I'm a candidate for National Delegate

[MaineDem]

I have the signatures I need to be a candidate as a Kerry Delegate to the National Convention. Problem is, I don't have the money to campaign for the job. I've been told people take out ads in the state convention program, print up flyers and posters, get buttons, send out mailings...all that stuff. It's hard for a retired-on-a-pension person to compete with all this.

I have been with the Kerry campaign since before he declared. SOme of the other candidates for Delegate were on other campaigns' Steering Committees and are now backing Kerry, which is understandable.

How does one campaign for this position with no money, I wonder?

[dryan]

1. Some suggestions

Delegates are elected by congressional district. Someone from your congressional district will hold a caucus (a meeting to elect the delegates). The vote is totally by majority. Ask everyone you know who is a Democrat to show up and vote for you.

As soon as you are elected delegate (being optomistic here), I suggest you contact the Maine Democratic party and tell them that you are looking for someone to room with at the National Convention. If they are anything like Florida, they might even have a meeting prior to the convention to explain all the procedures.

Some fundraising ideas: are raffles allowed in Maine, have one -- maybe even a 50/50 -- you sell tickets, the winner gets to keep half the cash you get the other. Also, ask your local paper if they will sponsor you as a "special correspondent" and help with your per diem in exchange for daily emails or faxes regarding the convention. Hey, don't laugh it might work!

Good luck