V for Very Broke
by Patrick Ruffini :: February 24th, 2007 1:38 pmSomething has been nagging me about Tom Vilsack’s dropping out of the race, and though I get this is not the sexiest of topics, please indulge me. This has broader implications for how to run for President in a new media world.
The only reason Vilsack gave for dropping out of the race was money. He had recruited a series of top-notch operatives (Democrat celebrity-consultants tend to gravitate towards the long-sots more than do the Republicans). He had a staff of 50 in his Des Moines headquarters and was promoting the fact that he had racked up 3,000 “ones” in Iowa — which is short for a diehard vote at the Caucus.
Vilsack was running a top-heavy, traditional campaign when only untraditional campaigns get to go from single digits to 20-30 percent. His model was just wrong. His being from Iowa was also a no-win situation. Anything other than first in Iowa and he was out. If he gained any traction at all, Clinton and Obama would have withdrawn from the state, citing home field advantage and making the Caucuses meaningless. That’s what Bill Clinton did in ‘92 against Tom Harkin.
At this point in the game, Duncan Hunter having John Hawkins and Michael Illions on his side is more important than his having a political director. Why? Because at this point, a great ground game will get him from 1 to 2 percent — draining resources he doesn’t have. A great media operation on the other hand can keep an unknown candidate constantly on Fox News, on blogs, and tossing out buzz-worthy red meat to audiences of 50 and 100 at a time. Great buzz is how one breaks into double digits. And that’s when the efficiency-based gains from a great ground game can do you good.
If you’re at 1% in the polls, you have to prepared to do all of this for $5 million or less in 2007. If you can’t, you have no business running for President. Because the political marketplace just isn’t big enough to support your lofty $15-20 million fundraising goal. If and when lightning strikes, the money will be pouring in hand over fist online and in direct mail.
Tagged: iowa 
strategy tom vilsack
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Good viewpoints and now I must ask, when a big NAME has 15% in the polls, they are seen by the media as viable. that is why the vision of Condi Rice running for president has been seen with high ratings in the polls for the past 2 years. The archives are full of opinion polls showing she is equal to Rudy and McCain. In fact, she was outpolling McCain is a few of the research data collections.
I am going to be at CPAC in Washington DC, and this group of conservatives/Republicans has been very favorable toward Condi in 2005 and again in 2006. This is without HER spending time and money to get her name out there or GIN UP support. The public see her as presidential, like Margaret Thatcher, standing strong on national defense and foreign policy.
If any one is interested, our site is www.thinkcondi.net
thank you for your time and letting me speak up for my choice in 2008, CONDI RICE.
[…] Patrick Ruffini :: V for Very Broke headquarters and was promoting the fact that he had racked up 3,000 in <STRONG>Iowa</STRONG> which is short for a diehard… campaigns get to go from single digits to 20-30 percent. His model was just wrong. His being from <STRONG>Iowa</STRONG> was also a no-win situation. Anything other than first in <STRONG>Iowa</STRONG> and he was out. If he gained any […]