This email came from a hard working RI grass roots volunteer named Janice Panoff. Advice I think you'll love!
Hi Michael,
I spent the last 2 days canvassing in RI for Obama.I had great response from the following little gesture. It connected with people on a bunch of levels--- very positive association with the candidate, memory inducer, humor, cleverness, happiness, even on a sensory level --- sight, smell and taste!!!!!
This is what I did:
Before going out to canvass I went to a Staples business supply store. I purchased a big bag of individually wrapped white lifesaver candy mints. (There's probably a 150-200 in the bag for $12).As I canvassed at each house, after my "Obama chat" I would say,
"May I leave you with some information (the official campaign brochure)?" They'd take it and THEN I said," Oh! One other thing.....I'd like to give you this too....."
Then I took out a single, cellophane wrapped lifesaver candy, held it up in front of them (its white, O-shaped and a bit larger than the usual lifesaver candy) and said,
" I want you to remember this on primary day when you go into the voting booth.----- This is an O for Obama. He is going to be a breath of fresh air in the White House. AND, he's going to be a life saver!!"With 1 exception, every person smiled and happily took it!
It worked because:
- The O shape visually reinforces Obama's name and campaign signage.
- It cheap.
- It is unexpected.
- Its fun.
- It utilizes multiple senses in communicating the message & therefore reinforcing it.
- It smells good.
- It tastes good.
- Those sensations are a tangible expression of his message of a fresh, clean politics.
- It sets an memory that may influence an undecided voter.
- They got something for nothing!!!
- Doing that at the end of the 'pitch' left the potential voter with a very positive impression of Obama.
After all, who doesn't like lifesavers???? Its almost Un-American !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For my part I'm going to keep a ready supply of the lifesavers in my coat pockets at all times so that when I encounter people (in the supermarket, the mall, the office, wherever..) I can give them out as a mini-Obama pitch!!!
Thanks for entertaining my idea! I'm also going to try to contact the Obama headquarters with it in hopes that they can send it out. I can envision it as a really fun, inexpensive sort of short hand message for Obama all over the country!!!
Janice