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Talking to the Presidential (and other) Candidates

Friday, January 04, 2008

The Iowa Caucus results confirm what some pundits had already been saying--the “real” primary contests will last longer than predicted earlier. And, of course, the longer they last, the more interest candidates will have in your ideas.

The ideal way to get an issue like passenger trains onto a candidate’s agenda is for the candidate to hear the concern expressed by different people in different places. If you have the opportunity to attend any event where any Presidential candidate is present, consider getting across some of these ideas:

“We need more passenger trains. If we are really serious about being independent from foreign oil, and want fewer carbon emissions in our atmosphere, and less congestion on roads and at airports then we need to invest in more passenger trains.  Will you help us?” [or “What will you do about that?”]

The message can be as short as you like--you could, for example, pick just your favorite one or two reasons for needing passenger trains.

Remember, this can be useful even with a candidate who eventually drops out, because that candidate may throw his support to another, and might eventually have an influence on how a winning candidate views the issues.  The same tactic, called “bird-dogging” by some, is of course useful in campaigns for federal and state legislators and governors and any other elected public office that presents the opportunity to influence transportation policy.

Be sure to read NARP President George Chilson’s letter to the presidential candidates.

Also see the New York Times‘ listings of when each state has its primary or caucus, listed by the Democratic and Republican parties’ calenders.  We have asked the NYT to double-check this info; when we last checked, the Democratic table failed to show the DC primary on February 12.

--Ross B. Capon

Posted by NARP | (4) Comments

Next entry: NARP's Ross Capon on the Radio with Arthur Frommer Previous entry: New Hampshire Advocates Urged to Question Presidental Candidates

Comments


NARP’s letter to the candidates was more of a sales pitch for NARP than an inquiry into the candidate’s positions. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was no response, because there were no questions in the letter! NARP appears to be too passive here. NARP needs to be ACTIVELY asking the candidates what they think so that NARP can report back to the membership. Letters should be followed up with phone calls to campaign headquarters until the answers are given. Alas, it appears NARP is depending on individual members to do the legwork. But unlike individuals, who aren’t likely to make many ripples, NARP can present its inquiries as having the power of the membership behind them, and thus is more likely to get answers.

And if nothing else, NARP should at least be researching and publishing the candidate’s records on Amtrak.

Comment by James Toy  on  01/12  at  10:32 PM

The NARP letter indeed was a sales pitch--for passenger trains. We aimed to make clear what we think the next president should do in this area. But what the candidates most need to hear is out on the campaign trail--not in a letter from Washington. That is, “in-person” statements from citizens about the need for (or questions about candidates’ views on) passenger trains. For Presidential candidates who serve in the U.S. Congress, NARP members can view voting records on the members’ only section of our web site.

Comment by Ross Capon  on  01/13  at  10:27 PM

Ross, there’s nothing wrong with telling the candidates what we think, and yes it is important to ask the candidates ourselves if we get a chance. But that’s just half the job. The other half is for you to represent the membership by asking the candidates “Our members want to know what is your position on passenger trains?” And making it clear that their answer to NARP’s leadership may influence thousands of votes.

Comment by James Toy  on  01/14  at  07:39 PM



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