Never underestimate the smaller players in an election.

The Green Party Candidate for NY-26, Ian Murphy, snuck into Corwin headquarters and placed phone calls for the Corwin campaign:

COLD CALL

Go read it and laugh.

Excerpts:

AMHERST–It was like any other day after the apocalypse. “This is the Sabbath!” an older woman shouts in my ear. “It’s supposed to be a day of rest!”
“I know, ma’am,” I say. “But–
“But nothing!” she yells. “I can’t believe you people are calling me again!”
“But there’s a very important election coming up this Tuesday and if you don’t vote for Jane Corwin horrible things will happen to you and the people you love…she was a successful business fetus…hello?”
[dial tone]...


.....I actually spoke with roughly 100 people, and the majority of them were extremely upset with the harassment by phone. Unless they immediately relented and said they were voting for Jane, their name went back into the system, and we’d call them until their spirits were thoroughly crushed. It’s an odd campaigning strategy — one that is no doubt backfiring...


.....

“Um, Bob?” I beckon the supervisor.
“Yeah, Steve, what is it?”
“Some of these people are saying that Jane is going to end Medicare–just because that’s what the Wall Street Journal wrote. What should I tell them–should I lie?”
“Hmm…” Bob thinks about this for a few seconds. “They’ve been asking about Medicare?”
“Yeah.” And they were.
“Shit,” he mumbles under his breath. “Don’t lie. Tell them that, if they’re 55 or over, Jane’s plan won’t change their Medicare. And if they’re 54 or under tell them that Jane’s plan will…um…make things…better.” He walks away.
“But, Bob?” I call after him. “Some of these people are younger and they think Medicare is a problem…should I tell them that Jane’s plan will end Medicare?”
“Yeah, if it helps,” he says, running back to his desk. ....

....
“Hi, sir, my name’s Steve and I’m a volunteer for the Jane Corwin campaign–”
“Jesus!” a guy screams at me. “You know, I was thinking about voting for Corwin, but this is too much! You people have called me a dozen times in the last two days! I am sick of it!”
“But Jane Corwin wants to rule over you with an iron fist,” I calmly relay. “Don’t you crave strong leadership?”
“What?!” he balks. “An ‘iron fist’?”
“Yes,” I assure him. “These phone calls are just the beginning. When Jane’s in Congress she will do everything in her power to crush you mentally and physically.”
“Don’t call me again!” he says and slams down the receiver....


---------------------------


Ah, totally rich, I say....


Rule No. 1 of campaigning: know what your opponents look like. ALL OF THEM.