What is happening with the Kucinich campaign, does anyone know?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

Those of you who were on board in 2004 know that where Dennis did well, it was due to legions of dedicated volunteers. Some of the best results were in Minnesota, where he got 17% statewide and 27% in the Twin Cities.

My first involvement was leafleting at the Minnesota State Fair in August 2003. I also spent a weekend going door to door in Iowa, went door to door in my precinct, and left leaflets in various immigrant languages at immigrant-oriented businesses. Others did much more: running phone banks or spending days and days in Iowa, freeway blogging, organizing events, leafleting Twins and Vikings games, setting up tables at progressive and ethnic gatherings, nagging local media to cover Dennis, writing LTTEs and opinion pieces. Every Tuesday night, a real cross section of locals met in St. Paul to plan strategy.

Minnesota was an obvious success story.

So when 2007 rolled around, I waited to be called. (I'm not an organizer or administrator, but I'll offer ideas and do what I'm told.) My address and phone number have not changed. When I was not called to leaflet at the State Fair, I assumed that someone else had been assigned to the job, so imagine my surprise when I went to the DFL booth and found NO indication of Dennis' candidacy at all.

You would THINK that the obvious thing for the national campaign to do would be to build on the volunteers who pulled off end runs around the mass media in 2004, but I've compared notes with people in other states who volunteered in 2004, and none of them have been called, either.

In fact, I've heard reports of campaign employees taking names of volunteers and then not getting back to them.

My first contact from the campaign came just before New Hampshire. I mentioned my concerns to the pleasant young man who called, and he said not to worry, that Dennis was drawing huge crowds in New Hampshire.

Yeah, well we all know how that turned out.

Some of the people I've been in contact with think that there are moles in the campaign, they're that dismayed at what they're seeing. There may be two-faced people who on the surface have "good Democratic credentials," but of the DLC-tinged, "maintain-the-status quo" type. Or they may just be inept. I don't know which is worse.

I fear that, like a lot of idealists, Dennis may be too trusting of those around him.

Does anyone have any inside information on the campaign?

This is very discouraging. America is more ready for his message than ever, and the campaign is ignoring the best means of getting around the media blackout.

[Breeze54]

1. There could be moles... I don't know but

why don't you hang out here: http://action.dennis4president.com/ ACTION PAGE and see what you think.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

2. But this is reinventing the wheel, soliciting new volunteers without cultivating the old ones

Any sensible campaign director would have started in 2003 by contacting former volunteers and brainstorming with them about what worked and didn't work in their states.

I'm afraid that the current campaign directors have fallen for the "large crowds equals votes" fallacy. Look at the results in New Hampshire.

Someone who is blacked out of the media NEEDS to have a lot of grassroots volunteers to do guerilla marketing. I was just a minor volunteer in 2004, but there were people who practically gave their lives over to the campaign, and the fact that they haven't been contacted is disturbing.

I was contacted--for money--for the first time two weeks ago. That should not have happened. I and the rest of the 2004 volunteers should have been contacted in the summer of 2003 and asked to reactivate our former activities.

That is the only way an outsider like Dennis can make any headway.

Why waste good volunteers?

[Breeze54]

3. All I know is I didn't wait for them to contact me after the 1st campaign guy was fired.

I was pro-active and went to seek them out at their new website.
We and you should've known they were operating on a shoe string.
He's been getting donations but I'm not sure how much lately.

:shrug:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

4. It just seems weird that they're not building on past successes and

depending on people to volunteer themselves.

I'm not the only person who was waiting to be called and given an assignment. No one even asked if I was willing to be called.

Did they lose the old volunteer list?

It just seems like Campaign 101 to take advantage of existing volunteers of proven effectiveness. If you've ever tried to organize something, you'll know that most people won't volunteer unless asked, because there are plenty of other people asking for their time.

[Breeze54]

5. Have you gone to the NEW ACTION PAGE yet?

The old campaign site and the owner were fired!!!!

Maybe that's why you didn't hear from them?

I have no idea but go and sign up at the new site! ;)

They even have a chat room now!

And local groups in every state having events!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. Yes, but my point is that no campaign should depend on people finding THEM

When was the old coordinator fired?

Even if the old coordinator was fired, the campaign should have the lists of former volunteers somewhere unless the fired person wiped all the computer disks and burned the files.

I didn't know about this site until you told me. Not everyone automatically thinks "website" when wondering about a candidate.

At this point, I feel that it's too little too late, especially since I'm in contact with DK supporters in other states who had the same worries that I did.

[Breeze54]

7. I thought your "point" was asking about the campaign.

"I didn't know about this site until you told me"

I find that hard to believe but whatevah.

It seems you need to get busy then!

[Desertrose]

8. I agree Lydia...I was not contacted at all this time....

and I headed up the campaign here for Dennis in my town last election. Worked my ass off and actually lost income as I am self-employed and ended up giving too much time to the campaign.

I WAS NOT CONTACTED OR ASKED TO HELP THIS TIME.
I mentioned when eventually they hit me up for money that I had previously worked on thr campaign and all I got was "Wow. Really."


I know there was a bunch of strange stuff going on with his staff the last time...can't really say anything about that.... but like Lydia, I've been very disappointed this time the way stuff has been run.

First thing I would have done is go to the "old" volunteers and see what they would be willing to do this time. He had 4 years to get the grassroots connections up & running and this time its as if he's starting from scratch. Screw the MSM...what happened to all his connections from 4 years ago? Did he lose them?? Did someone else lose them or were they deliberately ignored?

I'm sad cause I love what DK is saying, but his message is being deliberately thwarted...question is, is it by someone who is in a position of trust....??

[Lydia Leftcoast]

9. A serious campaign would not waste ANY assets, and in 2004,

the hopeful, creative, and enthusiastic volunteers were the campaign's greatest assets.

The current campaign obviously had my name on file and contact info...to ask for money, which I don't have a lot of this year.

If I'd gotten a call last summer to help coordinate efforts at the MN State Fair, I would have jumped into action.

Not getting called till January, and then only to ask for money, frankly, I feel disrespected. But it goes beyond personal grievances. I'm just not going to throw money at an ineffective campaign, and a friend has recruited me to work for a long-shot Senate candidate who's running on a peace platform, so I don't have a lot of time, either.

With all the discontentment in this country, a well-run campaign would have had Dennis doubling or tripling his showing in the primaries, MSM or no MSM.

Whatever the campaign is doing, it needs to take Dr. Phil's one good idea and ask itself, "How's that workin' for ya?"

I have to conclude reluctantly that either DK's not serious or he's not good at choosing competent/loyal subordinates to run his campaign.

[Breeze54]

10. INFO for the MINNESOTA CAMPAIGN COORDINATOR

MINNESOTA CAMPAIGN COORDINATOR

http://action.dennis4president.com/groups/view/id_201/

My name is Rachael and I'm the 2008 Minnesota State Campaign Coordinator!! Please feel free to email/message me through the group site with your suggestions, use this group to put out house party invites, fundraisers, etc. Also, PLEASE join the group and put out postings and comments or contact me privately if you wish with any questions you might have. I take part in weekly conference calls with the rest of the State Chaipersons, so your feedback is so valuable! My coordinator kit is due to arrive any day (so I'm told) so hang in there, send me your questions, MINNESOTA and keep spreading the word about kucinich.us and the action center. We ARE going to have a Kucinich administration in 2008 and Minnesota is going to help make it happen!! Events coming soon!!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

12. As I said, I've been recruited to work on another campaign

that actually has a hair breadth chance of succeeding.

Having a website up in the hope that people will find it is not the same as say, contacting the former volunteers as soon as DK decided to run and saying, "Thanks for 2004. Now get geared up for 2008."

That's Campaign 101.

[Breeze54]

13. Well, Lydia, YOUR WELCOME for doing your work for you!

Now that you are working on another war campaign....

please stop posting disparaging remarks here.

I get it. You feel slighted due to some error.

BaBye!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

14. I'm not working for another pres. candidate--yeesh, give me some credit

I'm working for a local PEACE candidate for Senate.

[Breeze54]

11. INFO About the Arizona for Dennis - Official

The state Coordinator for AZ is Rick Romero

Kucinich for Arizona Group Creator: rickromero

http://action.dennis4president.com/groups/view/id_88/

This group is for all Dennis for President Supporters, Volunteers, and Organizers located in the State of Arizona. Please use this group to help organize and grow the Dennis for President Campaign. Also the state Coordinator for AZ is Rick Romero. You can reach him via email at: [email protected] or calling 602-515-9844. He is also a member of this community. His user name is RickRomero. I would suggest friending him on the site.

[Desertrose]

15. I know Rick,but its a little late now.

Dennis is dropping out.
:cry: