DFA Training Works for Iowa
By Sam Garchik
Last weekend, DFA Training Academy came to Eastern Iowa to teach us Iowans how to be good campaigners. I was surprised that, in a state where half the congressmen and senators are Democrats and we have a Democratic governor and state legislature, DFA could teach us so much.
The most interesting thing I learned from the Vermonters was how to be a better campaign data manager. I thought I understood NCEC and how to analyze targeting data, but I learned a lot about how to manage and massage public information to get a more accurate idea where to find votes. Kendra Sue Derby and Arshad Hasan did a great job of explaining the persuasion index, and helped me figure out how to use this model on every campaign I work for in the future.
The second training session I liked was on campaign finance and fundraising. Selene Hofer-Shall gave a great pitch on how to raise money without putting in any overhead of your own – you ask people to donate money for the building and for the food. Having worked on a campaign that made most of the mistakes she warned against, I knew what she was saying was true.
Beyond the information, the Academy provided me with a good sense of who else in the state was interested in networking. Iowa is a pretty big place, occupying over 60,000 square miles. It’s nice to see progressive networks growing. For example, Marshalltown and the Selden Spencer campaign (IA – 4) sent a significant contingent to the training. In 2006, we sent two new Democratic Congressmen to Washington, DC, and we continue to look forward to helping Spencer go there in 2008.
Missing from all of this was any notice of presidential campaigns. Most of us in the room seemed to agree that in-state party building was more important, at least at this stage. For example, two regional organizations – Progressive Action for the Common Good and the Progressive Coalition of Central Iowa, were both represented. These groups work on issues rather than on individuals, and are effective means of getting messages spread quickly in regions.
In leaving the academy, I look forward to offering my skills to any campaign out there, and working with DFA activists around the nation to improve small campaigns abilities to take on significant challenges ahead.
Blog For Iowa 