A recent post in a Daily Kos comment thread triggered the thought that little attention is being paid to the current status of the ground game for the Bernie 2016 campaign. This diary is a look at the state of the campaign organization on the ground in one location in rural NH. Perhaps more importantly, it is also an attempt to answer the question: How do we get from where we stand today, to his nomination as the Democratic candidate next summer? We are now almost exactly six months to the day from the first in the nation primary, and there is much work to do.
Bernie volunteers registering Town Hall Meeting attendees
Bernie’s recent surge in early primary state polls has caught many political observers by surprise, since he has already surpassed the 20% level of support that the conventional wisdom had as his ceiling. What was supposed to be a far left fringe candidacy has gone mainstream very quickly, as demonstrated by the fact that he is drawing crowds in the tens of thousands. Meanwhile both his Democratic and Republican competitors are speaking to gatherings a fraction of that size.
But crowd size and early poll numbers do not replace a structured primary campaign organization. So the question must be asked, how do his supporters capitalize on and maintain the momentum from the huge success of his on-line organizing event last month? Head below the fold to find out our status and what you can do to help.
Despite the fact that New Hampshire is an early primary state, newly named Granite State campaign director Julia Barnes just came on board this past week. The headquarters in Concord has only been open a little over a month, and the first canvass took place this past Saturday. The professional staff consists of a political director, operations director, and two field organizers. They will manage the effort, but volunteers like us must make up the bulk of the work to get Bernie a win in the primary here. The organization that is built for the primaries will serve in the general so the earlier people get started the better.
Autumn in NH means election time is near
Our group of about 20 people came primarily from the house party here in the central NH Lake Sunapee region, but we are rapidly adding people as time passes by networking with friends and family and talking about Bernie. Our first activity has been setting up the agenda and planning our next group organizational meeting, so that we can assign tasks and begin the real work.
At first we had trouble connecting with the state organization, since they were really not set up to do business yet, and there was little information on the Google. This will undoubtedly be the case in most states for the same reasons. Don’t be discouraged by a lack of knowledge at the national help desk, or even the fact that there may not be a formal statewide organization yet in your area. We called looking for direction, and they said resources were being sent first to the early primary states. Well DUH, this is New Hampshire and we're the first.
We were able to go down to the HQ and make contact with one of the field organizers, who immediately agreed to come to our next meeting and give us some direction. He will also inform us of what resources are available from the campaign and how to coordinate with them. But if this had not been the case we were ready to rock and roll, and proceed on our own. So I would encourage you to begin the organizational process, especially in those states where there are party registration deadlines that would stop Independents and non voters from casting ballots in the primaries. The activities we are contemplating, and that you can try include:
* If you can't get lists for phone banking and canvassing, voter registration lists are available for a nominal fee directly from the towns and cities, so you can create your own. Establish your own lists of supporters to be used in GOTV efforts.
* Concentrate on early voter registration drives and carry registration materials with you when you begin canvassing.
* Make sure you have group members involved in the local Democratic committees to give you access to some of the tools Howard Dean put in place as DNC chair.
* Plan out where to do tabling and seek permissions to do so. Try setting up at the town green, outside malls, at farmers’ markets, or even at the town transfer station. If you don’t have curbside garbage pick-up, everyone goes to the dump eventually.
* If need be create your own literature, pledge cards, and related materials.
* Look to create opportunities on the campuses of the colleges in your area, to register and draw in student voters. A voter registration drive has great chances to be approved by the college.
* Take advantage of local cable access stations and produce your own programming for Bernie. And don’t forget the college radio stations if you have members that are students.
* Write letters to the editor.
* Host grassroots fundraisers.
* Coordinate with adjoining groups of Bernie volunteers so you can help them and they can help you. Make this the best GOTV operation anyone’s ever seen.
* Network with fellow Kossacks from the comment threads. If you see someone who mentions your area, private message them and make contact. This community is a wonderful resource, with great people who have contacts and knowledge.
I could go on, but you get my point. Seek out and get involved in your local groups and help out where you can, even if there isn't a formal campaign structure in place yet. Have your group ready to go when the pros finally arrive. The primary season is front loaded, so we can’t waste time waiting for them. There’s a place and a task for everyone, and it’s up to each to find his or her own. We can do this!!!
As Bernie says in all his stump speeches "this isn't about me, it's about you", and that's what a people powered revolution is all about. So be afraid, oligarchs, be very afraid.