Election Campaign Strategies

We have obstetric and Gynecological Societies all over the country, almost one in every city. They are member bodies of a central federation of societies. Every society has members in the city, and a managing committee of elected members. Being on the committee initially, an office bearer later and finally the president of the society are things considered wonderful by some members. They contest the elections. They meet the voters for promoting their cause. But with more than a thousand members, it is often not possible to meet everyone. So they send their letters of appeal to all members, requesting their valuable votes in their favor. That day I found six such appeals in my letter box. There were five men and one woman. I opened their letters and settled down to see what they had written about themselves that would appeal to the voters. Their photographs were apparently taken when they were younger. That is a usual strategy. Voters love young looking leaders. But there were more complex strategies than just presenting a good appearance. Until one becomes great enough to be quoted by others, one has to rely on famous quotes of others. So it was not surprising that these candidates had put quotes of others in their appeals. What was surprising was the innovative use of the quotes. One candidate had put his photograph and his name with credentials at the center of the top of the page. The following lines appeared in bold print right after that. The only ones amongst us who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve. – Albert Schweitzer Albert Schweitzer will never know he has apparently said such a great thing about this candidate. All potential voters who read this appeal will know anyway, which is what matters most. Another candidate found another great person to commend him. At the top of the letter of appeal was the following in bold print. “Success is achieved not just by great ideas but their effective implementation. To successfully implement you need youthful energy, utmost commitment and futuristic vision” _ Late JRD Tata. This was followed by the candidate’s photograph, and his name and credentials. Anyone who read this appeal would be out of his mind not to vote for this candidate, considering that Late JRD Tata himself seemed to be suggesting that this candidate had youthful energy, utmost commitment and futuristic vision. This candidate and the third candidate seemed to know that no matter how good they may be, most of the voters could be counted upon not to turn up for the voting on a Sunday morning at a place quite remote from the heart of the city. So they had the following quotes put in to ensure a better turn up. Candidate number 2 had quoted: “Those who stay away from the election that one vote will do no good; tis but one step more to think one vote will do no harm” – Ralf Waldo Emerson. Perhaps Emerson had said this in a different context. I disagree with Emerson in the current context. One vote can make a difference between a win and a loss. It is also not correct to think one vote will do no harm. It will definitely harm if it is the deciding vote, and the candidate is not worthy. The third candidate has quoted at the center of the bottom of the page as follows. Voting is civic sacrament – Theodore Hesburg Though I was put off a bit by a word sounding a bit like excrement, and put down a bit by his superior knowledge of someone called Theodore Hesburg, I was impressed by the strategy. Even the laziest of gynecologists would turn up and vote after knowing what Hesburg thought of those who did not vote. In the meantime in case anyone wants, I have a book on famous quotes which can be used by anyone without knowing who the people being quoted are.