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The Syme strategy: Will primary day become Veterans Day?
Submitted by Kevin Richert on Tue, 05/06/2008 - 9:17am.
Scott Syme has no endorsements, little name recognition and, through March 31, his campaign had raised $42,365 and had a paltry $5,929 on hand.
By contrast, Lt. Gov. Jim Risch has the endorsements of many key Republicans (his campaign co-chairs are Sen. Mike Crapo and former Gov. Phil Batt). He has the name recognition that comes with nearly three decades of public service, including a seven-month run as governor. His fund-raising numbers: He has raised more than $1.1 million and has nearly $936,000 on hand.
So what, exactly, is Syme's business model, as he hopes to pull an upset in the May 27 GOP primary?
In a meeting with the Statesman editorial board Monday, Syme said he is banking on two things: crummy voter turnout and solidarity from fellow veterans.
Syme, of Wilder, is an Iraq war veteran who is playing up his international experience in his grass-roots campaign. He says he is touting his military background while working precincts and cold-calling potential supporters.
Can a grass-roots campaign work?
Syme anticipates "extrememely low" turnout, with perhaps only 100,000 people voting in the GOP primary. He's probably guess low: In 2006, when turnout was a dismal 26 percent, nearly 130,000 people voted in a hotly contested GOP race for state schools superintendent.
By Syme's numbers, it takes about 50,000 to get a majority; perhaps it shakes out more like 65,000. But this is an eight-way primary — albeit one with several fringe candidates. The winner doesn't need a majority of the vote.
Syme is banking too on support from Idaho's 139,000 veterans. If 20 percent of veterans and veterans' spouses support him, Syme figure he has more than enough votes to win the primary.
The idealist in me hates to see any campaign strategy predicated on voter aparthy — but I'm realist enough to agree with Syme on one point. Turnout on May 27 will be dismal. The primary falls the day after Memorial Day, and the GOP's presidential process is long since settled.
I don't know if Syme's business model will stand up, but at least it is evident that he has one.
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Syme is a joke
as is all the others running for Craigs seat. Risch has the support, donations and volunteers of the party. The losers running against him do not.
Risch=Everything WRONG with Politics
Much experience = career politician. This is not exactly what we need to represent Idaho's interests. Risch has been building his resume looking for the next big job to move up in politics. Someone who has tasted power has a hard time resisting the ego to gain more. Risch and his good ole boy supporters and endorsers have overlooked some powerful grassroots movements in Idaho. Syme may just put him in his place. So what if you have $1.1 million? Our founders did not want a system of those with the most money and power, buying elected positions. They envisioned the everyday citizen public servants who scratch their way through "politics as usual" and revive voter confidence in our system of government. Candidates like Mr. Syme and Matt Salisbury are those with past military service and an everyday connection to everyday Idahoans. They are not aspiring to be career politicians with their hands in the cookie jar of special interests that may fund up to $1.1 million for them to continue their ego-building trip up the political ladder. Elect those who know how to serve those of us who also don't have access to $1.1 million.
Which is all the more reason to think for yourself and not them!
By the way, padre, they do that in a little known thing called Communism, don't they?
Where could that ever find any support?
Syme is no joke
Risch certainly has all that you say, but challengers are very important to our system of government. We are stronger by people stepping forward and putting their names in the mix, their careers on hold, and their families in a state of disruption - all so they can serve.
Candidates for office are seldom if ever a joke, and Syme certainly is not.
Syme Business Plan
Mr. Reichert's evaluation of the business model is interesting. However, there is one important clarification. The Syme campaign is not "cold-calling potential supporters." Since February, they have been specifically calling those 130,000 R's who voted in that "hotly contested" 2006 Primary. It has been many years since Idahoans have seen a Grassroots campaign. They are used to having their career politicians raise millions of dollars, put ads on television and tell them what they should do.
Let's see if they respond to this true organizational fete which is putting the candidate in touch with those people who will be voting via telephone and volunteers or if they want to continue to allow money and television spots to guide their decision-making at the poll. The power is in their hands.
If, as voters, we are tired of this retail campaigning, let Mr. Risch know on May 27 by voting aginst his $1.2 million war-chest of out of state donors, PAC money and his own self-funding. Cast a vote for Colonel Scott Syme. This is no joke.
"...own self-funding"
Our Founders pledged and spent their personal fortunes to establish and build this nation. If Mr. Risch is willing to put his own money where his mouth is let's honor that commitment and not even compare it with PAC money, out-of-state donors or other sources of funding.
I met Syme and I was somewhat impressed
I am the Debbie Holmes, Democratic candidate for CD2 and I met Mr. Syme at a classroom in Twin Falls. It goes without say that I'll be voting for LaRacco but Mr. Syme impressed me. I think the Republicans should take a serious look at him over Risch. I do not agree with his platform but for a Republican I think he is OK.
Then you need to stop being tentative and withdrawn...
and talk to these guys face-to-face (sic). Syme has, hasn't let his kids misstep, hasn't written posts as if he was a third party.
Timidity is not going to win a race. I am trying to be as benevalent a foreigner and Democrat as I can. We rarely have a serious Democratic challenger for districts 30 or 60 over here and until recectly a nice guy named Denny Jones would run and politely ask Democrats to write him in for the Democratic ballot...he was a Republican, of course but such a good legislator that we probably did.
There is a reason I'm jabbing, Work harder, please. All candidates are crucial and it matters.
Misstep
Not to sound confrontational, but I don't think that a non-existent double post on the Statesman's website qualifies as a misstep, unless you're referring to something else. Do you have anything to say about the content of what I wrote?
Darlene Carnopis can probably call a bluff...
and I'm calling for a time stamp on editing. Keeps nonsense to a minimum.