Customer Reviews

The Campaign Manager: Running and Winning Local Elections (Campaign Manager: Running & Winning Local Elections)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(6)
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I bought this book hoping to get some ideas and insights on grassroots organizing, but I was dismayed to find that the book is much more elementary than I anticipated. It seems like a good resource for someone running for school board or a small town's council. However, if you're looking for pointers on running/managing a campaign, you may be better served by another book, perhaps Daniel Shea's "Campaign Craft." The book also fails to address the increasingly important technological aspect of modern campaigning, recommending that you keep track of your supporters via index cards. While reliable, this method is not exactly on the cutting edge of the campaign industry.

I recently finished working on a local State Senate race where we used Shaw's book as a manual for each course of action in our campaign. I was very impressed with the book's clear direction and insightful reasoning. We won our race because each step we took made sense and Shaw's book influenced our decision making process in every way. I highly recommend that anyone who thinks about running or participating in a local election reads and uses Shaw's book. We would not have been so successful without it.

Catherine Shaw is a professional. She knows how to organize to win an election. Her book is an exhaustive but clear compendium of political organizing at the grassroots level. You will find everything you need to know about phone banks, direct mail, voter registration lists, letters-to-the editor--how each works, how effective each is, and how to trade off if you can't do it all.

The campaign I helped run and used her book in was a $5.96 million bond measure to restore and expand our historic Carnegie library. In Oregon all money measures must turn out 50% of the registered voters. Within that 50% in order to win, you must have a majority of the votes. Not an easy task.

Our campaign not only turned out well over 50% but won by more than 2:1. It couldn't have happened without that book. It's the next best thing to having Catherine Shaw at your elbow.

I've now had a chance to read or review a number of the top-rated campaign books. Without exception The Campaign Manager was the most helpful: it's a hands-on, how-to manual that's easy to read and covers all aspects of a campaign.

The biggest selling point is that it is clear the author draws from years of direct campaigning experience. Every section has great tips for saving money and being more competitive in a market where "money is king." While it covers computer-driven organizational systems there are also systems for those who are not so technologically inclined. It's clear that Shaw knows when you're working a grassroots campaign you sometimes need to adapt to a volunteers' level of expertise not the other way around.

This book is a real field guide and the best tool you could have in winning an election.

Must of us have no clue at all what it means and what is involved in the organization of a political campaign. This book is a bible to run a campaign or to be a manager for one. It goes from the initial thinking that needs to be done before a candidate even considers running to what are the final steps when the campaign is through. Every step of the process is covered. It is really an amazing book. The only caveat that I would point out it is its strong focus on US campaigns, thus if you are not American and are thinking about campaigns outside the US this book will not cover foreign issues and also it may bias you. I.E. In other countries politicians do not raise funds in events where people go to hear them, on the contrary, many politicians especially in Latina America try to provide incentives for people to go to their speeches (of course this is controversial) and the book for example goes into this kinds of fundraising, that do not happen outside the US. In general however, it provides an excellent framework for a very organized and focused campaign.

Catherine M. Shaw provides a plethora of information on running a campaign for local office. I have read four or five books on the subject, and this one is probably the best - certainly the most thorough! There are two flaws, however: 1) Ms. Shaw's recommendations are very low-tech. She advises you to set up various notecard systems, etc., that could be much more easily handled with computer software. Using the web, blogs, etc. isn't really mentioned at all. 2) From my experience, Ms. Shaw's expectations for masses of volunteers is a little (LOT!) more than the average candidate can really hope for. Maybe if you live in a politially astute area of the country like Portland, but for us folks in the mid-west, getting even two or three volunteers for a state house campaign (of an incumbent!) is quite an accomplishment. Her recommendations assume you'll have an unpaid staff of 10, 20 or more. Still, even with these flaws in mind, this is a pretty good guide. I recommend it.

This book seriously has everything you need to know for running a local election. Whether you plan to read it cover to cover, or look things up as you go, this book will tell you what you need to know to be successful. Catherine Shaw has graciously written down everything she knows about a campaign and handed it to us on a silver platter. The only way to learn more than you learn with this book would be to work with Ms. Shaw in person! Don't run a local election without it!

This book holds a wealth of information. As a librarian , I appreciate the practical nature of this book, the interesting style of writing and how well organized it is. Following Catherine Shaw's guidelines, you are sure to win your campaign. I should know, my library was lucky enough to have her leading our building campaign and we won. We have since recommended the book to many other libraries who have had similar success in their campaigns. This is a book written by someone who "has been there and done that". Her advice is well tested and presented in a way all can follow. Highly recommended.

Even if you have the old version of TCM, buy the new one. It is an expanded, improved edition.

I learned everything (worthwhile) that I know about campaigns from the first book. Ms. Golden provides theory and practical tips and relevant examples. A must for political campaign organizers.

Don't underestimate what it takes to run a campaign.

As a rookie campaign manager for a tax levy that was already defeated once, I needed to learn and learn fast. That's what this book helped me do. I've practically worn out some sections refering back to them time and time again. We are just entering the actual campaign, but I feel very confident with my campaign plan, and I am ready.

I highly recomend this book to any rookies out there!