2016 Postmortem
Showing Original Post only (View all)Sanders’ supporters could doom his campaign [View all]
Most folks who will vote in the primary already have a history of voting. A well-run campaign would start from a list of registered Democrats who have voted before. Signing up new voters is good, but it is a lower-yield endeavor. The core task is to deliver Sanders message in person to folks who are likely to vote, exactly as Sanders has done himself for decades.
As time passed, the size of the group grew, but its sophistication did not. They identified seven action areas, none of which would have supporters leaving their comfort zone to speak face-to-face with likely voters who might disagree with them. Is their desire to see Sanders elected enough to get them to cut their hair, shave their beards, dress neatly and master talking points? They will do street theater, and some will write letters to the editor. But going door-to-door or cold-calling Democrats is absent from their agenda.
For $76, I purchased the Lane County voter rolls with voters history of participation and wrote a program to generate walking lists that Sanders supporters could use to visit likely Democratic voters. It appears I wasted my time and money.
The local Sanders group behaves like a protest movement. This is not surprising, because before Sanders entered the race many of these folks viewed electoral politics as evil. I recognize some of them from the Occupy movement. Others are young and new to this. Sadly, the group operates in a hermetically sealed bubble, rejecting experience, expertise and education. This behavior crippled Occupy, which failed to expand its ranks or to effect significant and lasting change.
For example, street theater, which is popular with alternative types, is a negative for many people who vote. Their announcements say to go to Facebook to find meeting times and locations. Folks with a history of voting tend not to frequent Facebook. As with Occupy, many people are unlikely to function well in a group where meeting dynamics dominate over productive work. Many who might contribute turn away or are turned away.
If other Sanders groups around the country are similar, he has no chance. If, like Sanders, these groups go door-to-door to communicate the candidates message to voters, President Bernie is a real possibility.
http://registerguard.com/rg/opinion/33627704-78/sanders-supporters-could-doom-his-campaign.html.csp