Objective: To gain hands on experience and knowledge about the electoral process.

• To learn basic fundamental procedures of fundraising, including utilizing past donors and finding new ones, planning a fundraiser, staffing a candidate’s fundraising hours, list management, and tracking hard and soft pledges.
• To learn and execute basic fundamental procedures of field development including how to calculate win numbers, target voters, voter file management, and how to research past election data to predict future voting behavior.
• To learn and execute the basic fundamental procedures of volunteer management, including the recruitment, training, and assimilation of volunteers into the campaign program.
• To learn the basic principles of mass media message, including persuasion and mobilization of target audiences by mail and TV media programs.

1. Be responsible for a specific area in the district, identifying and mobilizing a targeted area in the district.
2. Calculate win numbers for the district, create target universes according to past election data and current demographics.
3. Recruit volunteers to staff phone banks, execute mass canvases, and cover data entry.
4. Create an Election Day plan that includes runners, poll watchers, and car pools.
5. Identify and communicate with key community leaders and democratic officials to coordinate event scheduling and volunteer recruitment.
6. Seek out and schedule events for the candidate to attend.  Staff the candidate at key mass voter locations and events.
7. Staff the candidate during fundraising hours; learn the basics of aggressive fundraising.

Training

Each intern will be trained in field, finance and media message.  In addition to basic training by the campaign manager, the following seminars will be provided.
1. Adnaan Muslim, Vice President, Mission Control;  Voter Communication, Media Message, Mail Plans, Fundraising.

• Formerly “Direct Response Mail, “ Mission Control has successfully handled the communication with voters on gubernatorial, congressional, senatorial and state legislature levels, and will speak about the business of campaign mail programs.  Adnaan will explain what motivates voters,
• How is the most successful way of implementing that message, what kind of packaging should the message be enclosed in and when is the best time to communicate that message.    Also an expert fundraiser, Adnaan can speak on the procedures and basics of fundraising, including organization, targeting donors and executing fundraising events and programs.

• Former mayor of Fanwood and two-time candidate for New Jersey’s 7th Congressional district, Maryanne Connelly ran one of the top three targeted congressional races of the 2000 election season.  She is also the first to win a primary without her party’s endorsement, and secured the best democratic turnout for this seat in 28 years.

• NOW polls as one of the most influential endorsements to influence a voter’s decision.  As director of NJ NOW, Liz interviews hundreds of state legislature candidates seeking her endorsement.  The more that voters turn from candidates for true information to interest groups, the more influence these groups gain in electoral politics.

• In addition to running Ellen’s campaign, Suzannah has been the Political Director for Oregon NARAL, Election Director for Dooley for Congress, and a Field Coordinator for Maryanne Connelly’s record-breaking primary.  She has been a field consultant for Strategic Consulting Group, a top political consulting firm with an emphasis on field.

**In addition to these seminars, the student will receive a daylong intense training in Field program management and fundamental fundraising skills.

**Number of hours, papers, and other requirements needed to fulfill a given academic program are easy implemented.