There wasn't much going on for the recent primary on the Dem side of things, so I haven't had much to chew on. But the morning after, I was listening to Dante on NHPR as I always do for election results, and something he said has stuck with me. He was talking about Annie Kuster's 71% win over Katrina Swett in the NH CD 02 Democratic primary. Now neither woman is new to NH politics, but Katrina had much greater name recognition, as both the daughter of and wife of former Congressmen and a former candidate herself. He got my attention when he said, "Kuster put together the best campaign in NH this election cycle. It had everything"...meaning: money, passion, and a great, grassroots field organization. That was quite a compliment, and it stuck in my head. What did Annie have and how can it be replicated?
Shortly thereafter, and very randomly, a UNH student who pens a political column for our campus paper, TNH, posted a request for ideas on his Facebook page. Kaitlyn Dowling, former UNH Dems president and current intern in DC with Rock The Vote, stated one simple idea that he should tackle: "The importance of grassroots in fostering democracy, and the right's lack of field."
The topic popped up a third time, in the form of conversation at my house party for State Senator Amanda Merrill. Turnout was small, and mostly political junkies, so we all just hung out on my patio and talked shop. Mandy explained the NH Executive Council to me (finally, I get it!), then was asking questions of me and the UNH students in attendance. I was telling her all about the interns I send to DC, and how I have to use different recruitment tactics to recruit students from the left vs. the right. In doing so I came to this conclusion: Today's NH Democrats are really good at genuinely mentoring youth who in turn become their very loyal, very dedicated field staff.
Three points make a data set. That's what my physicist friend Prof. Martina Belz Arndt likes to say.
Someone once told me that working on the Shaheen for Senate campaign was wonderful because Jeanne is a former field staffer, so she "gets it." But, what makes a good field organization? I looked to my two favorites: Carol Shea-Porter and Annie Kuster, both excellent examples of the "under the radar" approach. Old school knocking on doors and calling your neighbors. Letters to the editor of small, local, print newspapers. Hand written post cards and house parties at the homes of average, middle class community leaders and regular people. Viz in your own downtown, waving to your neighbors and friends as they go about their Saturday errands. Hanging out at the town recycling center. It's not very glamourous, and it cannot be delegated. But clearly it can be the game changer when you are up against big out-of-state money, celebrity candidates, and national endorsements. Small donations vs. huge PAC contributions. Local newspaper endorsements vs. TV ads. Inclusion vs. exclusivity. Investing in youth vs. top-down.
Left vs. Right.
In New Hampshire, all politics is still local.
