Campaign Strategy & Management, Proposal & Pitch Writing&, Opposition Research & Political Intel, Government Affairs Lobbying, Campaign Communications & Materials

Candidate Assessment

Perform this before accepting any campaign client to avoid unwinnable races, as early math prevents sunk costs in non-competitive districts.

1. Pull voter registration data, turnout history, and partisan performance index for the last 3 cycles.

   • Input: District boundaries and election jurisdiction.
   • Output: Spreadsheet with turnout rates, partisan index (calculate as average margin over cycles), and spend benchmarks from prior races.
   • Criterion: Partisan index must exceed 12.5%; resources must match or exceed last 3 cycles' winner spend.

2. Evaluate candidate coachability via simulated feedback session.

   • Input: Face-to-face or video notes on response to direct critique.
   • Output: Binary assessment (coachable yes/no) with 3 supporting observations.
   • Criterion: Accepts feedback without deflection; uncoachable candidates derail execution.

3. Verify funding path credibility.

   • Input: Candidate's donor network, PAC alignments, self-funding proof.
   • Output: Funding roadmap projecting quarterly raises against budget needs.
   • Criterion: Covers 100% of projected budget; no path means no viability.

Strategic Framework Development

Generate this after viability passes to align voter ID, messaging, and field on data, enabling efficient resource allocation across parallel tracks.

Track 1: Voter ID

1. Analyze voter files, precinct data, and demographics to segment base, persuadable, and opposition voters.
   • Input: Voter vault or canvassing software exports.
   • Output: Targeting matrix (table: precinct, voter type, propensity score).
   • Criterion: Prioritize high-propensity (3-4/4 past elections) for digital/mail/email/door/lit drops.

Track 2: Messaging

1. Define core narrative, 3 issue pillars, 3 contrast points, and 3-word max tagline.
   • Input: Candidate positions and district polls.
   • Output: Messaging brief (sections: narrative, pillars, contrasts, tagline).
   • Criterion: Tagline tests readable at 30ft; pillars tie to voter priorities.

Track 3: Field Operations

1. Set door targets, phone scripts, volunteer recruitment plan, absentee chasing protocol, and Election Day ops.
   • Input: Voter ID matrix from Track 1.
   • Output: Field playbook (checklist per phase: recruitment, scripting, ops).
   • Criterion: Scripts under 30 seconds; targets cover 80% high-propensity.

Budget & Timeline Planning

Reverse-engineer from Election Day to ensure cash flow matches deadlines, protecting high-ROI spends.

1. Allocate budget: GOTV 25%, paid media 40%, field 15%, research 10%, admin 10%.

   • Input: Total raise projection and key dates (filing/primary/general/early/absentee).
   • Output: Gantt chart with spend curves and deadline milestones.
   • Criterion: Peaks at GOTV; no overruns in field/research.

2. Map timeline to deadlines with Plan B contingencies.

   • Input: Jurisdiction calendar.
   • Output: Timeline table (milestone, date, owner, contingency).
   • Criterion: Absentee ops start 4 weeks pre-Election Day.

Execution & Management

Run weekly to track progress and pivot, as fires spread without rapid response.

1. Conduct weekly calls reviewing past week, next week plan, changes, and issues.
   • Input: KPIs from prior week (funds raised, doors knocked, absentee returns).
   • Output: Action log (table: issue, owner, deadline).
   • Criterion: Resolve 90% of fires same call.

GOTV Operations

Execute last 2 weeks to maximize turnout, as absentee/early votes decide close races.

1. Deploy daily absentee chase, precinct captains, poll watchers, rides-to-polls, war room, and attorney standby.
   • Input: Voter ID high-propensity list.
   • Output: GOTV checklist (daily tasks, assignees, metrics).
   • Criterion: 95% absentee targets chased; full poll coverage.

Proposal & Pitch Writing

Structure as 5 sections to build urgency and close deals, using rule of threes for memorability.

Gather inputs first: client who/what/stake/landscape/fee/team/deadline.

**Proposal Template (.docx on letterhead)**

**1. Opening**  
Address recipient. Summarize landscape and 3 blunt challenges for urgency.

**2. Problem**  
List 3-5 specific obstacles with facts/data.

**3. Solution**  
3 parallel tracks. For each: executor, 3 deliverables, timelines.

**4. Investment**  
Fixed-fee table. Reframe vs. stake. "One Price. One Payment. No Surprises."

**5. Close**  
Necessity/urgency. Bold CTA. 3 credentials.

• Format: Bold headers, tables, red placeholders, footers.

Opposition Research

Follow 6 steps to produce actionable intel, ranking vulnerabilities by impact for strategic deployment.

1. Bio: Compile name/age/residence/family; verify education/career/military/licenses/affiliations.
2. Political: Offices/votes/legislation/committees/statements/endorsements/scores.
3. Financial: Finance/donors/disclosures/property/business/liens/lobbyists.
4. Legal: Lawsuits/criminal/divorce/regulatory/ethics.
5. Media: Quotes/flip-flops/social/endorsements/interviews.
6. Vulnerability: Rank top 3-5 (table: finding, why impactful, usage, sources, counters).

**Opposition Report Template (CONFIDENTIAL .docx)**

- Executive Summary: 3-5 bullets.
- Overall Vulnerability: High/Med/Low.
- Detailed Sections: Bio/Political/Financial/Legal/Media.
- Top Vulnerabilities: Table as above.
- Sources: List with URLs/dates.

Government Affairs Lobbying

Assess landscape then execute 3 tracks to advance bills/grants, prioritizing direct influence.

1. Landscape: Map decision-makers/staff/swings/opponents; calendar/lobbyists/climate.
   • Output: Target list table.

Track 1: Direct

Tailored briefings/meetings/talking points/testimony to champions.

Track 2: Coalition

5 real org allies for letters/meetings; coordinate messaging.

Track 3: Public

Op-eds/events/grassroots/social only if needed.

2. Execution: Weekly track bill/positions/media/coalition/opposition.

   • Output: Intel report (table: track, status, next).

3. Grants: ID programs/deadlines/champions; overlay political in apps; agency follow-up.

**Deliverables**: Target lists, briefing books, testimony drafts, coalition docs, weekly reports, grant apps.

Campaign Communications & Materials

Build from messaging framework (narrative, 3 pillars, contrasts, audiences, forbidden words) for consistency.

• Palm Cards: Front: name/office/tagline/photo/logo. Back: 3-4 "I believe..." sections, QR/disclaimer.
• Mailers Issue/Attack: Visceral problem, opponent link, pivot, callouts/site/disclaimer.
• Mailers Positive/Bio: Hero photo, headline, bio/issues/endorsements/CTA/site.
• Yard Signs: Name/office 3-5 words; readable 30ft/35mph; consistent.
• Fundraiser Invites: Details/tiers/desc/RSVP/disclaimer.
• Bio Copy: Hook/storytelling/issues/why now/conversational.

Format all in .docx with exact jurisdiction disclaimer, consistent branding, red placeholders.

Apply these thresholds in workflows to branch actions:

• Always prioritize local over national targeting because national dilutes district focus.
• Always define race type first because assumptions lead to mismatched strategies.
• Always use data over gut (never bad data) because flawed inputs cascade failures.
• Always win absentee early because late chases overload GOTV.
• Always build Plan B because surprises hit every campaign.
• Always address staff weakness first because personnel gaps undermine execution.
• Never use grovel phrases in proposals because they signal desperation.
• Always anchor claims with dollars/timelines/names/dynamics in proposals because vagueness loses deals.
• Always cite public sources only in oppo; distinguish facts/analysis; note source strength/no info; date research; flag legal/ethical because compliance protects usability.
• Always align lobbying ask to 2/3 legislator priorities because mismatches get ignored.
• Always target staff over members because they filter decisions.
• Never public surprise in lobbying because it poisons relationships.
• Always provide "yes" language drafts because it eases passage.
• Always include exact jurisdiction disclaimer in comms because violations invite fines.
• Always use consistent branding/colors/fonts because inconsistency erodes trust.

• Voter vault or canvassing software: For precinct-level high-propensity targeting in Voter ID.
• Voter files/precinct analysis/demographic modeling: Input for segmentation matrices.
• Word .docx: Universal for proposals (letterhead, bold headers, tables, red placeholders, footers), oppo reports (confidential, structured sections/sources), comms materials (branding/disclaimers).
• Spreadsheets/Gantt charts: Budget/timeline mapping, action logs, target lists.
• Tables/matrices: Vulnerability ranking, messaging briefs, intel reports, grant trackers.

• In enormous turnout (November presidential years), shift Voter ID to 2/4 past voters because standard 3-4/4 misses expanded pool, but revert to 3-4/4 otherwise to avoid low-efficiency contacts.
• Never cut field ops even if fundraising critically short because voter contacts outperform media; instead, slash paid media to zero first, as historical data shows field drives turnout edges.

For detailed examples, walkthroughs, and edge cases, consult 'references/REFERENCE.md'.