This document provides an overview of political campaigns, including their history and evolution. It describes the typical structure of a modern campaign, including the roles and responsibilities of key departments like finance, communications, and field. It discusses fundraising needs at different levels of government and the long hours and lifestyle sacrifices required of campaign staff. The document emphasizes the importance of all parts of the campaign working together and suggests ways for people to get involved, such as volunteering.

1. Campaigns 101
Or
Bugging People for Fun and
(Not Very Much) Profit
Joshua Gee -- CAS ’07 -- @jgee

2. Who Am I?
• Boston University -- COM/CAS '07
• Co-Founder, BU Tonight
• President, Boston University College Democrats
• Press Intern, Deval Patrick Campaign (2006 election)
• Press Advance, Obama for America
• Deputy Communications Director, Niki Tsongas Campaign
• Account Executive, Edelman Public Affairs Practice
• New Media Director, Deval Patrick Campaign (2010 election)
• Digital Strategist, Alipes CME

3. A Three Minute
History of
Political Campaigns
Or
I swear I won’t mention that stupid
Kennedy/Nixon debate (OK, just once)

5. 1880 - William Gladstone and the
First Political Campaign

6. “Ubeki-beki-beki-beki-stan-stan”

7. 1956 - First Political
Television Ad

8. 1960 - First Contested
Primary

9. 1992 - First Website

11. Campaign are constantly evolving.

12. Campaign are constantly evolving.
Why is political advertising, and political
facial hair, so much worse than it used to
be?

13. Campaign are constantly evolving.
Why is political advertising, and political
facial hair, so much worse than it used to
be?
Know your history.

14. Make-up of a
Modern Campaign
Or
The best friends you will ever
hate with a fiery passion

15. Field Finance
Communications

16. Field Finance
Digital!
Communications

17. Finance
Or
A campaign is a race between
two organizations to see
which does a better job
going out of business.

19. National State Congress Local

20. National State Congress Local
$750+
Million

21. National State Congress Local
$750+ $10-20
Million Million

22. National State Congress Local
$750+ $10-20 $5-15
Million Million Million

23. National State Congress Local
$750+ $10-20 $5-15 $25-250
Million Million Million Thousand

24. Finance Committee

25. Finance Committee
Finance Director

26. Finance Committee
Finance Director
Dep. Finance Dep. Finance Dep. Finance
Director Director Director

27. Finance Committee
Finance Director
Dep. Finance Dep. Finance Dep. Finance
Director Director Director
Finance Finance
Associate Associate

28. Events

29. Online

30. Phone Time

31. Phone Time
“I hate it, I hate it more than
anything, I f***ing hate it”

33. You will need more money than you
think, and it still won’t be enough.

34. You will need more money than you
think, and it still won’t be enough.
You need a balanced strategy that relies
on online, events, and phone time.

35. You will need more money than you
think, and it still won’t be enough.
You need a balanced strategy that relies
on online, events, and phone time.
Candy can be helpful in bribing candidates
to do phone time.

36. Communications
Or
Dammit, my Blackberry
died again

37. Illusion:

38. Reality:

39. Communications Director
Press Secretary
Deputy Press Secretaries
Press Assistants
Interns

40. Pollsters Media
Consultants
Communications Director
TV
Consultants Big Donors
Press Secretary
Candidate’s
Spouse Candidate’s
College Buddies
Deputy Press Secretaries
Finance
Staff
Press Assistants Field Staff
The Entire Internet
Interns

41. Push Your Message...

42. ...and deal with the
Incoming

44. Half of communications is making sure
that all your consultants are on the same
page.

45. Half of communications is making sure
that all your consultants are on the same
page.
Don’t let yourself get lost in the
incoming.

46. Half of communications is making sure
that all your consultants are on the same
page.
Don’t let yourself get lost in the
incoming.
Be prepared.

47. Field
Or
Getting to 50% + 1

48. Define your Universe

49. Define your Universe
Everyone

50. Define your Universe
Everyone
Voters

51. Define your Universe
Everyone
Your Voters
Voters

52. Define your Universe
Everyone
Your Voters
Likely Voters
Voters?

53. These people vote. Always.

55. Field Director

56. Field Director
Regional Field
R.F.O. R.F.O.
Organizer

57. Field Director
Volunteer Regional Field
R.F.O. R.F.O.
Coordinator Organizer

58. Field Director
Volunteer Regional Field
R.F.O. R.F.O.
Coordinator Organizer
Intern Intern Intern Intern Intern Intern
Intern Intern Intern Intern Intern Intern
Intern Intern Intern Intern Intern Intern

59. So what does this entail?

60. If a door knock
happens, and no
one records it,
does it make a
sound?

62. Persuasion and Identification

63. Persuasion and Identification
Get Out
The Vote

65. Field is critical for more than just
turnout.

66. Field is critical for more than just
turnout.
Track everything.

67. Field is critical for more than just
turnout.
Track everything.
Lawn signs don’t vote.

68. Field is critical for more than just
turnout.
Track everything.
Lawn signs don’t vote.
GOTV your face off.

69. Other Departments

70. Other Departments
Advance

71. Other Departments
Advance
Scheduling

72. Other Departments
Advance
Scheduling
Policy

73. Other Departments
Advance
Scheduling
Policy
Political

74. Campaign Lifestyle
Or
Say goodbye to the people
formerly know as your friends
and family.

75. Balanced
Diet

76. Plenty of
Exercise

77. Hobbies

78. Hobbies
• Working on the campaign

79. Hobbies
• Working on the campaign
• Talking about the campaign

80. Hobbies
• Working on the campaign
• Talking about the campaign
• Reading about the campaign

81. Hobbies
• Working on the campaign
• Talking about the campaign
• Reading about the campaign
• Double-checking your paycheck to make
sure there wasn’t an error. There wasn’t.

82. So why do it?
Charlie: I've never felt
like this before.
Josh: It doesn't go
away.

83. How to Get Involved in
Campaigns
Or
Wait, seriously? Did you not see
that last section?

84. Ninety percent of life is just showing up.
- Woody Allen

85. What you will be doing
Making Phone Calls
Organizing Volunteers
Entering Data
Answering Phones
Stuffing Envelopes
Making Media Lists
Holding Signs
Making Invite Lists
Helping RFOs
Moving Stuff Around
Canvassing

86. What you will be doing
Making Phone Calls
Organizing Volunteers
Entering Data
Answering Phones
Stuffing Envelopes
Making Media Lists
Holding Signs
Making Invite Lists
Helping RFOs
Moving Stuff Around
Canvassing
Lots of boring stuff until you
prove you are smart

87. Things not to say

88. Things not to say
“I am more of a big-idea guy”

89. Things not to say
“I am more of a big-idea guy”
“I was hoping to do some speechwriting, maybe some policy”

90. Things not to say
“I am more of a big-idea guy”
“I was hoping to do some speechwriting, maybe some policy”
“I have a great idea for a new commercial”

91. Things not to say
“I am more of a big-idea guy”
“I was hoping to do some speechwriting, maybe some policy”
“I have a great idea for a new commercial”
“I’ll do anything but phone calls, canvassing, or data entry”

92. Things not to say
“I am more of a big-idea guy”
“I was hoping to do some speechwriting, maybe some policy”
“I have a great idea for a new commercial”
“I’ll do anything but phone calls, canvassing, or data entry”
“You guys are really sucking and it is important we get
[candidate] elected, here is what we should do”

94. Keep showing up and working hard and
you will succeed.

95. Keep showing up and working hard and
you will succeed.
Campaigns like team players.

96. Keep showing up and working hard and
you will succeed.
Campaigns like team players.
Find a rabbi.

97. Final Thoughts

98. Campaigns are extremely difficult and
incredibly rewarding.

99. Every Campaign Manager will bring their
own set of experiences and biases to a
campaign. Every campaign is different.

100. Every part of the campaign team is
essential for success. If you work on a
campaign, you should be ready to pitch in
on any project and get your hands dirty.

101. Know your history.

102. Seriously, signs are just useless.

103. THANK
YOU
Paid for by the Friends of the Committee to End Lawn Signs
Joshua Gee
@jgee
jgee84@gmail.com