Electioneering

This is not a party political broadcast: 

I don't know what it's been like on the mainland but here in Belfast we've all enjoyed the predictable glut of party political stuff pushed through our doors. On the whole, generic, poorly designed and boring. The obligatory photos of our local boys: chit-chatting to our old folk, wandering down our High Streets, hanging around our local landmarks. It's all cheesey grins and pseudo-empathy. 

But one piece stands out, in my opinion, head and shoulders above the rest. Our current Lord Mayor, Naomi Long, running for the Alliance party, has sent out this "personal" note. Yes, I know it's faked; of course it is. But it's well done. I presume it's actually Naomi's handwriting, but of course, printed. It's got her personal address at the top, that's nice, it's around the corner from us; it's well written with a natural tone; and it's finished off with a nice PS offering lifts to the polls. Very convincing and I suspect many will be convinced. The point is that it's an attempt to communicate in a personal way. And it's good. Miles better than anything I've seen anyone else do. 

Handwriting the envelope and addressing it to "The Weston Family" was a masterful stroke. Whatever your policies, well done The Naomi Long Election Machine.

Comments

[Rich]

I received a similar printed letter, with different handwriting, from my local Lib Dem candidate. It's a nice touch.

[Johnny]

This is great, thanks. It's nice to see such a lovely old skool DM piece. As you say, it's a real attempt at personal communication. The address is a fab touch. I don't know about you, but I think that handwritten letters are due a renaissance. . .

[Richard]

Hi Rich/Johnny,

It is old skool isn't it Johnny? It reminds me of the days I'd spend making charity mailings look like they were thrown together in a back office. It's really low-key but I got so over-enthusiastic about it I rang the campaign office and gushed about it over the phone. Long is a pretty good candidate, which helps. The text is heart-felt and frank. Perhaps it's not a ground-breaking idea but it works for me, even though I see right through it. Mostly though, it's way better than the rest.

[Ian Devlin]

At the very least it shows that they made an effort to communicate on a personal level with their voters rather than go with the flow and do what everyone else was doing.

Here in Cambridge it was interesting to note that the Green Party's flyers were the most glossy and colourful. Ironic.