Voted Best Web-Based Political Campaign Software 2 Years Running

Not All Elections End on Election Day

Jim L. Burdge

The Saga of a Lost Campaign Being Won 

As campaign consultants we must offer our clients more than just the usual fare of voter targeting, issue research, polling, message crafting, and all the nuts and bolts of campaigning.

We must be aware of the election laws and the procedures used by local election officials to conduct the elections and enforce these laws. In close elections, the consultant must be ever vigilant for anomalies and obvious changes in voter patterns on a precinct-by-precinct basis.

A case in point is a recent elect

The Three Best Ways for Under-Funded Candidates to Get Their Message Out

Of all the hurdles that first-time candidates and lesser known challengers face when running for office, none is as intimidating as being seriously under-funded.  Money isn't everything when you run for office -- issues count, name recognition is a major bonus, volunteer manpower is important - but without the ability to raise a significant sum of money, it becomes very hard to get your message out and win your election.

There are ways, however, that under-funded candidates can use to get their message out, to persuade voters and raise their profile.  Much lik

Candidates Must Take Business Approach To Run Successful Political Campaigns

Former Senator Alan Simpson once said that most campaigns for office start with a couple of friends, sitting around a table drinking beers.  While this may be the way most campaigns start, they shouldn't stay that way for long.  Too often, local candidates think that the best way to run a campaign is to get some friends involved and the campaign will fall into place on its own.  While some of these types of campaigns win, most lose.  In order to succeed, every campaign, even the most local, most take a business like approach to winning elections.

Tilting the Playing Field: Voter ID & Turnout

Jim Ross

It is one of the great political clichés, the day before an election an analyst says about a race, “it all depends on turn-out.”  That statement is true, but voter turnout is much like Mark Twain said about the weather, everyone complains about turnout but no one does anything about it.  For Gavin Newsom’s mayoral campaign we did something about turnout. 

In December of 2003 while managing Gavin Newsom’s mayoral race we identified the need to effect turn-out in his favor in order to win the election.  San Francisco’s mayoral elections are traditionally close and ver

The Art & Science of Signs and Graphics

Jim Fleming

Want a cleaner, brighter, more readable graphic image for your campaign?  

White Letters on a Dark or Contrasting Background are Better, Especially at Night.

Rendering your name in reverse—white against a contrasting bright or dark colored background—makes your name look larger and improves visibility, especially at night. In fact, according to a study by the Outdoor Advertising Institute, reverse messages are up to 40% more visible. That is the reason that Departments of Transportation use white type against dark green or dark brown backgrounds on the