Around The Corner Blog

Tag: rick perry

    Message (Still) Matters

    Posted Mar 8, 2010 by Chris Sinclair | Comments ( 0 ) | Filed in: General, Strategic Communications

    If you think about it, it’s pretty amazing what Texas Governor Perry did to win the Republican primary outright this past Tuesday.  With Senator Kaye Bailey Hutchinson, a well-known and fairly popular sitting United States Senator and Debra Medina, the Libertarian candidate in the race, the conventional wisdom was that no one would get the 50% plus one to avoid a run-off.  

    Last week, Matt Bales, Cornerstone’s New Media and Political Director, blogged about Governor Rick Perry’s social media prowess ---which was indeed a significant part of his campaign.   And while I think the good governor did some things online to help win; it was his message that won the day.  (It’s always the message by the way).

    Governor Perry‘s message zeroed in on jobs and the economy.  He artfully relayed to voters that, under his leadership, Texas has billions in the bank, has gained jobs this year (while most states have no money in the bank, and have lost jobs this year).   He added icing on the cake with an anti-Washington sentiment which everyone responds well to these days.  Put it all together, and there was something for every Texas Republican primary voter---from the most conservative to the moderate.  For example, here’s an add TV ad he ran.

    What Perry did online, along with other online trailblazers like Governor McDonnell in Virginia and Senator Brown of Massachusetts, is impressive and part of the on-going evolution of the modern day campaign.   But like Brown and McDonnell, Rick Perry had a good message.  The point is, there simply is not enough online or offline tools and tactics to make up for a bad message (or a poor candidate).  It’s the fundamental part of a campaign that will never change. 

    We work hard with all our clients---candidate, ballot or corporate---to make sure they have a solid message.  We spend a lot of time and effort crafting the message.  Having a solid message that resonates is the foundation from which every successful campaign is built.  

    What’s your message?

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    The Texas Primary

    Posted Mar 2, 2010 by Wayne Bertsch | Comments ( 0 ) | Filed in: General, Politics

    What might we learn from the Texas March 2, Primary for Governor
     
    My typical morning routine is waking up and driving my boys to school.  During that 20 minute roundtrip, we are tuned into our local NPR station WFSU 88.9 where I get an idea of what's ahead for the day in news for the nation, state and of course locally.  The morning national news on Wednesday, February 23, was regarding the upcoming March 2 RepublicaTexasn Primary for Governor pitting sitting Gov. Rick Perry against US Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson and Tea Party Activist Debra Medina.  The topic is two-fold, how do two entrenched politicians say that they are the "outsiders" and what impact do the "Tea Partiers" bring into the mix?
     
    The latest Rasmussen polling of likely Republican primary voters finds Perry leading Hutchinson 48% to 27%, and Medina earning 16% of the vote. Nine percent (9%) of Texas GOP voters remain undecided.  What's most interesting about the dynamics of this race is that Perry and Hutchinson have the most baggage to carry since they are currently elected and seen as part of the problem.  The negative attacks, as one would expect, are already in full throttle between Perry and Hutchinson.  And when they're not attacking one another, their message is what they have done "for and about" Texas, even if meant supporting or voting for populist issues but not necessarily of Republican values and principles.  Which begs the question, will those attacks soften Perry and Hutchison leaners and undecides to swing to Medina?  If that is to happen, and as the pundits have suggested, that boost would send Medina into a run-off against Perry, therefore setting up a run-off that will invite more questions into defining what type of candidate Republicans will support.
     
    The other curiosity of this race is what will be the impact of the Tea Partiers?  Today, Tea Party activists are generally made up of conservative Republicans and Independents (Independents are not necessarily the party itself but would include Non Affiliated Voters), but those not registered as Republicans will not be voting in the Primary.  These activists tend to trend against the incumbent of their own party and for to the outsider. Medina has fit herself comfortably in that role.
     
    By this evening, March 2nd, voters will either see a trend of supporting real outsider candidates or more of the same.  Time will tell, but would you be willing to support the outsider?

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