Since One Vote Matters is about the business of politics, it is important to incorporate the perspectives of the people who are actually out there working in the field. That’s why I am doing a series of short email interviews with staffers from the major presidential campaigns. Their job is to represent their employers, so we can expect partisan responses to my questions, but that isn’t a bad thing (not even for a non-partisan blog). Their answers will provide insight into how the professionals think and represent the interests of their candidates.
So without further ado, my first interview is with Bryan Bedera, Northern Nevada Campaign Coordinator for Senator John McCain. I’d like to thank Bryan for taking some time to answer my questions.
Question #1: Nevada moved up the date for its caucuses in the hopes of making the state more important to the election process. Is the NV caucus more important this year than in previous elections?
Absolutely, with the caucus being moved up in Nevada to 4th in the nation we have become one of the few vital states in the nomination process.
Question #2: Based on the high turnout for the Iowa Caucuses, as well as NV’s new place in the political calendar, do you expect turnout for the NV Caucuses to be up this year?
That is an un answerable question, with this being the first time Nevada as caucused in living memory, predicting turnout rate seems to often come down to tea leaves and crystal balls.
Question #3: According to an article in today’s New York Times, Nevada has been “ignored” by all Republican candidates except Mitt Romney and Ron Paul. Do you think this is a fair claim? How would you characterize Republican interest in the Nevada Caucuses?
The Nevada Caucus is central to the McCain campaign and major part of our overall campaign strategy. With the campaign organizing over 200 volunteers from two regional offices, we expect our focus on Nevada to result in a good showing for Senator McCain.
Question #4: Both NV and South Carolina will hold their Republican contests on January 19th. Which state is more important to the McCain campaign?
The vote of every American citizen is important, and though the focus of a campaign may move from one state to another, value of every American’s vote is constant.
Question #5: Which issues do you think are most important to likely caucus-goers in Nevada? Which of these issues are particular strengths for Senator McCain?
Simply put, integrity is back in style. The Nevada voter is looking for a leader they can trust, both in his record of service and in his firm commitment to the truth.
This looks like it is going to be an interesting series! I’ve always wondered what it was like to work on a presidential politician’s campaign – there must be a lot of passion and energy and a high sense of purpose and commitment in the participants.
I’m looking forward to reading this series as we go through the weeks and months leading up to the election! Thanks for putting it together!
Liz, thanks for your interest in this series. I hope to do at least one each week for the next several weeks.
I’ll also talk to some volunteers and ask them to describe their experiences working on campaigns. This will help us get a sense of what it’s like to work on a campaign at the “street level.”
Cool! I can live vicariously through your series!
I’ve also seen on at least one of the candidate’s websites the ability for volunteers to make outbound cold calls (like telemarketing) to potential voters. It would be interesting to hear what that experience is like if you have found anyone who is doing it…..I’m thinking about getting up my nerve!
The “Cambridge Concord” is a statement on homosexuals signed by many Episcopal Bishops several years ago. I think it could be a good position statement for Sen. McCain in his campaign.
Hos do I get it to his staff’s attention?
THE CAMBRIDGE ACCORD
In the name of God, we, the bishops of the Anglican Communion who have affixed our
names to this Accord, publish it as a statement of our shared opinion in regard to all
persons who are homosexual. We affirm that while we may have contrasting views on the
Biblical, theological, and moral issues surrounding homosexuality, on these three points
we are in one Accord:
1. That no homosexual person should ever be deprived of liberty, personal property, or
civil rights because of his or her sexual orientation.
2. That all acts of violence, oppression, and degradation against homosexual persons are
wrong and cannot be sanctioned by an appeal to the Christian faith.
3. That every human being is created equal in the eyes of God and therefore deserves to
be treated with dignity and respect.
We appeal to people of good conscience from every nation and religious creed to join us
in embracing this simple Accord as our global claim to human rights not only for
homosexual men and women, but for all God’s people.
Bill, why do you think this would be a good position for McCain? It seems to me that taking this stance now would raise suspicions about his ‘conservative credentials’ among many conservative Republican activists, making it more difficult for him to become his party’s nominee.
I read all. I think everything is ok and I will share my idea with later. But I think all acceptable.