The Power of Positive Thinking

Tom Bevan encourages Republicans to emulate victorious Governor-Elect Bruce Rauner:

For starters, Rauner benefited — as did Republicans across the country — from a midterm electorate more conservative (and older and whiter) than the electorate that went to the polls two years ago.

Rauner also benefited from the undeniable fact that, when it comes to campaigning, Pat Quinn is no Barack Obama.

But Bruce Rauner also turned out to be different from Mitt Romney, especially in one key respect. Rauner actively campaigned for minority votes. In 2012, Romney not only alienated Latino voters with his absurd “self-deportation” immigration policy, he also reportedly dismissed running mate Paul Ryan’s pleas to campaign in black and Hispanic neighborhoods in America’s inner cities. Romney sided with handlers and campaign consultants who thought the whole idea was a waste of the campaign’s most valuable resource, which is time.

Rauner took a different approach. During the hard-fought campaign, he spent a good deal of time on the South Side of Chicago, listening to African-Americans and courting endorsements from prominent black business leaders and pastors.

Rauner, too, heard from those who proclaimed this a wasted effort. He wasn’t going to change any minds, these critics told him, and he should spend his time campaigning where the votes were truly up for grabs.

Read the whole thing.

I’ve mentioned it before but I haven’t read anybody else talking about it so I’ll mention it again: the Rauner campaign was a cheerful, upbeat campaign, especially by comparison with the Quinn campaign. I think that made a difference.

7 comments… add one
  • PD Shaw Link

    The oddest exit polling I saw was that union households voted more this election, but 41% of them voted for the anti-union Republican. Probably a divide between the traditional labor unions and government unions.

  • jan Link

    This post mortem midterm analysis was an inspiring read for me. It shows how positive campaigning can work — one emphasizing reaching out, informing and unifying….everyone. Such political “upsets” also indicates that serious conversations, regarding an individual’s tenets, ideas, philosophies, can become more useful in achieving election successes, than just pinpointing grievances and solutions to certain guaranteed constituencies — promising them the spoils of victory if a vote is cast for them.

    I know, for me personally, the divisive “War on Women” racially-laced slurs, and fanning class hostility have been campaign losers, IMO serving to exploit wounds, not decrease poverty, create jobs, close gaps in income inequality or unify the country in any way, shape or form. Consequently, I turn off when these ads come on, as there is no educational content associated with them, only naked attempts to taint the other side’s motives or character in order to slam-dunk a win.

    FWIW, other candidates shifting to ‘positive’ messaging were Gardner in CO, who won, and Gillespie in VA, who almost won, operating an upbeat grass roots, shoe leather, volunteer operation, along with clear plans on what he would do differently. Another positive outcome of this election was that better financed races were not necessarily the winners, this time around

    Lastly, I think unions are going to have to self-correct as people are tiring of their futile, worthless ways of aggitation, as they deduct money from paychecks for actions often not welcomed by a union’s membership. The election of RTW state governors should shine a light on public discontent with these unions.

  • ... Link

    I’m sure if Romney had devoted 10% of his time to campaigning for black votes he would have eroded into Obama’s lead there by maybe one whole percentage point. Which would, no doubt, have made all the difference.

    Republican votes come from people who are older, whiter, and married. As long as the Dems AND the Reps keep insisting on making the country younger, browner, and with more broken households, the Republicans will never have a chance in Presidential years.

  • ... Link

    Had devoted _100%_ of his time, is how that should have read.

  • TastyBits Link

    @Icepick

    The reason for Republicans to campaign in areas where they will never get votes is because they will need to represent these people. By writing off 47% percent of the population, it tells them that they are worth less than the car elevator in your mansion.

    You go into the communities to meet different people. You bring your message, and you take the criticism. Later, they may never vote for you, but they will begin to respect you. At some point, they may begin to consider your position.

    It is the same as going on hostile media outlets. What is the point of a constant lovefest?

  • sam Link

    Somewhere the ghost of Jack Kemp is smiling.

  • jan Link

    “You go into the communities to meet different people. You bring your message, and you take the criticism. Later, they may never vote for you, but they will begin to respect you. At some point, they may begin to consider your position.”

    Good advice, Tasty. Respect lasts longer than popularity any day.

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