NH CD-2: "Wake Up Washington Pledge" a Dud, So Far... - Granite Grok

NH CD-2: “Wake Up Washington Pledge” a Dud, So Far…

NH-GOP_logoIs there an enthusiasm gap in the Lambert for Congress campaign?  I asked this question back on July 7th when I posted a picture from the Amherst 4th of July parade contrasting the turnout for the two Republicans vying to challenge Ann Kuster.  Colonel Lambert’s showing was dismal by comparison to Marilinda Garcia’s.

This week our journey takes us to the Lambert campaign website where there is a very inviting splash screen with a ‘Wake up Washington Pledge.‘ The pledge runs a list of issues Col. Lambert supports–term limits, no pensions, no budget-no pay, no taxpayer funded mass mailings, and no pay raise for congress.  Given the accumulation (and abuse) of wealth, power, and privilege in DC, they are political stands that few in congress ever embrace once elected, but that as dog whistle populist issues could attract voters in the Republican base and independents who support them.  (The pledge can also a good way to build a database and email and mailing list for th campaign).

The Lambert campaign has had the splash screen up for at least five days.  It was released July 15th, 2014.  Today is the 20th…

Is the base attracted?

If you blow a dog whistle, and no one is around to hear it….

The answer, so far, is no.

As I write this, in the 5 full days since the splash went up, 8 people have signed the Wake up Washington Pledge.  Two the first day (the first two names are with the campaign, a volunteer, and an intern).  Three took the pledge on the second, at least one on the third, and that’s all I can see from the page view provided.  Those last two could have been today, or yesterday.

Big picture?  It’s a small picture.

Sometimes momentum is all you have, or all you need.  Gary’s campaign does not currently “appear” to have momentum.  This does not mean he has none, but if he does it is invisible and that is the same thing.

It is worth noting that the release of the pledge was promoted online by the campaign, got press on Nashua Patch, and at NH Journal, and the press release was also posted at NH Insider (a great site for local news, where I used to blog many years ago).

Eight names, at least two of them with the campaign.

Is it the issues, the candidate, the lack of Internet or social media penetration, or just a lack of enthusiasm?

 

Update- Within minutes of posting this, someone signed the pledge.  Within the last hour four more have.  Eight in five days and 5 in the two hours after we report it.   I wonder if I should be asking for a donation?

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