Last month, I sat down with two candidates running for city council. Both were passionate, qualified, and working incredibly hard. But their daily schedules couldn’t have been more different.
The first candidate, Mark, proudly told me he’d knocked on over 2,000 doors in the past month. “I’m out there every day, connecting with voters,” he said. But when I asked about his fundraising numbers, he got quiet.
The second candidate, Lisa, had a different approach. She spent her mornings making donor calls (even though she hated it), her afternoons meeting with community leaders, and only then would she hit the doors. Guess which campaign had more money in the bank and more influential endorsements?
Let me tell you about a school board candidate I worked with last year. Every time we met to discuss fundraising strategy, she’d change the subject to her door-knocking schedule. “I just feel more productive when I’m meeting voters,” she’d say.
I get it. Knocking on doors feels good. Most voters are polite, some are enthusiastic, and even the “no’s” don’t sting that much. But here’s the hard truth: you can’t win a modern campaign on door-knocking alone.
I remember coaching a first-time candidate who was terrified of making fundraising calls. She’d rather spend eight hours walking neighborhoods than one hour on the phone asking for donations.
Then one day, she had a breakthrough. After forcing herself to make calls for just two hours, she raised more money than she’d received from an entire month of door-knocking. That’s when it clicked: some activities, though harder and more uncomfortable, simply yield better results.
Think about it this way: in one hour of door-knocking, you might talk to 15-20 voters. Maybe. And many of them either already support you or never will.
But in one hour of focused fundraising calls? You could raise enough money to reach thousands of voters through targeted advertising. One of my candidates raised $5,000 in a single morning of calls – enough to fund a crucial mail piece to every likely voter in her district.
Here’s a success story I love sharing. A county commission candidate I worked with was struggling with the harder aspects of campaigning – particularly asking for money. So we built a support system around her:
Her fundraising numbers tripled within a month.
Now, I’m not saying you should never knock on doors. Personal voter contact matters. But I’ve noticed something interesting: candidates often use door-knocking as a way to avoid the scarier parts of campaigning.
I once had a candidate admit to me, “I’d rather get rejected by 100 voters than hear ‘no’ from one potential donor.” But here’s the thing – those donor calls, though uncomfortable, are what fund the campaign operations that actually win elections.
One of my most successful candidates developed a simple rule: no door-knocking until she’d made her fundraising calls for the day. Was it hard? Absolutely. Did it work? She outraised her opponent three-to-one.
Think of your campaign time like an investment portfolio. Yes, you need some “safe” activities like voter contact. But you also need those high-risk, high-reward activities like fundraising and network building. That’s where the real returns come from.
Here’s what works:
Let’s Talk About Your Campaign Schedule
Every campaign is different, and I’d love to hear how you’re spending your time. Are you making those tough calls, or are you stuck in the comfortable trap of endless door-knocking? Let’s talk about building a schedule that maximizes your impact.
Want to discuss your campaign strategy over coffee (virtual works too!)? Choose a time or reach out at Sean@VOTEGTR.com. I’m always happy to share ideas and help good candidates make the most of their limited time.
