The Rallies

By PoliPundit ~ November 2nd, 2003 @ 6:53 am

The GOP is testing new tactics for its 72-hour Get-Out-The-Vote Task Force in Kentucky and Mississippi:

The Democratic National Committee sent a few buses of volunteers from Washington, and the RNC has dispatched 500 volunteers to states with races this month to refine the “72 Hour Program” of last-minute voter contact that the party counts as a key to its electoral successes last year.

Blaise Hazelwood, the RNC political director, said presidential rallies are now being used more systematically to recruit volunteers for the 72 Hour Program. After Bush’s speech in Southaven, [MS], six buses took attendees to campaign door to door. People seeking tickets for each rally were asked to sign up to turn out voters, and those who worked were given VIP passes that got them down front.

UPDATE: A reader from Mississippi e-mails:

Well, I showed up to make phone calls yesterday at [GOP candidate] Haley Barbour’s headquarters, and so many people had showed up to help that they said they didn’t need me! There were teams of people canvassing neighborhoods and a full phone bank of people making calls… So I’m going to check back Monday.