Kerry Campaign in Ohio ignoring my offer to volunteer

[LiberalCat]

This is the first time I've volunteered for a political campaign, so maybe I'm missing something or expecting too much.

A couple weeks ago, I called the Ohio Campaign Headquarters for Kerry. I gave them all my personal information to volunteer. They told me to call back if I didn't get a call from the volunteer coordinator. I called back several days later, telling them it was my second call. I missed their callback, but was left a voice mail asking me to call and give them my information, which I had already done.

So, on 8/12, I visited the headquarters, which was unimpressive and had almost no parking facilities. They had me fill out a form, which requested the same information as my first phone call. The information I gave included what activities I was interested in. I was told that they would put my name in a computer and call back.

I understand that it's only been four days since my last volunteer application, but it's been a couple weeks since my first. Kerry has been the expected nominee for several months and there are only three months left until the election.

Ohio is a battleground/swing state. I expected something a lot more professional and a lot more responsive. Are my expectations too high?

Can someone who has volunteered or worked on a campaign please explain why it is so hard to volunteer and how to get involved in the campaign?

[WI_DEM]

1. What kind of personal information?

heck, when I want to volunteer I just go to the office say I support the candidate and ask if they have anything they need done. They ask questions like do you have computer skills?, do you mind making calls?, do you mind knocking on doors?, ect but they always come up with something. This seems very strange.

[LiberalCat]

2. Personal information included

name, address, phone, email. There was a list of activities to choose from. I chose phone calls and office work. They never asked about any skills I had. They simply said they would call me.

[WI_DEM]

4. ok that is about right

give it a little time, I'm sure they will call. They probably have a deluge of people wanting to volunteer.

[DancingBear]

3. Sad to say, this is completely normal

I haven't a clue as to why it happens (save for the fact that everyone is running around like the proverbial headless chicken) but it has been the norm for the many times I've gotten involved. For example, when I worked on the Clark campaign during the primary it took 7(!) phone calls just to get a reply. Here in VA, working with Kerry, same thing, only not to such an extent since many of the Clark folks joined on to the Kerry campaign, and I know where they live. :)

I know I'll get in trouble for this, but a lot of times you'll get a prompter response from the campaign "vets" rather than the younger team members who are still somewhat infatuated with themselves and their newfound responsibilities.

Good luck!

[LiberalCat]

8. Thanks. I'll keep trying.

Unfortunately, the Bush economy has me working two low-paying jobs 50-60 hours per week, so my available time is limited. I guess that's part of their reason for destroying the economy and sending jobs overseas. Keeps the peons from having the time to fight back.

[Gman]

5. You want to work on a campaign for a Democrat

what do you expect??


Seriously, that's the way it is in most Democratic campaigns. Don't expect a high rise office building complex with ample parking. Democratic Party campaigns are run out of out of the way retail strip center fronts where the rent is cheap, its crowded and appears disorganized.

Just jump in and start working. Don't ask or apply, just jump in by saying, "what do you need me to do?"

[Julien Sorel]

6. That's the way it usually is when you volunteer.

Volunteer organizations are not known for their efficiency. You have to ask them what events they have coming up, and tell them you would like to do X for that event, and to pencil you in. They generally have hundreds of people volunteering, many of whom end up begging off for one reason or another. It isn't an easy thing to co-ordinate.

As for complaints about the facilities, what would you rather they did -- spend money on an expensive office, which would likely need refurbishing, and which they will only be in for a few months, or spend that money on ad time, or travel, or mailings? Campaigns are transient affairs, and the office space they choose reflect that.

[Raven]

7. Don't give up!

I had almost the exact same experience up here in NH, also a battleground state. Campaigns are notoriously disorganized on the local level since they are often coordinated by people with little or no experience in this kind of thing.

Here is what I did: I looked around for a PAC and found one that is very well organized. I've been working with this group for a couple of months now and I feel as if I'm able to make a contribution. You might want to try that approach.

[Sick_of_Rethuggery]

9. Wait until Labor Day...

or even closer to the election. It may be that they have too many people already for the current workload.

I imagine that they will need (exponentially) more people after Labor Day, when campaigning really begins.

Also, just do your own private organizing as well -- remember, *we* are (or should be!) the campaign...

FYI: I have never volunteered before either and I did sign up (several times) with the Kerry camp and have never heard back from them. Of course, I chalked it up to living in Texas!

[NWHarkness]

14. I have to take issue!

Here in Michigan, we will take all the volunteers we can get, RIGHT NOW!

We hope to do complete precinct walks before the end of August, and we have a number of visibility events planned, where we could use as many bodies as we can get.

I agree with you, though, that if nothing is happening near you, you ought to get out and do it yourself!

[LiberalCat]

10. Thanks, everybody, for the good information and suggestions.

I'm sure other newbies will find it useful, too.

[2Design]

12. maybe jump in and offer to call volunteers back since noone else

seems to be doing it....even if it is to say, we are going to need you in sept or oct.

[meti57b]

11. I signed up to volunteer about three weeks and got a call last week .....

The local campaign headquarters operation seems entirely geared for voter registration and getting out the vote on election day.

They had a list of things for volunteers to do that included, telephoning people now ... to ask if they are registered and to confirm the contact information ((I'm not exactly sure what they telephone about because I'm hearing impaired and told them I couldn't do phone work.) They have folks walking the precincts to get people registered, they are establishing a data base with phone numbers to telephone and get people registered and also in preparation for the last four days before the election to call and remind people to vote, ask if they need a ride. They then telephone the day of the election to ask if the person already voted and to urge them to do so. There was some other stuff.

I chose entering the contact information and correcting it in the data base, doing some registration (as long as it was with someone who could hear in case I miss something), and to be "block captain".

The whole thing struck me as well organized for those tasks but inefficient. I assume those are the most optimum tasks for a local campaign headquarters to do.

It puzzles me a little because I'm highly telephone-adverse and am not very open to someone I don't know, telephoning me.

[NWHarkness]

13. The problem is often with co-ordinating campaigns

Often, the presidential campaign will work out of local officials campaign offices, union halls, etc.

I am working out of my state representative's office. Sometimes if you call you will get one of his staffers, someone from the congressional district campaign, sometimes someone who works specifically for Kerry. It seems like a madhouse some times, but everyone is trying to do their best. It is the normal situation, and it will work out eventually.

If I were you, I would go to the office when you have some time, walk in and say "I'm here, put me to work."

[Joanne98]

15. what county are you in?

You need to start posting in state forums till you meet someone from your area. You can also go to www.meetup.com put in your zip code and post there.

[Philostopher]

17. I would agree, Joanne98

The Ohio forum is pretty active -- there are people from all over the state over there, some of them already volunteering for the campaign offices in several parts of Ohio. Perhaps it would be a 'foot in the door' to get started, if there's a 'buddy' in the area in the Ohio state forum.

[DaveinMD]

16. this stuff happens

mainly because the people put in charge of volunteers are often the most inexperienced people working on campaigns. Keep trying and you will get plugged in.

[mbee]

18. Find out if you have a local Democratic Club and go to their next

meeing. There you will meet local Democrats and can get involved in local as well as the current national presidential campaign.

[jburton]

19. Do you have a hot Congressional race nearby?

I've found volunteering for races other than Prez to be more rewarding. They'll coordinate with the Prez candidate events anyway, so you're really volunteering for both.

[jackstraw45]

20. I would PHONE the national headquarters....

202-712-3000


Tell them you're from OHIO and tell them what you told us.

I bet you'll see changes.

That is WRONG.

Keep trying...we Dems NEED your help in your state.