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Brown Supporters: The Most Motivated Voters Ever? [Home made signs!]
96.9 Boston Talks ^ | 1/17/2010 | Michael Graham

Posted on 01/17/2010 6:40:57 AM PST by Timeout

I’ve never seen anything like it.

I ran campaigns for six years, and I’ve been watching campaigns for years more, and I’ve never seen the “We’ve got to win this race” attitude from regular voters like I’m seeing for Scott Brown.

In a typical campaign, the hardest part is getting people to actually do things—show up at events, make phone calls, etc. They all talk a good game, but what you usually end up with is a hard core group of activists begging folks just to put a sign in their yards. That’s why money is so important—so campaigns can pay people to do the work. Even Obama had to use money to get his “community activist” campaign off the ground in early 2008.

Scott Brown is having the opposite problem. People are begging for stuff to do, and the campaign can’t keep up with the demand. On Saturday, driving between Ashland and Littleton, I saw more people displaying home made signs than printed ones.

“Home made signs?” I can’t tell you how astonishing that is to a paid political consultant. I was talking to a pal of mine still in the GOP political biz, and he was blown away.

There are home made Scott Brown signs all over this state. Some are magic marker on poster board, others are hand painted and carefully designed, but they all show the same thing: Brown’s voters are the most motivated voters I’ve ever seen in a campaign. Even more motivated than Obama voters a year ago.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: brown; ma2010; michaelgraham; scottbrown
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To: Timeout

I made about 100 calls in Scott Brown’s behalf yesterday. Will probably do the same today.

Do you think making phone calls reall makes a difference?

About 60 percent of them go to voice mail. I tend to screen my phone calls as well when I don’t recognize the incoming phone number.


41 posted on 01/17/2010 8:28:05 AM PST by MarkAccord
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To: Timeout
I have spent the weekend in Amherst Mass and Northampton Mass, two of the bluest points in the bluest state. I have seen many more Brown signs, many hand lettered, than Coakley signs. There was even a demonstration for Coakly in downtown Northampton with a counter-demonstration for Brown on the opposite corner, in Northampton.

The boy has a shot.

42 posted on 01/17/2010 8:38:16 AM PST by muir_redwoods (Obama: The Fresh Prince of Bill Ayers)
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To: muir_redwoods
This is very encouraging!

Folks outside of MA may not realize the importance of this, but as a citizen of MA, who fears the extinction of humankind whenever he has the misfortune of driving by Smith College, I certainly do.

Thanks for the report!

43 posted on 01/17/2010 8:51:02 AM PST by Lovely-Day-For-A-Guinness (Eenie meanie, chili beanie, the spirits are about to speak....)
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To: C210N

Can you tell us what it’s like in Barney Frank’s district? Has Scott-fever caught on there?

I would love it if, come Wednesday morning, all the Brown voters there would put a sign in yard/car saying:

“Hey, Barney, can you hear us NOW?!”


44 posted on 01/17/2010 8:58:14 AM PST by Timeout (Brits have the royals. Russia, the Nomenklatura. WE have our Privileged "Public Servant" class.)
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To: MarkAccord

I’m one who doesn’t care for campaign calls. We were so bombarded with them in NJ in November. Half a dozen a day, I’d hang up as soon as I heard a recorded voice.

Now if it’s a person, I’ll at least say, “Sorry we’ve gotten a hundred phone calls already” and then hang up. For Brown, I’d say “I’m voting for him already!” and hang up.

I wonder if I’m still registered in Melrose...or Waltham...or Cambridge...if the dead can vote maybe I can too...


45 posted on 01/17/2010 9:05:30 AM PST by heartwood
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To: heartwood

I’ve been getting a much better reaction to Scott Brown today than yesterday. That’s interesting. Everyone wants to vote for him now.

I personally will screen my calls and don’t particularly like robo-calls. But the people I am speaking to today seem really anxious to talk to me and voice their support.

I am probably also better at making the calls today than yesterday, which was my first day.


46 posted on 01/17/2010 9:10:09 AM PST by MarkAccord
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To: Timeout
I'm in the Tsongas Cong. district, so don't know specifically about Fwank. He did say that health care "reform" is dead if/when Scott Brown, and the people of Massachusetts wins the People's Seat.

Scott Fever has caught on all over MA and will mean 'R' numbers will be UP in every nook and cranny. It won't mean more than 50% in every town, but where an 'R' was an automatic 40%, on Tuesday it will be 60%. Where an 'R' was a 20%, ie Fwank's areas, it will be 30%.

We gotta watch on Tuesday eve those precincts where the 'D' is more than 50%, the level of turnout: Will it be REALLY HIGH in Brown-winning-towns like 60-70%? or will it be SEIU-ULTRA HIGH, like 125% or higher?

47 posted on 01/17/2010 9:38:54 AM PST by C210N (A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take everything you have)
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To: MarkAccord

I offered to volunteer, to do ANYTHING, but all they wanted was phone callers.

I cannot call people. My whole adult life, I have viewed calling people at home as an invasion of privacy. I hate it when I get them, and I am not going to change my view just because I have a candidate I want to win.

I personally don’t think they make a positive difference.

I took Tuesday off, and will hold signs, and perhaps volunteer to drive people to the polls, get coffee or even clean toilets.

Anything but calling.


48 posted on 01/17/2010 9:48:46 AM PST by rlmorel (We are traveling "The Road to Serfdom".)
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To: Starboard

Absolutely. See my post at #28...


49 posted on 01/17/2010 9:52:23 AM PST by rlmorel (We are traveling "The Road to Serfdom".)
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To: Lovely-Day-For-A-Guinness

Smith College...

*shudder*


50 posted on 01/17/2010 9:54:32 AM PST by rlmorel (We are traveling "The Road to Serfdom".)
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To: WellyP

“May this election be the wooden stake in the heart of the Obama Beast!”

...or the destruction of the trojan horse that is the Obama administration.


51 posted on 01/17/2010 10:01:27 AM PST by Starboard
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To: Timeout
In the Attleboro/Mansfield area,, which is part of Barney’s district it’s largly what you’ve been reading about across the state (many more SB signs, some hand-made than for Martha). Keep in mind though, and I know this may sound crazy, that area is fairly conservative (2 R state reps).
52 posted on 01/17/2010 10:54:23 AM PST by sonnysteelgrave (Keep the Change)
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To: rlmorel

Great work. Really makes the point.

*Bump*


53 posted on 01/17/2010 10:59:35 AM PST by Yardstick
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To: Timeout

The homemade Scott Brown signs are a sign of the Tea Party Nation rising.

Tea Party people are independent, non-conforming, passionate and — most important — self-reliant.


54 posted on 01/17/2010 10:59:54 AM PST by fullchroma (Obama: GET OUT OF MY DOCTOR'S OFFICE!)
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To: Logic n' Reason
Where is Sarah?

You think she be a help in MA?

Sarah is what fires up the red meat right... is that where the battle is in MA?... no...

Personally I worry anytime when to many "outside" come in they can push voter (particularly soft middle swing voters) the wrong way...(I think that what in the end lost NY 23)

Let the natural voter ground swell take it course

Any remember this with these on-line volunteer phone bank where out of state people cay help make calls ...

The battleground is always for the soft middle swing voters ...In a hot race heavy pressure from people seen as state "outsider" particular when them might be some pre-standing prejudice, can have the opposite effect and sink who your campaigning for....

A barrage of "southern accent" campaign phone calls will piss off a yankee state voter as much as a barrage of "yankee accent" campaign phone calls will piss off a southern state voter ....They see this as outsider (that the do not particularly like) sticking a nose in to their business

55 posted on 01/17/2010 11:00:34 AM PST by tophat9000 (Obama has "Jumped The Shark" ...and fell in the shark tank)
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To: rlmorel

Your contribution is as much needed as making phone calls. Driving people to vote is, IMO, more important. Go get ‘em.

I live in OH, talked with friends in VA last night. The first thing I was asked was, “are you watching this election in MA?” The entire nation is fired up over Scott Brown, and all eyes are upon the Bay State.

I pray that Scott wins, and then we go on to take back our country, one seat at a time.


56 posted on 01/17/2010 11:37:24 AM PST by Catsrus
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To: Catsrus; All
"...I pray that Scott wins, and then we go on to take back our country, one seat at a time..."

Me too, Catsrus, me too. This is what I hope to see Democrats all around the country doing if Scott Brown can win on Thursday...


57 posted on 01/17/2010 12:09:47 PM PST by rlmorel (We are traveling "The Road to Serfdom".)
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To: Yardstick

Thank you, Yardstick...:)


58 posted on 01/17/2010 12:11:03 PM PST by rlmorel (We are traveling "The Road to Serfdom".)
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