Prosper Group Think

Ron Paul revolution at the Indiana GOP Convention?

Is there going to be a Ron Paul revolution at the Indiana GOP Convention?  Apparently, someone thinks so.

Kristen got a call yesterday from 219-000-0000.  The caller asked specifically for her (although we are both delegates to the convention) and identified the survey as one specifically for Indiana delegates to state convention.  They asked three questions:

1.  Do you think that the US should pull out of the War in Iraq?

2.  What is your view of the Patriot Act?

3.  Who did you support for President?

If I were trying to identify Ron Paul delegates without specifically asking, that would be how I would do it.  State Party has been musing about the large numbers of Paulistinians who contacted state party about running for delegate this year.  I've heard numbers as high as 200 identified Paul delegates who made it through on the May ballot.

After the Nevada fiasco, is state party trying to make sure the Paulistinians don't create a riot?  With the AG race sucking everyone's attention, is there a possibility that Ron Paul's delegates are organizing themselves quietly via this phone survey?

** Update:  Another individual who received the call asked who paid for it.  The call was paid for by John McCain.

Interesting...

Transparency: Why you should commit the cardinal sin.

It’s common among political operatives to keep things “close to the vest.”  We’ve all learned the consequences of setting expectations to high or of letting our campaign’s message get confused or muddied by multiple, competing messages.

So we have hesitated to embrace the campaign strategies of 2004 and beyond.  We Republicans are especially guilty.

For instance, we’ve hesitated to fully embrace the power of transparent fundraising.  But one only needs to see the example of Fred Thompson’s Red Truck Challenge (yes, even we contributed) or Ron Paul to see how transparent fundraising can make a big difference (read analysis here and here). 

Transparency is powerful, in my opinion, because it allows real people to take ownership in your campaign and feel connection with the candidate.

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Taking Ownership
Transparency gives ownership to people who’ve never experienced that before.  Previously, in order to have this kind of impact, you had to be someone very influential.  Now everyone can have this feeling of significance.  It’s a basic human need.  People want to feel significant.  They want to be part of something.  When you open up the underbelly of your campaign you give them that.

Authenticity 
Recent political strategies and campaigns have taken away the air of authenticity from our leaders.  These candidates have won and lost on television, primarily with negative ads. 

However, being transparent creates a sense of authenticity to your campaign.  And considering the overwhelming cynicism right now, authenticity is something that voters are craving far more than a slick television ad. 

I know it violates a basic rule of campaigning in the 20th Century, but transparency is quickly becoming a key rule of campaigning in the 21st Century.

Check out some other great posts on transparency here and here.