Yay! A gratuitous candidate’s wife post!
If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time, or scoured some of the older content, you know that I love candidates’ wives. They make dealing with their husbands a little less like banging your head against a wall. And if you’ve got my Campaign Planbook, you know that getting the full support of the candidate’s wife is always my number one priority. So I like to give them a shout out every now and then.
So what’s this post about? Oh that’s right, your wife is a better politician than you are.
Let’s face it. The Republican Party is not famous for touting tons of female candidates (neither is the Democrat Party, for that matter). And that’s not changing any time soon. We don’t want all that drama!
Ipso facto, most candidates for political office, and elected officials, are men. And those men, if they’re smart, have wives. And more often than not, those women are pretty awesome. Not only are Republican women inherently pretty, but women are physiologically programmed to have engaging, attracting (flirtatious?) personalities. It’s no wonder you’ll often hear a campaign manager say, “Have Mrs. Candidate do the fundraising calls, she always closes twice as many.” And yeah, I’ve actually heard that.
So what does that mean for the candidate?
Well mostly, it’s good news! If your spouse is an outgoing, personable, and supportive individual, you can essentially count her as another you – doubling your efforts as candidate. Personal contact with the candidate is the most effective way to win votes, and with a wife pulling equal weight representing you, you can essentially cover twice as much ground.
Think about it: a spouse’s endorsement is critical. Who knows the candidate better than his wife? When a candidate’s wife knocks on a swing voter’s door and can speak eloquently and passionately about her husband’s platform, qualifications and accomplishments, you can virtually consider that vote won.
So how do you leverage your awesome wife?
Grassroots
Door-knocking, parade-walking, public events, and everything in between, make sure she’s there, and always mention her in your speeches (when appropriate, like talking about your background).
Campaign Communications
One of the first and most effective ‘wife tactics’ I came across in my political career was the use of “the wife letter.” The wife letter was usually on pretty stationary, always handwritten, and only slightly overly sentimental.
It’s sent out as a direct mail piece, timed to hit mailboxes within 2 or 3 days of election day, and addressed to the female voters in the household. Designed to look like a ‘real,’ personal letter from the candidate’s wife, this mail piece always gets a huge, vocal, positive response.
I’ve seen the ‘wife letter’ concept translated to radio for local and state candidates, and to television for congressional candidates. The idea remains the same – a romanticized, personal ‘sneak peak’ into the life of the candidate. Works like a charm.
Being in Two Places at Once
Two important events in one night? No problem! Send the Mrs. in your stead. Wives are ideal representatives at local Republican Party events and public/community events like fairs, festivals, or any sort of event where your campaign or the party might have a table set up.
Enticing Volunteers
Meeting/spending time with the candidate’s wife is pretty much just as exciting as spending time with the candidate himself for a young volunteer. It makes them feel like they’re not just part of the team, they’re part of the family.
There are numerous ways your wife can be your campaign sidekick. Get creative. And remember, the family that campaigns together, stays together.
