C2EA/RI Nabs Candidates in High-Profile Senate Race

Chafee and Whitehouse pre-debate "rally" in East Providence Zac and Heath and Emily and I and met up a bit early to quickly bang out a plan and some questions, then schlepped out through some very confusing directions and bad mapquesting efforts to what had been advertised as pre-debate rally outside of a radio studio. Had it been a real rally, we would have been pretty late, and would have had a lot of trouble getting up to the front. In reality, the "rally" was actually just two groups of about 15 people holding signs for the RI senate candidates. As it turned out, the candidates pretty much just swept in and did not give a rally speech to their small bands of supporters. HOWEVER, this was a *great* opportunity for a quick handshake though! We also had a nice time talking with reporters about how the candidates really need to do more for people with AIDS if they are going to mobilize the base / mobilize voters that are not motivated etc. it is an interesting Senate race in RI, since both candidates are working hard to distance themselves from President Bush. When the candidates cars showed up, we moved quickly to get right to the candidate, grabbed their hands, and held on for dear life as they rushed to make the radio station debate in time. My question was pretty much like this: "One of the few things a lot of people think President Bush has done a pretty good job at is his program for people with AIDS I Africa. But this is not enough - there are not enough health workers to keep U.S. promises to Africa. Experts estimate the US share of the total cost if $8 billion over five years. Will you lead an effort to win $8 billion in addition to existing spending on AIDS, so we can keep the promise we made?" Whitehouse answer: stared kind of dumbly for a second and clearly had not thought about global AIDS. Then he said "we'll have to take a look at that" and ran inside. Chafee answer (same question, but also indicated that his wife is well aware of the crisis shortage of health workers): this was a bit longer conversation, although he was more grunting agreement or nodding his head here and there (a more practiced politician, clearly). When put on the spot, he said "sounds good, let's do it." LESSONS LEARNED: A. As Zack said when we were lost, "we should have scouted this route in advance." -- had this been a real rally, we might have been really late. B. it helps to know something about the candidates, like that Mrs. Chaffee is a nurse who has been contacted by PHR (generally) on the HCW campaign. C. we were not able to sustain the handshake conversation as long as we should have because the posse did not bunch up around them move. move quickly to get a handshake -- and stick together! They were able to pull away too quickly. D. lots of reporters were standing around, sometimes even walking up to us. However, we did not do a very focused job of staying on message sometimes (even though everyone who talked to them sounded great!) -- if we answer the questions _they_ have instead of pressing our messages, it is hard to change the subject from the story they already had written in their minds. E. small talk with campaign staff can get invitations to other events and even the opportunity for longer private conversations with candidates or policy staff, although the public questions are best, it is very useful and important to follow these up. F. candidates never have T-shirts for small people.