Dorian Eder wrote:
As for the effectiveness of lawnsigns, I believe they are more psychological warfare than anything else.
Well placed lawnsigns can give the impression of huge popular support. They can also make neighbors in places dominated by one political party or the other more comfortable going against the grain if they see their neighbor's signs.
And they can lend new legitimacy to long-shot candidates. For example, I was surprised and impressed by the number of Tom Taylor lawnsigns that popped up here in Northeast recently. It was a signal to me that he was serious about the campaign and putting in some work, even though the DFLer clearly has him beat in sign volume. On the flip side, the absence of signs from the Republican candidate makes me wonder what's gone wrong in his campaign. All of this influences perception, even the perception of someone clearly too smart to fall for it (like me ;))
Lawn signs are also a bit of a cold war dilemma - they may not help you get any new votes, but if you don't have them and your opponent does you ARE likely to lose votes.
-Dorian Eder Windom Park
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Eric writes:
I ran for House seat 58A in 2002 as an endorsed Green. I was the first Green to run there other than Nader. Bob Velez also ran Green for County Commissioner in 2002 in this area. 58A is essentially everything north of Lowry Ave. on the west side of the river (Camden-Webber, Lind-Bohanon, Victory, Cleveland, etc.).
I was able to place about 150 lawn signs, lit dropped every address at least twice, and knocked on about 3/4 of all the doors in the district. And yes, a number of my signs got trashed and had to be replaced (I'm sure it was mere coincidence that it was the same weekend the DFLer's signs were going up). The DFL incumbant and the Repub both outdid me in spending and signs. The DFLer easily spent an amount equal (likely more) to my entire budget on the last weekend of the campaign.
I think the signs definately lent credibility and votes. I did about 50% better than Nader did in 2000 in that district and better than any other Green legislative candidate in the twin cities. Now, that's not saying a lot, but 12% in a diehard conservative DFL district (think Jim Rice, Barb Johnson, Alice Rainville, etc.) on maybe a tenth of the budget the other two had, is not bad. The Repub got his standard 20% they always get here.
This year, the same incumbant and the same Repub are running and there's not a sign in sight. Just shows how comfortable they are with the status quo.
I think the lawn signs went a long way. And like Dorian, I think it's helping Tom Taylor a lot. It's at least making people look at this guy who has been an activist for decades and a real homegrown Green. Tom is smart. He knows the legislative process. He knows Minneapolis. He's very personable and very responsible. Voters in 59A could do a great service to the state if they made Tom the first Green in the Minnesota House.
Eric Oines Lind-Bohanon North Minneapolis
"One day we must come to see that peace is not merely a distant goal we seek, but that it is a means by which we arrive at that goal. We must pursue peaceful ends through peaceful means."
~ Martin Luther King Jr., Agitator
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