Voter Demographics – Reaching the Unreachable College Voter
Filed under: Podcast, Red Alert Dossier, local politics
Today’s Red Alert podcast is an interview with Mark Hoger, a conservative 20 year old who attends Iowa State University. We spent a few moments talking about what it takes to engage the 18-25 year old crowd. I know most politicians simply write this group off as Democrats lost to the liberal education system. But tell me that even one vote doesn’t matter today and I’ll show you a candidate who lost. Take a listen as Mark and I chat about what it means to be a conservative college student and how politicians should engage the under 35 crowd.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:07 — 22.1MB)
The Young Don’t Vote Excuse
Filed under: Red Alert Dossier, Social Networking Demographics
I’ve been reading a lot of small race analysis and arm chair quarterbacking lately and I keep bumping into the same logic. “Appeal to the 50-59 demographic because they actually vote and the under 35 crowd doesn’t.” I can say that statistics have proven this theory out in the recent past. However, believe this assumption/mantra/belief is to be followed at your own peril. The candidates who engage the large blocks of younger voters and drive them out to the polls will win with overwhelming majorities. Will you go with the numbers and what the Best Campaign Consultant tells you? Or will you decide to engage voters and blow away the numbers who come out to vote for YOU at the polls.
If you happen to be a candidate in the 35 and under category, you have an amazing opportunity here because over 35’s may vote for you too..while you rewrite the typical election results with your demographic. Stop ignoring the under 35 set and give them a reason to vote…for YOU.
The Shock and Awe Method of Running a Winning Mayoral Campaign
Excluding New York, Chicago, LA…the race for mayor is a far less glamorous affair. Most of the USA is dotted with smaller towns where campaigns don’t eclipse the $5k-$10k mark in raised funds. Let’s take the imaginary AnyTown, USA. AnyTown has 25,000 residents of which 80% are voting age (20,000 citizens). Typically, voter turnout to elect a mayor is 12% of the voting population (2400 citizens) citizens. Of those 2400 citizens the age of the voter skews heavily toward 55+.
Conclusion:
I need to target voters 55+ because they come out and vote. Focusing here will win me the election because although I’d like the others to vote for me, resources are scarce and I must spend them on what gets votes…and not hope.
Recommended Approach:
- Use shock and awe to overwhelm your opponent.
- Mobilize your ground troops to target 18-40 year old voters.
- Leverage social media tools like Facebook, Twitter, blog, and video to build mini-tribes throughout your community. Sign up for Operation Red State of course to maximize your use of technology in the campaign.
- Conduct town hall meetings and live stream each one using Ustream.TV and promote it like crazy with all available online/offline methods.
- Target any colleges in the area and entice youth with free food in exchange for listening to your message.
- Remember the 48-58 year old voters may have kids in college that come home and vote. Don’t ever decide that because Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are 55 and voting for your competition that you can smoke them by winning John and Jane Juniors’ votes.
- Declare that you are the true “Green Candidate” and avoid the use of direct mail completely.
- Have 500 shirts made that are bold and have your campaign slogan on them. Distribute them liberally before parades and any public event you can to show your overwhelming support.
The bottom line is that you want to drive 5000 people out to vote rendering the past model of targeting voters completely useless.
Do you think the next election cycle will be different now that YOU changed the rules…and changed the game? Congratulations Mr. or Mrs. Mayor. Now go to work for your citizens.
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