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Campaign Top 10
Activities
M
Fill out, on time, compilation booklet being
ost of the cam-
paign mater- 1 all required legal
paperwork. It’s a
hassle, and as Libertarians
filled with “the Libertarian
candidate did not respond to
the survey.” Answering the
ial in this package,
we tend to look on campaign questions in a forthright
while applicable for
all levels of cam-
The Top 10 reporting as just so much
more governmental red tape.
manner can garner you some
positive publicity even from
But the “all publicity is good groups that are not in
paigns, is geared activities publicity” theory falls flat
when the story is about you
general agreement with our
party’s positions.
toward the serious
candidate running for all being fined for not filling out
your disclosure forms. Plus,
If you have trouble with
any survey questions due to
in a local race.
The more you follow
LP infor- campaign disclosure laws
actually serve as restraints
on political power, and on
tricky wording, feel free to
contact LP National Director
Ron Crickenberger for
the campaign techniques
and activities in the
mational that level at least could be
supported by Libertarians.
assistance. Call him at:
s (202) 333-0008 Ext. 227.
manual, the more suc-
candidates s Or via e-mail at:
2
Return all media RonCrickenberger@hq.LP.org
cessful your campaign
calls promptly.
will be. The opportunity Attend all candi-
But at this stage of
our party’s development,
many of our campaigns
the Party in terms of
public and media expo-
for “free” media exposure is
one of the most valid reasons
for running an informational
4 date forums to
which you are
invited. This is another
are of the limited, or sure. But even strictly or paper campaign. If you do avenue for easy publicity that
“informational” type. “paper” campaigns not return calls quickly, this should never be passed up.
taints the reporter’s view not It’s not the people in the live
These campaigns serve should have goals and only of your campaign, but of audience that are important;
valuable functions for standards. Libertarians in general. they are usually candidate
The first five items on supporters who already have
our top ten list comprise
3
Answer all candi- their minds made up. But the
a “must do” for all date surveys you forums are covered by
Libertarian campaigns. receive. Some of media, who will spread the
them may seem irrelevant, message to people who
and others may have ques- haven’t made up their minds
tions worded in such a way about which candidate to
as to not really allow a support.
Written by Libertarian answer.
Ron Crickenberger But nothing looks worse
than an organization’s survey

2. Get a good “head
5
important for the LP’s long- prepare one for Libertarians,
shot” photo term success. I encourage and another for the general
done, preferably you to include an LP mem- public. For bonus points, join
by a professional. You’ll bership form on any literature. Toastmasters, which will
need it to graduate from a probably lead to speaking
strictly paper campaign to a engagements itself.
7
Prepare a news
higher-level informational release about
campaign. The photo should your candidacy. Raise at least
be included in any mailings
or press releases sent to the
media. It will increase the
If your campaign covers only
a small area, hand deliver as
many press releases as
10 some money for
your campaign.
The program described in the
chances of newspaper possible (along with photo). enclosed flier “Raising Money
coverage. Use this as a way to intro- Quickly: Raising Your First
O
Plus, the Libertarian Party nce you’ve met duce yourself to local $2,500 in Seven Days” will
might be able to use your reporters. Basic news release work for you as it has for
photo for inclusion in these mini- structure is covered in your hundreds of other candi-
publicity campaigns that we mum requirements campaign manual. dates. You simply have to
can handle for you. Please use it. Nothing will push your
for a campaign,
8
send us your photo ASAP, to Prepare a press campaign further than using
Ron Crickenberger at: kit. This should other people’s money to
s Libertarian Party
here are the next include your spread the Libertarian
2600 Virginia Avenue, NW steps you should photo, your announcement message.
Suite 100 news release, and a list of
Washington DC 20037.
take to move your short quotes from you on the
campaign to the issues you’ll be stressing in
your campaign. This is also
next level of success. the stage where you should
be preparing a brochure or
Set goals for your
6 campaign. Set
aggressive but
realistic goals — ones that
campaign card. You may also
wish to include the LP’s
history sheet and other party
literature. (See the enclosed
are appropriate for your order form.)
expected level of activity.
Don’t set a goal to win unless
you intend to be at least as
active as the major party
candidates.
9 Write a “stump”
speech. This is
your basic cam-
paign speech, which explains
All goals should be in who you are, why you’re
terms of specific numbers. running, and what you would
Good goals for informational do if elected. You should
level campaigns could be to
win your home precinct, to
increase your vote totals by a
certain percentage over
previous Libertarian cam-
paigns in your area, to do a
certain number of media
interviews, or to increase LP
A P R O D U C T I O N O F
membership in your area by The National LP Headquarters
a certain number. 2600 V I R G I N I A A V E N U E , NW, S U I T E 100
The latter is particularly W A S H I N G T O N , DC 20037
P H O N E : (2 02) 333-0008
F A X : (202) 333- 0072 • WWW.LP.ORG