Don’t risk the lives of others with door to door campaigning. It’s not worth it.
I’ve spent my entire professional career working in politics. I’ve managed races, advised candidates on messaging and strategy, worked on issue campaigns and spent three years as the State Republican Party spokesman. Now, I run my own public relations firm and host a weekly political podcast. However, the most important job titles I hold at this moment in our shared history is father of two and supportive husband to my wife, a physician at a Lexington hospital.
Regardless of your overall opinion of Governor Andy Beshear (check the Herald-Leader archives if you want to know mine), the actions he has taken to fight the COVID-19 virus seem to be working. The numbers appear to indicate Kentucky is at the forefront of states successfully flattening the curve. While there is still a lot of work to be done in regards to when this process should to be wound down and how we get people back to work, the most important thing right now is the health and safety of our state and its citizens. I fully support the actions he has taken thus far. They’re keeping both regular Kentuckians and health care workers like my wife safe.
That said, at least some people out there have chosen to ignore the Governor’s orders for social distancing. I was forwarded a Facebook link posted March 29 by a candidate for State House in the Lexington area. He posted on his campaign page that he and volunteers were out knocking doors. He bragged that his “team had a blast and practiced social distancing while canvassing” accompanied by a picture of his crew smiling for the camera and holding campaign literature in gloved hands.
I have one thing to say to candidates for office, whether you’re running for U.S. Senate, State House or City Council: DO NOT BE THIS GUY!
I cannot think of a better way to disqualify yourself in the minds of the voters than to campaign door-to-door during a pandemic. He clearly knew there was some risk; they were wearing gloves. Still, he chose to ignore that risk and carry on.
No.
Just no.
Hard stop.
DO NOT BE THIS GUY!
With the current crisis, door-to-door campaigning puts your health and the health of your constituents at risk. While that is bad enough, you are also putting the health of medical professionals like my wife at risk. Considering the way this virus transmits and the lack of PPE available to hospitals, campaigning in public puts at risk the health of countless physicians, nurses and other health care workers, without whom even more will suffer.
Once more, with emotion, DO NOT BE THIS GUY!
The current crisis doesn’t mean you have to stop campaigning. You can actually contact more voters in less time over the phone. If you’re a Republican or Democratic candidate, contact your state party.
They can provide you with lists of voters in your district and their numbers. Heck, the Republican Party of Kentucky even has a phone app to help you with voter outreach. I’m sure Democrats have one as well. If you’re in a non-partisan race or are running as an independent, there are plenty of resources available on-line for purchase or subscription to help candidates call voters.
Politics, like life, doesn’t have to grind to a halt. In fact, it’s more important now than ever that we have strong leaders elected to office. Getting our economy back up and running again is not going to be an easy task. But please, do not risk the lives of others in pursuit of elected office. It’s just not worth it.
Tres Watson is the founder of Capitol Reins PR and co-host of the Kentucky Politics Weekly Podcast.