Some of you may remember the “War Room” set up by Bill Clinton’s successful 1992 presidential campaign run by the insufferable, though often brilliant, James Carville.
Above Carville’s desk was a sign that simply read: Speed Kills.
“Carville wasn’t talking about the dangers of crystal meth or auto accidents,” reminds David Vermillion for PR Week. “He was describing the impact of quick and decisive communications on the campaign trail. Be quick or be dead.”
Vermillion further notes that the Carville Doctrine was way back “when faxed news was bigger than Fox News,” and is even more important today “in an increasingly complex communications landscape where news breaks every second and metastasizes to go viral through social networks.”
The Carville Doctrine is something the Trump campaign has wisely taken to heart. From POLITICO’s Gabby Orr this weekend…
“For months, the president’s top campaign aides have been monitoring media reactions to his speeches, press gaggles and tweets, hunting for the next gaffe they can spin into gold. Something draws the ire of establishment Washington? Easy target, one senior campaign official said. The president proposes a bizarre merchandise idea during a rally? We have it up ‘before he leaves the stage,’ recalled another.”
What about your campaign?
When given a shot at your opponent, do you act on it immediately? Or do you gather your kitchen cabinet to discuss, debate and argue over the appropriate response, thereby missing the window of opportunity in our increasingly shortened news cycle?
If they’re talking about it now, you need to weigh in now. Not tomorrow.
Speed kills. Be quick or be dead.
Cheers!
Dr. Chuck Muth, PsD
THE CAMPAIGN DOCTOR
Professor of Psephology*
(homeschooled)
P.S. The November issue of Psephology Today went in the mail over the weekend. If you’re not yet a subscriber, here’s some of what you missed…
- The simple story-telling lesson you can learn from “Die Hard” – including a little-known “pro tip” you won’t get from any other campaign consultant or trainer in politics
- 14 lessons you can learn from Trump’s online “supercar”
- How to avoid running on a campaign slogan that “sucks”
- The #1 best way to thank your donors – and how one operation lost $300,000 going the cheap route!
- A detailed example of a major email list failure – and what you need to do to avoid it in your own campaign
- A dire warning about “clean-handed gardeners” when hiring campaign professionals for your race
If you’re not yet a subscriber to my Psephology Today newsletter – conveniently delivered right to your door every month by your friendly neighborhood mailman (or woman) – you’re missing a TON of in-depth information that’ll get you more votes, more donors, more volunteers and more media coverage.
Click here for details and a very special LIMITED-TIME offer – including 50% off the subscription price and 10 FREE bonus “Special Reports” for new subscribers.
And yes, every new subscriber this week will automatically be mailed a copy of the November issue of Psephology Today so you won’t miss out on a thing!
* Psephology (see-follow-gee): The study of campaigns and elections