Campaign firsts
The announcement by Rep. Rick Berg, R-N.D., of his Senate run was a North Dakota first in that he went online, sending out a video message to supporters from his first campaign’s Facebook and website.
The virtual announcement, followed by a tour hitting a string of cities, is not unusual on the national sphere but is uncharted territory in North Dakota.
The video release went straight to supporters, volunteers and donors.
“I think it’s an attempt to bring the esprit de corps as well as building the list of contacts and contributors,” said Wayne Kranzler, CEO of the public relations firm KK Bold.
“It’s a nice acknowledgement of previous support, and you’re saying, ‘I need it again,’” said Mark Jendrysik, chairman of the political science department at the University of North Dakota. “The psychology behind this is very important. It’s saying, ‘You’re my base. You’re special. I need your support.”‘
And not just any type of support. Financial support.
“If you look at his website right now, there are two things you can do so far: Volunteer and contribute,” Kranzler said.
“You want to contact those contributors and cultivate them. That’s fundraising 101. If someone has donated before, they’re more likely to donate again,” Jendrysik said.
In addition to deterring potential challengers, showing he’s a “proven fundraiser, on the national level, increases his influence,” he said.
Kranzler said with Republicans’ needing only a few seats to shift the majority in the Senate, any Republican candidate will be fundraising on a national basis – something often criticized in a race.
“He wants to show at least some substantial fundraising in North Dakota, initially,” Kranzler said.
Jendrysik said with the state’s elderly and rural population, a physical tour helped in spreading the word.
