Six-Weeks’ Notice: I’m from the GOP and I’m Here to Help

Posted by Nanette Kirsch on November 10, 2009 under Articles | 6145 Comments to Readhttp://912candidates.org/blog/2009/11/10/six-weeks-notice-im-from-the-gop-and-im-here-to-help/Six-Weeks%27+Notice%3A+I%27m+from+the+GOP+and+I%27m+Here+to+Help2009-11-11+01%3A00%3A33Nanette+Kirsch

By: Nanette Kirsch

What do get when you add a handful of GOP operatives to a base of 100 battle-weary campaign volunteers? If the final days of the Hoffman Congressional campaign in New York’s 23rd District offer any insight, the answer is not a punchline that will lead to victory in 2010.

Why Are You Here?
“The moment anyone tells me they are from D.C., I will start by asking, ‘Why are you here?’ If I’m giving my time and energy to something I believe in, I’m not interested in working with someone who’s in it simply for a paycheck,” said Jennifer Bernstone, leader of the central New York 9-12 group that supported the recent Doug Hoffman campaign.

Her litmus test sums up the challenge ahead as 9-12ers and other “ordinary citizens” step forward to lend their time, talents and resources to candidates they believe in, backed by parties they don’t.

“After DeDe [Scozafazza] dropped out, the GOP came in and tried to take things over,” explains Sil Johnson, a 9-12er who ran Hoffman’s Oswego campaign headquarters.  “They tried to take over base operations, made it difficult for me to work as a volunteer and ostracized other volunteers. They believed they had a better mechanism for campaigning.”

Bernstone offers a case in point: “We spent four or five days planning a huge door-to-door blitz of Fulton and Oswego. On a conference call the night before, the DC folks told us to drop everything we had planned and get behind them. ‘Okay,’ we thought, ‘they’re the professionals. This will be fun anyway.’

“The next day, our volunteers couldn’t find Doug; he was not where they told us he would be. So, they start calling me. I finally tracked the campaign down at the Polish Community Center, and sent our 20 or so volunteers hustling there. By some miracle, the media arrived right after they got there.”

According to Johnson, part of the problem may have resulted from the fact that Hoffman’s campaign came together so quickly. “It was directed by the people around Doug, and then seemed to take on a life of its own. There was no cohesive campaign strategy.”

9-12 Grassroots Worked
“Before this election, we had no idea about the 9-12 movement,” said Lenn Schick, Oswego County chairman and regional vice chairman for New York’s Conservative Party. “The grassroots effort from 9-12 supporters was just phenomenal. I don’t think the Conservative Party could have done it without them; it was grassroots that got Hoffman 46 percent of the vote. I was impressed and excited about the enthusiasm from the 9-12ers, especially those who took on leadership roles.”

Political Experts Necessary
“It’s absolutely true that they were stepped on by Republican Party operatives,” adds Schick.  “But you have to look at the bigger picture. They’ve done this many times. They are experts on these things. It was a bit difficult in the last couple days, when they seemed to take over, but on the other hand, they have many years of experience with getting candidates elected, and know what needs to be done.”

Lessons Learned
“It’s too bad the GOP came on board so late,” Schick said, indicating that their eleventh-hour arrival contributed to the ruffled feathers.  “Going forward, I hope the 9-12ers will remain active in supporting candidates and getting involved.”

Schick added that candidates cannot talk to these third-party groups, due to restrictions under the McCain Feingold Act, and that can complicate communication and lead to duplication of effort. “Win, lose or draw in this past election, the people that worked hard won because they did the right thing and did a great job.”

 “If 9-12ers just keeps up the enthusiasm and grassroots effort to get out the vote, make people aware of the candidate, and continue to do the right thing, taking the high road, I think they’ll be successful.”