Bernie has almost no ground game in Iowa.

[Cali_Democrat]

Memo to Bernie supporters: Voting dozens of times in unscientific online polls is not going to win Bernie the nomination.

---------------------------

By kat68
Saturday Dec 05, 2015 10:15 PM PST

After several weeks of all-Bernie, all-the-time diaries on the Rec List here at Daily Kos, I’m writing this diary to sound the alarm to his fans and supporters that as far as I can see, as a new Iowan, Bernie’s people are NOT getting the job done here in Iowa.

I would love to feel the Bern as many do here on Daily Kos. I love Bernie Sanders and believe he has common sense ideas that would appeal to many Americans (I also feel the same way about Hillary Clinton in the face of an off-the-rails insane GOP, however this diary isn’t about pie fighting, so please leave that out). But the fact is that after a year and a half in this state, voting in every local and state election so far, donating money to local and state campaigns, and availing myself to the local Dem party (leaving out I’m nearing 50 and have voted in every election since Dukakis, taking pains to vote even when living abroad for six years), I have NOT ONCE been contacted for a vote by the Sanders campaign.

In contrast, the Hillary Clinton campaign started sending out volunteers about six months ago. My first contact with the campaign was a high-school girl, a neighbor’s child, who shyly approached me to fill out a “commit to caucus card.” I did fill out the card as I was so touched by the political effort and courage she showed going door-to-door, though I made it plain I was open to changing my mind and June was a bit early to really commit. In recent months, probably since late August, the Clinton campaign has reached out nearly once a week, with volunteers calling to make sure I was still onboard (I have still not fully committed), asking me to donate (nope, not yet), requesting me to phone bank (not until the general), and just generally chatting me up to secure my caucus vote.

At least three other Hillary volunteers have come to the door since to talk to me, pass out literature, chat, and attempt to reconfirm my commit to caucus status. Three or four have also rung the doorbell to speak to my husband, who travels a lot for work, and has (happily, for him, most likely) never been home.

<....>

Over the past week, I have polled all of my left-leaning friends, family and associates to see if my experience was unique. They all report the same thing: NO contact from the Sanders campaign. My one and only experience with a Bernie supporter was at a college bar where my husband and I engaged a guy with a Bernie pin, who turned out to be a local organizer. He was awesome, but why oh why isn’t the Sanders campaign sending these articulate college kids out door-to-door? I even told this guy to put us on his list. Two months ago...still nothing.

Read more:

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2015/12/5/1457348/-Bernie-fans-Where-is-the-organization-in-Iowa

[ESKD]

1. I'm sure the Iowans will differ

Thank you for your concern.

[Cali_Democrat]

6. You're welcome. nt

[DemocratSinceBirth]

29. How can they canvass in IA when they are all busy insulting us Clinton supporters over the internet?

EOM

[MaggieD]

2. Shhh!

LOL!

[Scootaloo]

3. Pffft!

Memo to Bernie supporters: Voting dozens of times in unscientific online polls is not going to win Bernie the nomination.

Over the past week, I have polled all of my left-leaning friends, family and associates

Well. Which is it?

[BlueCaliDem]

13. I believe the top remark is by the author of the OP, the rest is from a DKos pro-Sanders diary.

Follow the link, Scootaloo!

[Scootaloo]

14. Yup, I know

It's just hilarious to see shitpanning of unscientific polling on the one hand... then posting an article that is based on "I polled my friends!"

[RandySF]

4. They're all on social media.

[Cali_Democrat]

8. Yep

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251816776

[Starry Messenger]

25. Yup.

[redstateblues]

5. He doesn't need one. He's got his relatives running things.

[workinclasszero]

18. Ouch

That's gonna leave a mark!

[Fawke Em]

27. Not really since it made no sense.

Maybe it left a mark on the ground where it fell.

[BlueCaliDem]

19. *wince*

[ForgoTheConsequence]

7. Funny I'm in Iowa and have had Bernie canvassers come to my door.....

Are you in Iowa OP?

[ESKD]

9. It appears he's guessing.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

10. I'm sure those educated California folk know more about whats going on here than we Iowans do.

I can count SIX Bernie billboards in my city (in the conservative part of Iowa) there isn't a single Hillary billboard.

[UglyGreed]

40. I don't think they

saw your reply

[leftofcool]

11. Try Reddit.

[brooklynite]

12. I wonder if the Sanders people are buying into their own PR

We keep being told here that this is a new political paradigm; that all they have to do is get people to watch Sanders on YouTube and the sale is made. I recall some posts here encouraging spamming non-political websites (particularly those with African American users) with videos to boost AA support. I've also noticed that the Bernie Sanders Reddit page doesn't talk about ground game and canvasing, but instead is discussing making neon "Bernie" signs got hang over highway overpasses.

[Cha]

15. Good!

[workinclasszero]

16. This makes me so happy!

I have NOT ONCE been contacted for a vote by the Sanders campaign.

In contrast, the Hillary Clinton campaign started sending out volunteers about six months ago.

Keep up the good work Bernie fans! Internet polls and slinging crap on DU will definitely win Iowa for your candidate.

Don't let anyone tell you different!

[MannyGoldstein]

17. LOL! I'm incredibly pleased that Sanders is doing well enough

that you find need to try to bludgeon him with this nonsense!

[libdem4life]

20. I thought it was just me. 50 years on the West Coast LA/Sonoma Counties and I never got called.

[newfie11]

21. I've never been called

Been a registered voter since 1968.
Lived in VA, CA, MI,NC, IL, NE, SD.
Granted not everyone of those was a presidential election.
My number has always been listed but now I'm cell only.

[libdem4life]

22. I guess they made it without me...someone always wins. LOL. I missed the 21/18 year old

by a year, so had to wait until 1971-72.

[angrychair]

23. Well, that seals it

Internet polls are bad and worthless and random inquiries to random family and co-workers definitely determine that Bernie has no ground game in Iowa.

Bernie Sanders to win Iowa
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/8717248

Bernie Sanders can win Iowa
http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/presidential-campaign/261634-sanders-can-win-iowa-and-new-hampshire

Sanders spending surges in Iowa
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/presidential/caucus/2015/11/22/sanders-spending-surges-iowa/76130676/

Iowa farmer turns field into campaign sign
http://theslot.jezebel.com/iowa-farmer-makes-bernie-sanders-most-authentic-campaig-1744162055

[Betty Karlson]

38. That rebuttal was am masterpiece of concise composition.

Thanks for providing those links.

[angrychair]

41. Thank you

And you're welcome.

[upaloopa]

24. I think Bernie is leading in the Time magazine

front page cover poll and the DU who you going to vote got poll. Those two right there show the " people" want Bernie.

[FloridaBlues]

28. all the people who have been polled and still looks like he's behind

signs and Bill boards don't vote.
Maybe Hillary does have a better ground game.

[Fawke Em]

26. That person must be stuck in a hole.

Iowa City reporting- significant support among the more inner city crowd, the students, anyone who works and lives in Iowa city seems to support Bernie. When I've canvassed outside of the city and into more of suburbia I have noticed its more or less 50/50 chance shot in landing a pro Bernie neighborhood or an undecided one.

I volunteer out of the Cedar Rapids / Marion , IA office , I signed up the 1st day Bernie announced then 2 weeks later we all met up with 60 + people on hand , we started phone banking and flyering at the library with our own lap tops and phones , this was all done before the official campaign got going here , when we opened the official office 2 months later , 250 showed up

https://www.reddit.com/r/SandersForPresident/comments/3n3wgu/volunteers_in_iowa_what_is_the_ground_game/

(See, I can use one person's anecdotal interpretation of things on the ground, too! )

[TIME TO PANIC]

30. Let's focus on this and not the issues.

Political campaign strategies have fuck all to do with how the poor and working class are being squeezed. How about posting something with substance for once.

[Kalidurga]

31. LOL

I would like to see Hillary supporters pushing Hillary's policies. Then the TTP would be double plus good and the Keystone pipeline the bestest thing for the environment. We can gut the safety net as well since Social Justice is much more important than having a safety net or jobs that pay a living wage or free college. And that we all just want ponies and ice cream, but we should just settle for whatever the 1% thinks we should have. Don't bother fighting for what we believe in cuz Hillary knows best.

[TIME TO PANIC]

33. Believe it or not, some have defended the TPP here on DU.

One even defended private prisons, saying there was no proof the profit incentive would lead to more arrest.

[Kalidurga]

36. I have seen a few of those...

I wonder what they are doing here sometimes.

[Smarmie Doofus]

32. Alert results. (Congratulations.)

On Sun Dec 6, 2015, 07:45 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

Let's focus on this and not the issues.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=879919

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

How about not insulting fellow members. I have no illusion this post will be hidden but I am always more concerned with doing what is right than doing what is popular.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Sun Dec 6, 2015, 07:50 PM, and the Jury voted 1-6 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: The post is a friggin' *masterpiece*. Gets precisely to the point in as few words as possible.

Not only should it not be hidden, it should get an award.
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Not worth an alert
Juror #4 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Personal attacks are not cool. I realise I may be alone on thinking this but... I'd hide it. The same thing could be said without the attack part.
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: You have no illusion that this post will be hidden, yet you alert anyways attempting to silence a voice differing from yours without due purpose? Smacks of alert-stalking. Leave it.
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given

Thank you very much fo

[onenote]

34. This article tells a different story. It also offers insight into the different perceptions

"Sanders has spent 23 days campaigning in Iowa, holding 55 events, according to his aides — more time than he’s spent in New Hampshire or any other state. Aides say the Sanders campaign has 20 offices open in Iowa and 74 paid staffers on the ground, numbers approaching the machine Clinton has built."

"Many of the potential supporters being targeted by the campaign have not participated in the Iowa caucuses, a quirky exercise in democracy that requires spending several hours in the evening at one of 1,682 precinct gatherings across the state and publicly declaring one’s allegiance after arguing the candidates’ merits with friends and neighbors."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/for-bernie-sanders-more-urgency-than-ever-to-win-iowa/2015/11/12/f1ce7d00-8938-11e5-be39-0034bb576eee_story.html

So the perception of a 50 year old Iowan that Sanders has no ground game may reflect the fact that Sanders' ground game is focusing on a different demographic. Whether that is or is not a winning strategy won't be known until the caucuses are held. But its why I think that statewide polls may not tell the story of what will happen on caucus night. Not saying that Sanders will win. Not saying he'll lose. But I suspect it's going to be closer that many may think it's going to be.

[stevenleser]

35. I don't think it will be close. One way or the other it will be a convincing victory.

I think the margin of victory will be at least 10 points.

[morningfog]

42. What do you mean one way or the other it will be at least a 10 point victory?

Do you mean that either Barnie will win by 10+ or that HIllary will win by 10+? That doesn't really follow.

[stevenleser]

43. Its not that hard.

Either the polls are right and that plus Hillary's ability to have hired all the right people on the ground in Iowa will produce a massive victory, or:

The polls are wrong and Bernies ability to mobilize the youth vote is really what his supporters here have been saying.

[morningfog]

44. No, you are saying you can't predict the winner, but you know the win will be by 10+ points.

That is just silly.

[morningfog]

47. I'm just trying to understand how a 20+ point swing prediction is not

meaningless.

[Gothmog]

37. A strong ground game is critical in Iowa

The Clinton campaign has hired most of the key people who ran the Obama ground game in Iowa in 2008

[workinclasszero]

39. 56 days to the 2016 Iowa Presidential Caucuses

Keep clicking that Time poll for Bernie guys!!

[book_worm]

45. Bernie supporters keep hyping that his big rallies prove he is going to win, and that Hillary...

doesn't get big crowds, etc--but she isn't working right now on rallies and getting huge crowds what she is working on is organizing a grass roots organization that will get voters to the polls on election day.

[seabeyond]

48. Imagine that. Lack of funds or lack of follow thru? Nt.