ANDY MARTIN
The Right Republican for
U. S. Senator from Illinois/2008
Suite 4406, 30 E. Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611-4723
Toll-free tel. (866) 706-2639
Toll-free fax (866) 707-2639
Web site: www.AndyforUSSenator.com
AndyMartinCampaignDiary.blogspot.com
E-mail: mailto:AndyforIllinois@aol.com
Friday, July 13, 2007
CAMPAIGN DIARY #1
Dear Reader,
I got a call from the national media this week, asking for a copy of our campaign finance report. I told him we were not filing yet, because we had not yet spent the minimum amount. And, I explained that in this campaign we would be trying to impress voters with how little we were spending, not how much.
It occurred to me that you might appreciate some insight into our strategy. Rush Limbaugh calls these explanatory statements “caller clinics,” wherein he explains how to do and what to do and why.
And so, on Friday the 13th we begin an occasional series of letters collectively called the “Campaign Diary.” Here you will see our campaign secrets revealed--because we don’t have any real secrets. My campaign is virtually transparent.
What is the reasoning behind the novel strategy my supporters are developing? I truly believe we are going to be fielding the first “Internet campaign team” at the U. S. Senate level.
First, we will not be “dialing for dollars.” Dick Durbin has made a career of browbeating special interests for money, and it shows. If anyone sends in money, we will accept it. And we may issue a few gentle e-mails reminding people to contribute to me if they support my views. Beyond that, don’t expect me to be dialing for dollars or badgering contributors. I’ll let Durbin do that.
It just seems to me that today the media have corrupted the political process. The obsessive focus on campaign cash debases our democracy. Unless someone is willing to break away and try a different strategy, no one will ever attempt the feat. We’re trying.
Because Jesus did not campaign in Illinois a WWJD standard would be superfluous. But we will hark back to Abraham Lincoln. “What Would Lincoln Do?” (WWLD) will be our campaign standard. Lincoln was here and he did campaign in Illinois. His sprit still ennobles us and still inspires me. WWLD is a fitting memorial to his enduring legacy.
Second, because I am not financed--directly or indirectly--by any special interest, you can be assured my views are my own. I am not selling my views for campaign contributions. That is also the type of senator I would be: voting on conscience and not on the basis of campaign contributions. You may agree or disagree with my views but they are my own; they have not been bought and paid for by anyone else.
Third, although every campaign uses the Internet today, we are going to try and leverage the medium to throw back at Durbin the very obscene campaign wealth he has accumulated. David and Goliath, after all, is a morality tale in the Bible. One of my opponents is apparently trying to use my views to derive campaign cash from “hate” lobbies. We will use his hate money against him. Counter-leverage.
Fourth, we are successfully trying to drive costs out of the campaign. Every expense is rigorously analyzed. We have set aside enough money for media in the later stages before February 5th. Our focus on every dollar gives the campaign a tremendous cost advantage over rival campaigns that have to spend substantial upfront cash to get up to speed.
Fifth, we have always been leaders in media access. We talk to reporters whether they like me or dislike me. With rare and limited exceptions we are available to provide comments, information, whatever. Because I am not dialing for dollars I have more time to speak with media and reporters. People are always surprised to find that they can actually talk with the candidate or get a response from me. That is a tradition I would carry over to the U. S. Senate.
Sixth, what I will be stressing is experience. Forty years in radio and television. Yup, I began in 1968. Almost forty years experience in the Middle East. Some people may not like what have to say but I have a better batting average than Thomas Friedman of the N. Y. Times in analyzing the flow of events. I am the only Republican candidate, announced or unannounced, who can stand next to and credibly debate Durbin on the issues. I am no Alan Keyes. I am not going to start saying crazy things.
Because of my background in the media and my lifetime of immersion in the issues I am the only Republican who is prepared to begin attacking Durbin relentlessly on February 6th.
Finally, while I will not hesitate to punch back, and fast, I have no plans to run a negative campaign in the primary. I will be very negative against Durbin. Those who attack me can expect return fire. Generally, however, I will focus on the issues and the issue: Iraq and the Middle East.
As always, please feel free to write, e-mail, call or otherwise respond. In the meantime, the campaign has begun. We are talking to our printer about petitions, and recruiting circulators to hit the ground running on August 7th.
Politically yours,
ANDY MARTIN
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