The Four Elements of Effective Campaigns

For all races large and small, we believe there are four key elements to any successful campaign. Jeff Blodgett talks about what those are and how the Obama campaign effectively utilized them.

At our trainings, we spend hours upon hours on the many elements that come together to make a successful campaign. But at the end of the day, the campaign that prevails is often the one that can successfully embed the following four elements into their campaign:

Authenticity. This word gets thrown around a lot, and while every candidate can be authentic, not every candidate is able to effectively convey it. Authenticity comes when a candidate's message, story, and agenda ring true to people.

Highly disciplined and strategic message. A strategically smart campaign has a laser-beam focus on message and sticks to it, rather than being reactive to the media cycle.

Investment in (and commitment to) an organizing infrastructure. Campaigns that put an emphasis on "field" organizing to have direct conversations with voters will have the infrastructure required to move the voters needed to be victorious.

Raising the resources to win. Running a grassroots campaign is a great thing, but don't assume you can do it on the cheap. Grassroots campaigns are expensive - they mean staff, offices, resources for your volunteers, and more.

Check out Jeff speaking in Minneapolis last week on these four elements and how they played out in the Obama presidential campaign:

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authenticity

Submitted by Curious Jewel (not verified) on November 25, 2008 - 10:43am.

Nice touch on authenticity Jeff! Now, tell us about the difference between Paul Wellstone's authenticity when he was a Senate candidate versus Barack Obama's authenticity while he was a Presidential candidate. I don't think Sarah Palin had helped John McCain. What about Joe Biden? Would Obama benefit more votes if he had chosen a VP that had not voted for the Iraq war but as experience as Joe Biden in terms of pubic service experiences? By the way, I regret that I had missed your speaking in Minneapolis last week.

re: authenticity

Submitted by Jblodgett on November 25, 2008 - 1:08pm.

Thanks for your note and questions. Wellstone's authenticity came from a boldly stated principal that he will always do what he thinks is right, regardless of the consequences. Obama's authenticity comes from a sense that the persona he's presenting--level-headed, post-partisan, reaching for hope--is genuine and not some fake mask he is putting on to win the election. As for Palin and Biden, I think this election proved once again that Presidential races do not turn on the VP pick and in the end I felt that both Palin and Biden were pretty irrelevant to the choice people were making in this election.

Wellstone's authenticity

Submitted by Julie Lee (not verified) on December 1, 2008 - 4:54pm.

I believe Iraq war could have well been prevented if Wellstone's plane had not crashed in October, 2002. We, Minnesotans indeed were very fortunate and honored to have a US Senator such as Paul Wellstone who was so qualified, unselfish, passionate,genuine,bold,sincere, and right-headed to represent all of us. For that, we should be very proud of ourselves. At the same time, it was also our great loss and misfortune that we failed to prevent this devastated tragedy from happening. As of today, I still hear people in our vibrant community wondering how Wellstone plane crashed in the first place. In 2008 Presidential election, we elected Barack Obama as our next president. Based on the election results,voters sent a clear message that Americans disapproved of Bush's Iraq war. Americans spoke, demand change and we are ready for change. One thing for sure, we are yet to find out if obama's authenticity is sufficient to prepare him for the upcoming "mega" job.