Elected officials are human beings. • Each elected official has a unique political reality. • Elected officials are vulnerable to public pressure.

  3. Elements of a Campaign • Professional Advocacy (Lobbying) • Grassroots Lobbying • Communications/New Media • Research

  4. Raising the Visibility of an Issue inside an Election Campaign • Pledge Campaigns • Outreach to elected officials and parties to adopt your issue • Research/Public Education "Bird Dogging" • Sponsoring Candidate Forums • Earned and Paid Media Strategies

  5. Pledge Campaigns and Campaign Promises • A pledge campaign, is a campaign implemented by a civil society group(s) designed to rally support for ideas and issues they favor. • A pledge campaign begins early in an election cycle, lasts throughout that cycle and well into the legislative session. • A good pledge campaign employs all aspect of a robust advocacy campaign.

  6. Step 1:  Agree on basic principles of your pledge campaign • Internal agreement within the organization. • Agreement among coalition partners and allies. • Agreement and consultation with elected officials who share your goals. • Creation of a Comprehensive Campaign Strategy at the beginning of the process.

  7. Step 2:   Pledge Language • Considerations in framing the pledge language: • The pledge should focus on a narrow set of issues, preferably not more than three. • The pledge should not be written in highly detailed language. • The pledge needs to have enough detail to encompass the basic principles of the issue you are working on. • Example Pledge from Common Cause Campaign • Fair Elections Pledge, Obama • http://tinyurl.com/n56hl3

  8. Step 3. Logistics of a pledge campaign • Create Database of Incumbents and Challengers • Identify targets set goals for signatures • Determine timing issues for launch • Number of sign-ons • Type of sign -ons • Existing media hooks, election timeline, election events

  9. A Word About Targeting • Identify supporters and make a plan with them to prominently feature your issue in their platform. • Identify potential supporters and make a plan to get them to sign on. • Decide whether and how much time to spend on those candidates that oppose your views.

  10. Make a Target Chart         • "Ones" are your friends and should be involved in and aware of your strategies. •  "Twos"  are likely allies, determine how you will bring them closer to your issue. • "Threes" are fence sitters, much of your time will be spent on winning them to your side. •  "Fours" are possible but unlikely to agree with you. •  "Fives"  are people you might want to spend time thinking about how to back them down from their opposition or take away their arguments.

  11. Managing the Campaign • Internal process to manage and publicize sign-ons. • Calendar of all relevant campaign events and deadlines • Paid and Earned Media Strategy • General Timing for Launch • Website and other New Media Strategies

  12. Keeping up the Momentum • Monitor number of pledge signers • Thank Signers, devise ways to light a fire under those who have still not signed. • Look for ways to insert your pledge campaign into the political debate and the media

  13. How???? • Take out ads challenging candidates to sign (Iowa, New Hampshire examples) • Create a website that projects the currents status of the campaign and enables activists to participate. • Release Studies and reports at strategic moments in the campaign. • Look at the news cycle for ways to insert yourself in the debate (Enron example)

  14. After the Election • Now the real work starts • Bed Check, use pledge campaign of a barometer of your support • Introduction of actual legislation • Co-sponsor campaign • Strategize to hold “pledgers” accountable (Melissa Hart example) • Publicize results to your members

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