PC Tip Sheet #8, May 2002   

It must be campaign season; the Republicans are getting really deep into the issues. Well, something's getting really deep, that's for sure. Jan Brewer's approach may play well at a Republican State Committee meeting, but the public doesn't seem to buy it. Here's a quote from the Tribune paper's coverage of the Tempe Town Hall meeting: "But Steven Martin, a 50-year-old Scottsdale resident, said he found some of the comments from Brewer and (J.D.) Hayworth disappointing. 'This whole evil, evil, liberal, liberal thing...instead of her saying specifically, 'Here's what I want to do and why I want to do it,' Martin said"

In this issue, we concentrate on reaching out and discussing real issues with Independents in Arizona.

Independent Survey

In some ways, the tale of Arizona Independents is similar to that of Goldilocks and the Three Bears: they think Democrats are too far left, Republicans are too far right. Yet, even polling conducted for Arizona Republican legislators finds that Independents lean much more towards the Democratic position on key issues facing the state. Our goal then is to reach out to Independents and let them see that Democrats share many of their views. In other words, let them know that voting for Democrats ... is just right!

Independents often see themselves as having both liberal and conservative views, depending on the issue. For example, they may be fiscally conservative but socially moderate or even liberal. So, when we approach Independents, we need to be moderate and tack to the center when we talk about issues. NEVER try to convince an Independent that they should be more liberal or that they are wrong on an issue and that a left-leaning solution is the only correct answer. Our goal is to show them that Democrats share their values and their views. People like to feel that others agree with them. We need to make sure Independents know that Democrats agree with many of their views since Arizona Democrats are mostly moderate just like them, not the liberal stereotype created by the Republicans to beat up on Dems.

So, you ask, how do we accomplish this? First, look at your precinct walk list and identify the Independents in your precinct. Your assignment for this month, in many ways, is reconnaissance today, inform tomorrow. We need to find out what Independents feel are the important issues, so that we know how to win them over later.

We've created a 1-page letter and survey for you to mail to all of the Independents in your precinct. The answers you get will help us better understand the issues Independents care about. However, for your specific purposes, the answers can open a door as to what you should talk about with them next time. It also lets your neighborhood Independents know we care about the same issues they do, and that their opinion matters to the Democratic Party.

Remember: Before sending this letter and survey, please make sure you personalize all of the blanks on the template.

On page 3 is a phone script that you can use after you receive back a completed survey. It's during the follow-up phone call that you should encourage them to attend a Democratic meeting. Never push too hard; we don't want to scare them away. Independents won't become Democrats overnight, and perhaps they never will, but we need to win them over to our candidates slowly and steadily. Connecting with them on issues is a major first step.

Democrats are going to win in 2002, and we're going to do it with the help of Arizona Independents. Your extra efforts in reaching out to Independents will lead us to victory.

NOTE: If you don't have lots of Independents in your precinct, you might consider including a self-addressed stamped envelope with the survey. You'll get far more surveys returned if your neighbors don't have to stamp the envelope.

Dear (name of Independent)

I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. I am the Democratic Precinct Committeeperson for our neighborhood. Our district is doing a survey to learn what issues and priorities you think our government and leaders should focus on.

Please take a moment to rank, in order from 1 to 7 the issues you most care about and either mail back your survey to me, drop it off at my house, or call me at (your phone number).

Thanks for your time, and I look forward to seeing you around our neighborhood.

Warmest Regards,

(Your Name) (Your Address) (Your Phone Number)

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(Name of Precinct) Precinct Survey Spring 2002

Name of Individual Completing Survey________________________________________

Street Address ____________________________________

Please rank the following issues in the order most important to you (1 being most important, 7 being least important)

__ More Funding for Education

__ Tax Reduction

__ Improving the Economy

__ National Security

__ Improving the Environment

__ Reducing the Cost of Healthcare

__ Protecting Social Security

__ Other ______________________

__ Other ______________________

Please return this survey to: (Your Name, Address, and fax number, if that's an option) or you may call me at (Your Phone) to discuss the survey by phone. Thank you for your assistance.

Phone Script for after you receive a survey response

Hello, Is (NAME OF PERSON COMPLETING SURVEY) home?

This is (YOUR NAME), Democratic Precinct Committeeperson for our area. I wanted to thank you for returning the issues survey.

I noticed that you marked (PRIORITY 1) and (PRIORITY 2) as the top issues you care about. I just wanted to let you know that myself and other Democrats in our neighborhood share your concerns on these issues.

If you're interested, there's an upcoming (District Number) meeting on (Meeting Date) at (Meeting Location) and I thought you might be interested in meeting others who care about the same issues you do.

(If they say yes give them the date and location again; if they say no, ask if you can add them to your district's mailing list if you have one or ask if they would be interested in learning when other future meetings are. If they still say no, just thank them for their time and say goodbye. In a future PC Tip Sheet, we'll talk about other ways you can contact these Independents again in the future.)

Thanks again for filling out the survey. If I, or other Democrats in the neighborhood, can answer any questions or do anything to help you, please let me know. My phone number is (YOUR PHONE NUMBER).

Goodbye.

Make sure you take notes on what they said during your conversation. Also, give your district chair a copy of returned surveys. The district chair can then share the information with candidates in your area.

Becoming a Ballot-Elected PC

Don't forget, your legislative district and County Party benefit greatly if you take the time to gather a few petition signatures and get yourself on the primary ballot in your precinct to become a PC. If you do not have the petition and affidavit to become a ballot-elected PC, please contact your County Democratic Party office or you can reply to this e-mail and we'll send you the forms you need. It's easy and again it really helps your legislative district and County Party.

Web Sites

We're very sensitive about your privacy. We do not share our e-mail database with anyone! We do get requests for additional information or we hear from people who are concerned because they are NOT hearing regularly from the Democratic Party.

Are you one of those who would like more information? Click here:

Receive a weekly briefing from the Arizona State Democratic Party. Go to their website

http://www.azdem.org/

and fill in your name and e-mail address at the bottom of the home page.

(Don't forget, your own County Party may have a Website, so make sure you link there for information!)

What's happening nationally? Get the latest from the Democratic National Committee

http://www.democrats.org

On the left hand side of the screen, under GET INVOLVED, sign up for DNC updates. Also, for a daily review of DNC talking points, send an e-mail with the word "add" in the subject line to

BriddleJ@dnc.democrats.org

Finally, for the best newsletter summarizing the world's take on Boy George and his administration, we highly recommend

http://www.democrats.com/

Not to be confused with the DNC dot-org site, this is a for profit site connecting dot-com Democrats. When you go here, a box pops up allowing you to subscribe to their free (and great!) daily briefing.

The PC Tip Sheet is produced by Rick McGuire Ron Owen and Joshua Weiss