Keystone Krisis
Today's quote, courtesy of Barack Obama: "Reduce the losses where you won’t win."
My Last Pre-Election Plea
Based on my research, the single biggest vulnerability point in the Presidential election is . . . rural Pennsylvania. The Harris/Walz national campaign is executing a solid game plan in PA’s Democratic-leaning areas (as did Hillary Clinton), but has basically ignored rural PA (as did HRC). I’ve identified two IE’s doing fantastic work in counties where Harris/Walz desperately need to narrow Trump’s margins. The groups have sprinted to collaborate (see below), and need our funding.
These groups have done the hard work to find local community members to explainHarris/Biden’s positive impact on local infrastructure and jobs, and debunk Trump ads claiming Harris will ban all fracking. Trust me, it’s hard to find influential people in rural red counties who publicly support the Democratic ticket. But when voters hear from respected neighbors, they change their minds (see chart at bottom).
I’m skeptical about the impact of most ads, but am blown away by what these groups have produced. They will persuade voters, in counties where media buys are inexpensive.
I’ve written them a big check, but they need your help. Please, please dig deep. If Harris/Walz lose PA, it’s likely game over for our democracy.
The Collaboration
The Pennsylvania Rural Radio Initiative and Local Voices have united to reach critical Pennsylvania rural voters — outreach otherwise not being done.
Founded by PA political Dream Team Shanin Specter, Joe Torsella, and Conor Lamb, the Rural Radio Initiative runs county-by-county radio ads in "media orphan" areas. Their hyper-localized radio-ad campaign highlights economic benefits achieved by Harris/Biden, and sways voters.
Local Voices, founded by award-winning filmmaker Lee Hirsch, delivers testimonial ads featuring conservative, courageous rural voters who support Harris/Walz. Their gorgeous video ads perform incredibly well (see below), producing a 7-point increase among independents and a 4.5-point shift in Trump2020 voters.
This joint effort is ramping up with radio, TV, and digital media buys across crucial counties. They will siphon off Trump voters, help Harris/Walz ‘lose by less’ in rural PA, and win the pivotal Keystone state.
Please donate. And forward this to others who might support this final push that could well determine the course of history.
Nervously Yours,
Ted (tdintersmith@gmail.com)
