Is Door-to-Door Canvassing a Waste of Time?

mike65

Even in the last 5 years the numbers who live in apartment blocks and other types of 'gated comunities has shot up, add to that the numbers of foreign nationals who don't have the vote in national elections and one would wonder if (certainly in cities) its worth "shlepping" around in the rain interrupting valuable Champions League/Corrie viewing time?

Does it make a ha'penny of difference to a candidate to door-step potential voters and would any dare not canvass in this fashion?

Mike.

spurious

Makes absolutely no difference to me.

I have had 'An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern in the area' (as the obseqious types that accompanied Mr. Orange Face referred to him) round my door three times in the last 6 months - showing how scared the Shinners have them in Dublin Central. I think I was supposed to be impressed that 'Bertie' found time for little old me.

Instead I found it pathetic that FF expect that a handshake from 'Bertie' would make me change my political allegiance. It's what comes of their not having any 'real' political leaning and glorifying the personality I suppose.

"Bertie? Sure you're desperate with that money and brown envelopes and the state of the health service and all, but sure of course, you've shook my hand so I'll give you a first preference."

Baa, as the sheep say.

Victor

Its all planned. They use the register of electors and previous results to target specific areas.

Register of electors: only call to people who can vote, the rest won't influence the result. Also, commuters don't vote.

Previous results: not exact, but they can have a good guess, based on tallies as to how a particular area votes. There is little need to canvass areas where you always get 99% or 1% of the vote. They go for the places where they can make a swing.

I think I was supposed to be impressed that 'Bertie' found time for little old me.

Only met Bertie twice. He ignored me the first tiem, so I ignored him the second. The look was priceless.

Baa, as the sheep say.

Orange sheep!

is_that_so

There are certain groups of people who like and expect it and most of them would be older and more likely to vote. Personally, it make no difference, but what it does show is that the face on the poster is prepared to show up. Even though that means we moan about them only showing up at election time.

johnnyskeleton

I love it when they come around knocking on the door - I always have a fresh criticism ready and I love seening them squirm.

Mind you, none of them seemed to come around my place last election time...

spurious

A good photographer can make much more difference - look at the MaryLou posters the last Euros. An impression of someone young, energetic, modern, not at all a beardy old Provo gunrunner who likes to blow up women and kids - and in she went, although she benefitted from the protest vote too.

Having seen her in real life, if I ever need photos taken I shall seek out the person who took those.

Time Magazine

The two most important factors that influence voting preference in Ireland are familial tradition and personal connections with the candidate (including meeting them personally, as witnessed by the "I met Bertie six thousand times" comments on this thread). Knocking on doors is a very hard way to get votes, a whole night's work might only change the preference of two or three people, but it still counts.

You get five people canvassing five nights a week you will get about 35 extra votes a week. You have twenty canvassing six nights a week you will get more than 150 extra votes a week. Do this for six weeks and you get 1000 votes and suddenly you have the difference between winning a seat or not. It's a lot of work, but campaign machines make a big difference.

Suaimhneach

Depends on the area I think. My mother considered someone she might not have before after the knocked on her door, last election. Since then she's always maintained its worthwhile.

BANZAI_RUNNER

Personally I think its a waste of time , nothing annoyed me more when i lived in in a housing estate then 3 or 4 different showers knocking on the door each evening, these days I live in the countryside with big gates and 2 dogs between me and them, good luck to them if they jump the wall and ring my doorbell, anyway I think its about time to give the opposition a chance , they will behave themselves for the first term because they will have their eye on a second term, and I dont think they can be any worse than the shower who are in at the moment

gandalf

Is there anywhere I can hire attack dogs for the next month. I can see FF, the PD's and the Sinners plagueing us with visits up to the election !!!

mike65

Can I suggest a sheet of A4 with 100 point type

NO POLITICAL CAVASSING THANKYOU

in a stratigic position.

Mike.

nesf

mike65 wrote:

Can I suggest a sheet of A4 with 100 point type

NO POLITICAL CAVASSING THANKYOU

in a stratigic position.

Mike.

I'd add No Door to Door Salesmen and No surveys etc to that tbh.

The_Minister

gandalf wrote:

Is there anywhere I can hire attack dogs for the next month. I can see FF, the PD's and the Sinners plagueing us with visits up to the election !!!

Oh yes, and Fine Gael, Labour and Greens don't canvass at all:rolleyes:



Actually, its only been FG, Lab and Greens to my door more than once so far. All others just once.

gandalf

Already had FF around twice in the previous few weeks even before the feckin election was called.

mikemac

The_Minister wrote:

Oh yes, and Fine Gael, Labour and Greens don't canvass at all:rolleyes:

The attack dogs can be trained to only attack the government parties and be friendly to the rest:D

Noone has come near my apartment.:(
And I thought Bertie, my local TD was supposed to have a crack team of canvassers who knew everybody in the constituency.
Even the TV licence man knows who I am-trying to avoid him.

I'm registerd to postal vote for home down the country-do the party officals target people who vote in another constituency to help the party cause?

brianthebard

My da is canvassing for a friend of his who is a FF senator, hoping to become a TD. He asked his FF friend to put my two sisters on the register for him, I just checked it up and guess what, they aren't on it. :rolleyes: FF's representatives can't even get that right.

RainyDay

Research from Trinity indicates that meeting a candidate in person does have a significant impact on voting intentions - see http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=53103963&postcount=6

Bateman

Is it considered generally obnoxious and/or personally insulting to keep on watching Corrie/Champions League and not answer the door. As has been said, a quick yap and a handshake won't change your preferences, and you're saving them time better spent tapping up the neighbours.

Time Magazine

The easiest and polite thing to do say "Sorry, this is a PD house." Obviously if it's the PDs replace it with FF/FG/SF or whatever.

bug

Ibid wrote:

The easiest and polite thing to do say "Sorry, this is a PD house." Obviously if it's the PDs replace it with FF/FG/SF or whatever.

Actually the easiest thing to say is go away.

I fondly remember my dad attacking Aongus O Snodaigh in the front garden a few years back.
In fairness to Aongus, the owlfella had him there for half an hour, shouting his political manifesto at him like only a seventy odd year old owlfella can with gusto and eloquence, hoe in hand.
Aongus coward and listened. I didn't half blame him.

nesf

Ibid wrote:

The easiest and polite thing to do say "Sorry, this is a PD house." Obviously if it's the PDs replace it with FF/FG/SF or whatever.

I agree, they tend to get the point and if it is your party they usually just smile and say something chummy and leave quickly since you don't need convincing.

simu

Or live in apartment - they won't be aware you exist. :rolleyes:

Time Magazine

bug wrote:

Actually the easiest thing to say is go away.

Not very polite though is it?

schween

A TD came to my uncles funeral a few weeks back...none of us knew him personally or ever met him. He walked into the house without knocking, and went straight to my grandad. We were all disgusted. I can't wait for politicians I hate to come to the door!

Dirk Gently

It's always good to keep the people you wont be voting for at your doorstep as long as you can, just so they don't get to influence as many other people that night as they planned. Pretend to listen to them and after about 20 minutes tell them you never intended voting for them anyway. Already got mad Dr. Bill a few weeks ago while he was doing a leaflet drop. Not very democratic but mildly satisfying nonetheless.

If it's raining, keep them at the door even longer.

mikemac

Or ask something crazy like:
"The corncrake in an endangered species, I want to hear what you plan to do on this"

It's not realy a crazy question but I doubt your average candidate will have a clue what to say

kevmy

I think it is worthwhile. It mightn't change your vote. I know it won't change mine but when are you going to see the candidates again over the next five years. Give out to them , tell them what needs to be done in your area etc.

Also from the candidates point of view they're after the 10-20% of people who are undecided. If they knock on those people's doors and convince them with their wit, charm and fantastic strategic plan for the area then there happy.

mike65

micmclo wrote:

Or ask something crazy like:
"The corncrake in an endangered species, I want to hear what you plan to do on this"

It's not realy a crazy question but I doubt your average candidate will have a clue what to say

You could end up with a long-winded lecture/lament from an Green candidate with that one!

Mike.

brianthebard

Fine Gael would explain how they hope to sign a contract with the corncrake, while at the same time respecting the farmers right to harvest crops, and trying to be as all inclusive as FF. Fianna Fail would show you a graph that says that since the government came to power there has been a 200% increase in the horniness of corncrakes, which they hope will lead to a growth in the economy for their eggs.Or something.

The_Minister

brianthebard wrote:

Fine Gael would explain how they hope to sign a contract with the corncrake, while at the same time respecting the farmers right to harvest crops, and trying to be as all inclusive as FF. Fianna Fail would show you a graph that says that since the government came to power there has been a 200% increase in the horniness of corncrakes, which they hope will lead to a growth in the economy for their eggs.Or something.

I loll'ed


EDIT: I think that door-to-door does more for transfers then No.1's. There are 3FG candidates in the area (I'd say only one will get in), and I have to decide who gets my 3rd preference. The FG'er who is getting it first was getting it second, until I met one of the others.

nesf

The_Minister wrote:

EDIT: I think that door-to-door does more for transfers then No.1's. There are 3FG candidates in the area (I'd say only one will get in), and I have to decide who gets my 3rd preference. The FG'er who is getting it first was getting it second, until I met one of the others.

Yeah I'm having serious trouble there. Over half of the available candidates in my constituency are left to hard left economically which really doesn't suit me.

karen3212

I wouldn't mind meeting the politicians in my area to be honest, I'm undecided about some of my preferences.
I've got a few friends that live in various areas in the same the constituency.

We have set a plan where we ask the politicians the same questions, and mainly as about their own personal feelings on doing x y or z.
Now we tell them all that we're defo going for the party but we need to know their own personal feelings on for instance crime, and which do they think given the money might be available, is the best way to solve it.

Then we compare the answers, and see if they are looking at our houses first and then slanting the answer, can't wait to meet them.

brianthebard

nesf wrote:

Yeah I'm having serious trouble there. Over half of the available candidates in my constituency are left to hard left economically which really doesn't suit me.

Just don't pass down preferences? You can't do much more than that in fairness.

nesf

brianthebard wrote:

Just don't pass down preferences? You can't do much more than that in fairness.

I know, but I feel a civic obligation to actually go and figure out what order in which to rank them.

*shrugs*

Gran Hermano

mike65 wrote:

Can I suggest a sheet of A4 with 100 point type

NO POLITICAL CANVASSING THANK YOU

in a strategic position.

Mike.

And leave your green bin beside the front door with another sign
requesting that all political propaganda be deposited directly inside.

Dontico

After reading some posts in this thread, I just want to dispell some lies.

I go canvassing every few days. The vast bulk of people I come across tell me that they like it when my man knocks on thier door. We dont know who has voted for whom. We canvass everywhere. Every 30,000 of those houses in our area. Gated or not.

Only once has someone complained to me about canvassing, I argued with him that we werent trying to sell you something like a sales person, but that RB wants to be thier employee.
Analogy time:
Like businesses, prospective employees, go out at search for employment. Rarely do businesses go looking for individual workers.

Bottle_of_Smoke

spurious wrote:

Instead I found it pathetic that FF expect that a handshake from 'Bertie' would make me change my political allegiance. It's what comes of their not having any 'real' political leaning and glorifying the personality I suppose.

"Bertie? Sure you're desperate with that money and brown envelopes and the state of the health service and all, but sure of course, you've shook my hand so I'll give you a first preference."

Baa, as the sheep say.

I'd imagine it would pull a lot of votes. It's hard to know exactly what the subconscious effect it has on the undecided.

Jesus Wept

I remember years agowhen my brother was studying for the leaving cert, it was election time, there was a lot of door to door canvassing.

She wrote a large note on the door explaining that 'Canvassing disqualifies' and that it was because someone was studying for the Leaving Cert.

They still came knocking/ringing. :eek:

Gobsh!tes.

Dontico wrote:

Only once has someone complained to me about canvassing, I argued with him that we werent trying to sell you something like a sales person, but that RB wants to be thier employee.

Well of course you are, you are selling yourself, and you are selling RB (whatever/whoever that is).

Dontico wrote:

Analogy time:
Like businesses, prospective employees, go out at search for employment. Rarely do businesses go looking for individual workers.

It's the equivalent of sending your CV out to 500 different jobs, when you may only be qualified for 50 of them.

Or sending your CV out to 500 households, in case some of them are employeers and have vacancies

I think if people are interested in a given party, or in a given election, they will find out what they need to know by themselves.

The_Minister

nesf wrote:

Yeah I'm having serious trouble there. Over half of the available candidates in my constituency are left to hard left economically which really doesn't suit me.

I go right down until I hit someone who I could not in good conscience put in government (SF etc). Then I stop.

nesf

The_Minister wrote:

I go right down until I hit someone who I could not in good conscience put in government (SF etc). Then I stop.

Hmm. Good point, I find the whole what your civic duties are in voting interesting. There's usually very little discussion beyond just having to vote normally.

I suppose I could stop at Labour, they are about as far left as I'd want to see in Government tbh (i.e. they're for the most part centerist) but I'm having trouble with the Greens of all people. While I like seeing the main parties pursuing green policies, I find a few of the positions of the Greens to be nonsensical tbh.

Victor

Ibid wrote:

Not very polite though is it?

I once had a canvasser knock on the door for a particular candidate (that had persviously threatened me and friends). The look on the canvasser's face when I said "Leave. Now." was interesting.

mike65

Name names! :eek:

Mike.

Chakar

I've recieved FF canvassers at my door today, I assured them that I would certainly be voting for FF. Although I have to say they weren't talking much, they didn't even do the spiel.

bug

Ibid wrote:

Not very polite though is it?

No, not at all.

But then again they don't visit me to ask me for my vote or opinions any other time of the year other than at election,when they want something.

So I see them similar to that unwanted scrounger relative or begger, who you've told time and time again how to change his ways...but he she never does.
eventually you give up the ghost and tell them to go away or get real.

Why would I be more polite to a politician?

Dontico

The-Rigger wrote:

It's the equivalent of sending your CV out to 500 different jobs, when you may only be qualified for 50 of them.

Or sending your CV out to 500 households, in case some of them are employeers and have vacancies

I think if people are interested in a given party, or in a given election, they will find out what they need to know by themselves.

No. Richard Bruton is going for one job, to represent Dublin North Central. There just happen to be 30,000 directors(residents) for the company that is DNC.inc.

Alot of people dont know who to vote for, so I give them a leaflet to inform them about the product that is RB. Its more like telling them about a school to send thier kids to, they need to do it, but they havent made up thier mind.

When I canvass I usually only tell them about policies that may interest them. Like if they are a parent I mention childcare. I also write down what changes they want seem in the area. Then next RB will ring them back and ask them about it.

If I see a sign saying "no canvassers" I dont go in. If I see one saying "no leaflets" I dont drop.

TwoShedsJackson

mike65 wrote:

Can I suggest a sheet of A4 with 100 point type

NO POLITICAL CAVASSING THANKYOU

in a stratigic position.

Mike.

I've done precisely this and taped it to the front door. I restricted myself to 72 point type though

The_Minister

nesf wrote:

but I'm having trouble with the Greens of all people. While I like seeing the main parties pursuing green policies, I find a few of the positions of the Greens to be nonsensical tbh.

The Greens scare me. Alot of people are planning to vote for them despite not knowing their policies, some of which include massive carbon taxes and a halt to road-building (when asked about the motorway from Galway to Dublin, Ciaran Cuffe would only say "We'll get you there by train".)
The thing is, they know that they are going to do well, so they have stripped their website of the really odd policies, so no-one will realise till after the election what they stand for.

John Mason

i know who i am voting for, so if anyone comes to my door, i say "sorry not interested" and promptly close the door in their face

Time Magazine

bug wrote:

Why would I be more polite to a politician?

Practically every TD in the country holds "office hours" in once a week. They're available every week.

And incidentally it's their job to be in the Dáil, not on your door. You must have no idea idea how hard it is to canvass. If you're in e.g. a 4 seater, there's 80,000-120,000 people in that constituency, 20,000-30,000 houses. You want a politician knocking on 25,000 doors. It's far better to have a clinic in your local town center/hotel/pub at 3pm on Saturday tbh.

nesf

The_Minister wrote:

The Greens scare me. Alot of people are planning to vote for them despite not knowing their policies, some of which include massive carbon taxes and a halt to road-building (when asked about the motorway from Galway to Dublin, Ciaran Cuffe would only say "We'll get you there by train".)
The thing is, they know that they are going to do well, so they have stripped their website of the really odd policies, so no-one will realise till after the election what they stand for.

Yeah, exactly. A lot of people are planning on voting for them because they are "green" but without knowing exactly the kind of things they'd do in Government. I'm sure FG or FF would keep them on a short leash and keep it "sensible" but stuff like that "we'll get you there by train" comment just show that they've no idea of how things actually work. Build a fantastic train network and people will still complain about roads simply because they want to drive around. It will take time to convince people to use public transport more in this country and trying to shock them into doing it won't help things. In the interim we need both motorways and train lines. Some time in the future Irish people might turn first to public transport but it's not going to happen over the next five years suddenly.


I think the best way to describe it is that for most main parties green policy is necessary and that for the Greens it's more like it's a moral crusade.

Our man in Havana

I won't talk to canvassers. If a candidate wants my vote he/she will have to come to my door personally. I want to speak to the organgrinder and not the monkeys.