Deep Red Road Trippers

Self | 9/15/08 | Self

[ccmay]

My friends and I here in safely-Republican Arizona are wondering how we might best help out the party in neighboring "purple" states on Election Day.

We've taken the Monday through Wednesday off work, and want to make a road trip to either Nevada or Colorado to help with the "ground game" of getting our voters to the polls.

Do we contact the campaign, or the state Republican parties, or what?

Is it better to go to Democratic strongholds like Denver or Las Vegas, or to concentrate on the rural areas?

We can provide our own vehicles and pay for our own expenses, and then some.

Anyone have suggestions for the most efficient thing to do?

[ccmay]

Thanks!

[GOPinCa]

Good for you! Thank you for doing that to help out our cause!! I would contact the McCain campaign offices in whichever state you want to help in. They’d probably direct you to where the help is most needed. Again, thank you!!

[itsPatAmerican]

I would think you'd have the most luck, in shear numbers, by going to the densely populated urban centers. By percentage they might not be as Republican as the rural areas, but in terms of Republicans per mile you'll do better. There are some big suburbs that are pretty red, but the middle class is those places are usually pretty motivated to vote already.

And you can gamble while you're there :-)

[1-Eagle]

I would contact the campaign at JohnMcCain.com they have a good system for working with volunteers set up. Also, I would suggest adding New Mexico to the list.

See current status here (not that I trust polls):

RealClearPolitics Electoral Map

[1-Eagle]

Densely populated urban centers may need work, but our votes are traditionally in the small towns outside them.

[itsPatAmerican]

My thinking was this:
10% of a million is a lot higher than 95% of 30,000.
Urban areas are less Republican (my example is extreme) but there are still more Republicans per square mile, and therefore you'd do more good.

I'm not a strategist--but my back of the napkin calculations look good to me.

[aberfoyle]

There will be a big and important 72-Hour effort using scores of volunteers, just as there was with the past two elections. I’ve already signed up to help on a Legal team in a swing state TBD. Your help is needed also. Contact the McCain campaign office for your home state.

[Owen]

Sometimes the optimal place to be is not where you think. Certainly a battleground state, but . . . for example, if you wish to help Nevada stay red, Las Vegas may not be the best place to work the phones. Reno might be. Your contribution is GOTV. Get Out The Vote. You do that by reminding people who lean McCain to vote, in case they might have forgotten — and some will have. THAT, is a clear and distinct vote you earned.

When you go somewhere to help, plan on it being the final weekend before the election. It is THEN that voters need to be reminded. The best contribution you can make is to serve on a phone bank.

There will be a room with cellphones laid out on tables and lists of voters to call. You call them and you read a spiel. You do not debate. You do not chit chat. It’s work, not fun. Time spent debating is time not spent calling another voter. It’s about numbers, not philosophy.

Check the campaigns for the states for the addresses of campaign headquarters. The phone bank will be there. Call the headquarters a few days ahead to confirm that is where they want you to go.

GOTV is the very best way to contribute. It has the most direct translation to votes. Everyone wants to be a policy wonk and a strategist, but you can’t expect to show up a few days before election day and be called upon for that. What is needed then is phone calls to voters and a polite apology for bothering them on a Sunday, and a reminder to them to vote McCain Tuesday. Thank you, hang up, call the next.

It’s hard work, but it’s rewarding.

[EDINVA]

agree with advice to contact johnmcain.com and click the volunteer box ... I recently received a request to travel to a neighboring state under the terms you and your friends seem willing to make (i.e., find your own lodging and pay your own costs). Wonderful that you can and are willing to do this... good luck in whatever you do.