Why no yard signs or promotion? Kerry's losing ground in California

[genius]

I understand his last appearance in CA will be a $5,000/person fund-raiser and still there's no money for outreach. Most people in California will probably never see him in person.

My past experience with campaigns is that people will proudly display yard signs if we offer them. But most won't go to the trouble of buying them. Years ago, I worked on a campaign where we were constantly calling people and offering to drop off signs and we had drivers to drop off lots of signs each day. In the Kucinich campaign, we gave away more promotional stuff per city (on more limited funds) than the Kerry campaign is doing nationally (with large amounts of money). The Democratic Party is not acting like he's a serious candidate.

[lancdem]

1. ???

There are millions of Kerry signs. There are a lot where I live and I reside in a very conservative county.

[loathesomeshrub]

2. I'm not in California, but I would guess its because Awol has a

snowball's chance in hell of doing anything in California?

[spotbird]

3. This is a problem all over.

The only signs in Oklahoma are printed at local expense, by counties who can ill afford them. So there are damn few.

Kerry might not have a chance here but folks are chomping at the bit for signs and bumper stickers. It would be wise for the Kerry campaign to accommodate them to get the base to the polls to help with the rest of the ticket. If he wins he will want the extra Senate seat and potential House seats.

[The_Casual_Observer]

4. The national Kerry campaign isn't working in California

No national campaign money is being spent in California. Once in a while Kerry or Edwards comes to California to raise money but not to campaign. If you want to get campaign material, you would need to go to the locally organized campaign office and buy these things. Someone there is ordering them and paying for them in advance.

[BeatleBoot]

5. When Gore ran in 2000

lawn signs weren't available until after Labor Day

Chill.

Enjoy the remainder of the summer.

[genius]

8. In OC, they were available in November

[Joylaughter]

6. Bumper Stickers EVERYWHERE

I live in Los Angeles and this is KERRY COUNTRY. Kerry Edwards Bumper Stickers are everywhere! I've seen only 3 or 4 W stickers in the last three months! Arnie is the most liberal republican gov and is a Kennedy in-law so I don't think Dubya will get near a win here.

[genius]

7. I see more Bush than Kerry stickers in OC. Kerry yard signs are considered

futuristic here.

[AndyTiedye]

19. I Have Seen Two (2) Bush* Stickers in the Bay Area...

...and those were almost into the Central Valley.

[mitchtv]

9. seen about two or three bumper stickers here in Coachella Valley

no signs, no bush isgns either and maybe only two B?C bumper stickers.
I can't put mine up til the last minute, we have CCR's. This is freeperland, and novisible chimp support, that's good anyway. I might have a fir sale sign going up soon, will a Kerry sign cost me a sale?

[Cha]

15. I lived in the Coachella Valley for about a

year..In Indio..is it hot enough out there for you?:)

[davidinalameda]

10. there are signs all over the place here

and bumper stickers

I'm in SF

[Merrick]

11. Live in Long Beach, work in Irvine...

The first is very liberal and the second is well, Irvine. Yet, I'd estimate a 5:1 ratio of Kerry signs/bumper stickers to Bush in both places and along my commute.

[henslee]

23. Hey, Merrick, I dig LB. Been to Joe Josts. And on 4th a block from

Cherry is a cool new bar/restuarant called the Pike that has terrific live music. Ever been there?

[Freddie Stubbs]

12. Because there is no chance that Kerry will lose CA

His campaign will be concentrating on states where they can make a difference. Kerry won't spend much time in CA or NY because he has those states in the bag. He also won't spend much time in Texas or Alabama, as those are states that Bush will surely win. He will be spending lots of time in states like Pennsylvania, Florida, and Ohio. I realize that it may be frustrating living in a non-swing state and not getting that much attention from the Kerry campaign. But Kerry needs to concentrate on the swind states. There is nothing to be gained by running up the score in CA. Wheather he wins by 1 million or 2 million votes there, he still gets the same number of electoral votes.

[nator311]

13. lots of kerry stickers in sd county

I've seen an even number of kerry and chimp bumperstickers here. This is great news considering sd is traditionally republican and since I didn't see even one Gore sticker in 2000. I think I saw double the amount of Bush stickers that time around too. BTW, of course you're gonna see a lot of Bush stickers in OC. I thought everyone in CA knew that was a repuke stronghold.

[Beaverhausen]

14. I see signs in windows not on the lawns

Mine's in the window in case anyone decides to mess with it.

I see lots of bumperstickers too...then again I am in Los Angeles.

[Snow]

16. Kerry signs all over West Altadena & Pasadena......

very little in East Altadena, mansion territory - although the ice cream guy who does ridiculous Christmas lights, on Mendocino drive, has huge Bush decorations. I get a chuckle out of it because it's such an apt demonstration of who Bush's biggest supporters really are.

http://www.rcicommunity.co.uk/planning/journalEntryActivity.asp?JournalID=3321&EntryID=5447

[Mr. McD]

17. I live in the San Gabriel Valley and

work in Riverside. I have seen more Bush stickers then I have Kerry although there haven't very many of either.

[LWolf]

18. <sigh>

I bought my Kucinich signs and materials and proudly displayed them until he spoke at the convention; my bumpersticker is still out there, since it's harder to remove.

I've donated to Kerry. I'm voting for Kerry. I want him to win. I haven't purchased or displayed a sign or other materials though. I just can't display an enthusiasm or pride I don't feel; it would be dishonest. I'm not political enough to toss honesty out the window.

If you want to help me reach a place where I can honestly advocate for Kerry himself, rather than "vote for Kerry because he's not GWB," I'm open. He discourages me; after 4 years of Bush I'm tired of being discouraged. I'd like to be comfortable enough to put out a sign.

[marlakay]

20. Our office opens sept 1st

In Walnut Creek the DNC is opening a office and we will have Kerry supplies there. I don't have the address yet but it will be posted on contracostakerry.com in a few days.

I did notice driving out of town yesterday that I saw lots of kerry bumper stickers and ones against Bush. Not one Bush sticker! Great drive!!!

[JDPriestly]

21. I support Kerry 100%.

But, please allow me to vent. The Republicans are way off trying to pin big spender, tax and spend labels on Kerry. Kerry is incredibly stingy.

And the Kerry campaign is making a huge mistake by being so stingy with Californians -- no free buttons, no free signs, no free bumper stickers. As a volunteer, I have to buy buttons, stickers, etc. if I want to give them away. And, the Kerry campaign provides nothing, not even a button, to give to kids or homeless people. We volunteers have to pay for a simple Kerry/Edwards button if we want to give it free to someone. And many volunteers are unemployed. What a racket.

Also, although Kerry would draw massive numbers of people, he has held no really open public rallies in S. California that I know of thus far. So far, he has just come here to collect money from big donors. Hopefully, he will hold a rally here one of these days.

Sure, California is a cakewalk. But, what does it say about Kerry, if he does not take care of his core. I hope Kerry changes his strategy in California because Schwarzenegger draws a lot of Democrats with his nice guy act and his "Democratic" wife.

[MaryBear]

22. I have two Kerry bumper stickers

on my vehicle. One in English and one in Spanish. My partner has one on his car. I see more for Kerry than for Bush.

Still, we need to avoid taking a win for granted.

[Pax Argent]

24. I have a dumb question

Where in the North OC - Long Beach area can I get a bumper sticker? I'd buy one if I knew where to get one other than on the internet.

[lwin]

25. Hey there...It's not a dumb question

Go to www.kerryca.com, and pull down the info for either Long Beach or Orange County, and those pages will tell you where there are tabling events where you can get bumper stickers, buttons, etc...also possibly the locations of some campaign headquarters. If all else fails, I'm a Tabling Coordinator in Ventura County, and I will MAIL you what you need; just send me a PM.

BTW, for everyone else on this thread...we have tons of buttons, bumpers, window signs, yard signs, that our grassroots organization has purchased. It seems to me that other cities & county grassroots groups must be doing the same.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

26. I'm in North OC and I have extras

Leave me a PM with where to drop it off and I will.