Campaign Tip
Obtain Accurate Political Data
Amazing things are being done these days with regard to voter targeting and customized mailings and automated calls to select demographic groups. Campaigns must reach the people who actually vote, and that means every campaign needs excellent political data.
There are lots of voter lists available out there, but many of them are old and inaccurate. Before purchasing any political data from a vendor, a campaign should make certain the data is updated regularly from reliable sources, says campaign guru Craig Varoga, writing in Campaigns & Elections magazine.
Varoga says that with the right data and support, a campaign should be able to:
- Create walking lists, phone lists, and mailing lists, with crosstabs
- Search for individuals or create lists using geography (county, city, political district, zip code), age, registration date, party affiliation, gender, ethnicity, race, household makeup, likelihood of voting, voter history, census data and survey and ID information
- Put canvas, survey and ID information back into the database for future targeting and get-out-the-vote activities
- Share data with other campaigns, which is often valuable late in the campaign
- Track their own voter IDs and append information that is secure and only seen by their campaign subgroups
- Enter results with bar code scanners or by hand
National Politics
Giuliani Ahead of Romney
In NationalJournal.com’s latest White House 2008 rankings, Rudy Giuliani has eclipsed Mitt Romney as the No. 2 national contender and Romney has dropped to No. 3. “Rudy seemed to have a better week even though it was Romney’s announcement week. … Romney's campaign kick-off was overstaged and underwhelming. Somewhere beneath the cant, the real Mitt Romney is struggling to get out. Also, the decision to go on the air this early may be a mistake because now, instead of peaking in the fall, he needs to start moving up in the polls before the summer, or else the media will go into a ‘what's wrong?’ frenzy much earlier than deserved.” … After this week’s dust-up with David Geffen, Hillary Clinton seems less inevitable, says Peggy Noonan in her Wall Street Journal column.
Washington Watch
Hatch: DTRA Listened to Utahns
Sen. Orrin Hatch says of the cancellation of the Divine Strake bomb test: "I couldn't be more relieved. Everybody in Utah can rest easier tonight knowing that the government listened. No one's going to be harmed by this test. This decision is a result of so many people standing firm to ensure that we didn't repeat the mistakes of the past. I'm so glad that DTRA did the right thing in the end" (see press release).
Bennett: Cancellation 'Welcome Relief'
In a statement posted on his Senate website, Sen. Bob Bennett says of the Divine Strake cancellation: "This is a welcome relief for the thousands of Utahns with serious concerns about Divine Strake. When I asked the Pentagon to move this test out of southern Nevada, I also suggested that they explore other methods -- besides testing -- to obtain the needed data. I am pleased they now plan to go that route."
Cannon Reintroduces Gun Bill
Rep. Chris Cannon reintroduces a bill that would allow some veterans to register firearms that they collected as war souvenirs (Navy Times).
Earn It. Keep It. Save It
This week's newsletter by the United Way of Salt Lake draws attention to U.S. Department of Commerce report, which says the personal savings rate has been negative for the past two years. To address this critical issue, and its underlying causes, United Way of Salt Lake says it is working in partnership with dozens of public, private sector and non-profit organizations on three key initiatives – Utah Saves, the "Earn It. Keep It. Save It. Campaign," and its new Financial Stability Council. Feb. 25-March 4 has been dedicated as "Utah Saves Week."
Today in Political History
Feb. 23, 1952: Richard Nixon makes his "Checkers speech". Accused of accepting illegal campaign contributions, Nixon said in a live address that an independent audit cleared him of malfeasance. The one contribution he admitted receiving was his family's cocker spaniel, which his daughter named "Checkers." (NBC5.com)
Feb. 23, 1945: The U.S. flag is raised on Iwo Jima, one of the most famous events of World Ward II (Leon’s Almanac of Political History)
Wise Words
“Make yourself an honest man, and then you may be sure that there is one less scoundrel in the world.”
—Thomas Carlyle (Source: The Patriot Post)
Blog Watch
The Senate Site reports: "Rumors and discussion about the latest income tax reform proposal are circulating through the Capitol like a desert whirlwind. The proposal ... [l]owers the income rate to five percent; [r]eturns $110 million to taxpayers; [p]reserves a tax credit for federal deductions like mortgage interest, family size and charitable contributions; and [b]rings 100 percent of Utahns back under a single system. It broadens the tax base and lowers the rate. It reduces volatility. And it is simple. Here is an info sheet (PDF). What do you think?" (for more Legislature-related posts, see Out of Context, Lincoln's Legislative Blog, UAC Blog, CoolestFamilyEver, Red Pills, and KVNU's For The People).... Vox Baby discusses Utah's new school voucher program.... At Utah State Democratic Party, Wayne Holland provides Rep. Chris Cannon "with a few additional resources besides Fox News so he can avoid sticking his foot in his mouth or inflaming ethnic tensions after a community tragedy in the future" (see also mullentown, JM Bell, and SLCSpin).... At God's Politics, Tony Jones says of Mitt Romney's Mormonism: "[T]his is the question that Romney will have to answer: Are you a literalist in your reading of the Book of Mormon? Thus far, I haven't heard him answer that question. People will ask about his underwear, his view of 'dark-skinned people,' and his view of homosexuality. What they're really wanting to know is, are you a fundamentalist? It's basically the same question that JFK was asked about his relationship with the Vatican. ... We all have faith; it's part and parcel of the human condition. So, indeed, a person of faith will be our next president. But, what fashion of faith? Strident fundamentalism or thoughtful centrism?" (see also Reach Upward, MangledCat and Political Spyglass, which argues Romney can’t win).
Favorite Headlines
(Source: James Taranto’s Best of the Web)
- No, Wise Guy, It Isn't Jim Webb
"Virginia Man Faces Charges for Assaulting Republicans"--headline, FoxNews.com, Feb. 21
- A Novel Way to Avoid Love Triangles
"NASA, Virgin to Collaborate on Space Flights"--headline, Jerusalem Post, Feb. 22
- Stay off the Tracks, Poor Walkers
"Streetcars Hurt Poor, Walker Argues"--headline, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Feb. 20
- Gov. Moonbeam
"Spitzer Sees Light From Faraway Worlds"--headline, RedOrbit.com, Feb. 21\
Casual Friday
Outdoors Report
-- Seventh Annual Tundra Swan Day is March 10 at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area (WMA) west of Farmington and Salt Creek WMA west of Corinne. Admission is free. See hundreds of pure white tundra swans as they migrate through Utah.
-- Cross-country ski amidst Utah’s beautiful scenery in the Morning News
-- Tribune takes readers on an ice fishing adventure
-- New DWR aquatics chief works to provide better fishing in the Morning News
-- Morning News on ice fishing conditions across the state
-- Explore Millcreek Canyon in the Tribune’s Snowshoe Hike of the Week
-- Find out about upcoming events in the Morning News’ Outdoor Notes
-- Check out the Tribune’s Outdoor Notebook and Recreation Roundup for sports and recreation activities this week
-- For the latest wildlife news and information and the fishing report visit the DWR website
Weekend Events
New Films
-- The Astronaut Farmer: Rotten Tomatoes
-- The Number 23: Rotten Tomatoes
Concerts
-- “Brigham City Special Event Concert," Jeff Clark, Cherie Call, Kirby Heyborne, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Box Elder High School, 380 S. 600 West, Brigham City
-- “Fire and Ice” Riverton Metropolitan Orchestra, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Sandra N. Lloyd Performance Center, 12830 S. Redwood Road, $2.50-$10
-- BYU Ballroom Dance Company, Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m., LDS Conference Center Theatre
-- Cultural Arts Theatrical Script Presentations, Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall, free
-- “The Sleeping Beauty,” Ballet West, Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Val A. Browning Center, Weber State University, Ogden
-- Utah Symphony, Mahler’s Symphony No. 7, Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m., Abravanel Hall
-- Les Ballets Africains, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Kingsbury Hall, U.
Theater
-- “Nunsense A-Men” through Feb. 24, Desert Star Dinner Theatre
-- “Sexsting” through February 25, Salt Lake Acting Company
-- “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” through February 26, SCERA Center
-- “Into the Woods” through March 3, Draper Historic Theatre
-- “Othello” through March 3, Pioneer Theatre Company
-- “A Doorway ...” through March 9, Fort Douglas Post Theatre
-- “Arsenic and Old Lace” through March 10, Art City Playhouse
-- “The Comedy of Errors” through March 10, Terrace Plaza Playhouse
-- “Hello, Dolly” through March 10, Center Street Musical
Theatre
-- “The Hobbit” through March 10, Academy Theatre Company
-- “Pirates of Penzance” through March 10, Empress Theatre
-- “The Who's Tommy” through March 10, Egyptian Theatre
-- “Pot Pie the Sailor Man” through March 17, Off Broadway Theatre
-- “Butch Cassidy & the Sunburnt Kid” through March 24, Desert Star Cabaret Theatre
-- “Little Women, the Musical” through April 7, Hale Centre Theatre
Museum Exhibits
-- Nathan Thomas Jones: Scattered Shadows and Collected Light Exhibition through March 11, Lesleigh: Paris — City of Light Exhibition through March 11, Kimball Art Center, Park City
-- The Quiet Landscapes of William B. Post Exhibition through May 28, Museum of Art, Brigham Young University
-- Modern Utah Exhibition through March 10, New Narrative: Warhol, Stella, Marden, Fitzpatrick through March 17, Ascension Exhibition through March 17, Salt Lake Art Center
Et Cetera
-- Snowshoe with a Naturalist, Cottonwood Canyons Foundation, Saturdays and Sundays through March 25, free, reservations required |
