The four rules to winning an election

When it comes to elections, organizing for success and winning isn't complicated and it's not a secret.  In fact, the rules haven't changed since this country starting holding elections.

The "rules" were spelled out best by someone who (at the time) was a little known congressman from Illinois who went on to get himself elected President.

The four rules:

1.    Obtain a complete list of voters

2.    Determine how they will vote

3.    Contact the favorable voters

4.    Get your voters to the polls

OK, being from the South and all, I'm no big fan of Lincoln, (one of his leading generals did burn my hometown...), but when it comes to summarizing the basics of a get-out-the-vote strategy, you can't do much better than this.

No matter how much modern technology may change "how" things are done, the fundamentals still apply.

And they don't just apply to campaigns, they also apply to successful political organization in general.  You start with those who are registered to vote, identify those who agree with you, provide them with the information they need, and get them to take action when it's necessary.

Successful grassroots organizations adopt and apply these rules in effectively mobiliz­ing thousands of conservatives at the local level.

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Related entries:

• A menu of effective grassroots activities
• Three venues for conservative grassroots organization
• How conservatives can impact the political system

(You can find tips like this and much more in my "Grassroots 101: Grassroots Training Series".)