Something Old

In 1952 and 1958, Goldwater's campaign manager was a guy named Steve Shadegg. Arizona had three electoral votes. Shadegg wrote a book How to Win an Election, a topic in which I had a particular interest as a young campaign manager.

Half a century later, we can help Lamont win by taking a leaf out of the book of the original gate-crashers.

Here's how:

Shadegg makes the point that campaign management is not a popularity contest. He describes obstinately refusing to release Goldwater bumper stickers, despite angry demands across the state, until just about this time before the election.

He told the commplainers, early bumper stickers look like crap after they have been bleached white by the Arizona sun.

His real reason, however, was that the visibility would have maximum impact at about the time sample ballots arrived (and the World Series complete). Shadegg hit Arizona like the angry hand of God with thousands of Goldwater bumper stickers and signs in mid-October.

Something Borrowed.

Let's do something like this for Ned Lamont--.pdf-style.

Something New.

Shadegg didn't have the Internet. He had the bumpers stickers
printed, warehoused, and ready to load on trucks months before the drop date.

Today, however, a 3' 9' freeway blogger sign can be designed by professional graphic designers (volunteers on MyDD, yes?), sent to Kinkos stores in every city and town in CT, and posted on overpasses and friendly private property (by still more MyDD volunteers, including carpetbaggers) all over the state within hours of the ink drying on the sign copy. These could be prepaid by contributors or paid for by the volunteers who pick them up.

MyDD polling can be used to identify winning headlines. For examples, see below.

Anyone want to help with this?

P.S. Yes, this was Rep. John Shadegg's daddy. His papers pertaining to the 1952 and 1958 are kept at UT Austin.

Beat Holy Joe.
Beat him black and blue.