The Visible Campaign versus the Invisible Campaign

The late Congressman Donald Pease, who was a very good politician as well as a very good congressman, once said that candidates run two campaigns. One is the visible campaign and the other is the invisible campaign. While the visible campaign is important, the invisible campaign wins elections.

The visible campaign includes yardsigns, bumper stickers, billboards, and other visible media. The invisibile campaign includes things like door to door canvassing, telephone calls to voters, and direct mail. The visible campaign reassures your supporters that you are actively campaigning, the invisible campaign persuades voters to vote for you and not for your opponent.

Lately we have been receiving emails from Democrats concerned that there are not enough yard signs for Obama in Medina County. There is also a comment on this blog to that effect. Ironically, one of these messages came the same day as the largest meeting ever held in Medina County for a get out the vote effort was underway. That meeting was held by the Barack Obama Campaign for Change.

The Obama campaign has four full time staffers in Medina County. Just to give you an idea of how impressive that is, in 2004, Medina County shared one staffer with Wayne County.

The Obama campaign is not focused on yard signs, it is focused on persuading voters to vote for Obama. If you are concerned about this campaign, then sign up to work on the Obama campaign's get out the vote effort.

All this is not to say that in this election, yard signs aren't important. Voting for Barack Obama is a big step for a lot of voters, especially in a county like Medina County, which has about a 2-3% minority community. Showing your neighbors that you support Obama gives them the courage to also support Obama.

Having said that, however, putting up a yard sign is not as important as talking to your neighbors, your family members, your co-workers, and your friends about this election. It is not as important as canvassing a neighborhood, or making phone calls. Remember Congressman Pease's advice and get involved in the invisible campaign.