Monday, November 08, 2004
Politics is poll driven Marketing
Mr Farrar - please make sure the National Party Strategy team receive the following quotte that wrapped up a Nick Byrant piece in the NBR;
"So once again, as in any New Zealand election, it appears the middle is where it's at.Absolutely! My Right remembers having an outdoor lunch with Jenny Shipley, et al, prior to the 1999 Election. The filthy and accusatory looks from many passers by implied that they thought My Right had a couple of freshly bought slaves in the boot of his car. National has a branding crisis that it must address - and urgently (Ms Boag - they'll call you, don't call them). Byrant's piece is a timely reminder to National that they are under performing, and failing to get their message through, a message that a great many New Zealander's actually want to hear.
But with more people identifying themselves as right wing than left and so many examples of old-fashioned left-wing intervention from this government, success for the right at the next election must surely be a matter of good communication."
Some ideas:
A literal rebranding, drop the blue or at least incorporate some other colour (s). (When Joe New Zealander sees a politician wearing a Blue Button at Election time - they also expect to see someone talking with a silver spoon coming out of there mouth as well).Lots more to come prior to the Election - but the NBR column tapped into a long suffered itch.
Candidate Selection! My Right has blogged before on a talented, dynamic, young Maori candidate in the 1999 Election (who missed out that year) being given a disgracefully low list ranking in 2002. It just so happened he would have been perfect to step into the Maori Affairs spokemanship when Georgina stepped aside. (A balanced, fresh and confident line up please. Everything in moderation - even white middle class males like My Right!).
Change the emphasis of the tax policy to highlight things that are stinging all of us - i.e. petrol tax, other stealth taxes and levies. (Broad base support requires broad messages).
Don - liven up mate and throw some sound bites around (they don't have to be personal attacks - you're above that - that's fine). Confident and forceful delivery can get you through the odd gaffe with credibility in one piece - in fact Helen has shown you can get away with saying just about anything if you keep a straight face. (My Right is all for deliberate and considered debate - but getting beaten up by Helen ain't a good look for a future PM).
Accept that on some key policy planks - there is very little difference between National and Labour, focus on idealogy and liberalism. (Helen is quite an inexperienced Mother to be trying to bring up 4 million of us).
