In politics, you’re either on message or you are losing. Let’s get to it.
Welcome to On Message, a weekly look at where the battle lines are drawn and who is winning the war of words.
This week… IT’S OVER, NOW WHAT?
Well, we’ve made it to Election Day. If you haven’t voted yet, take a minute to exercise your right as an American to have a say in who represents you and leads our community.
If you could be a fly on the wall in a campaign headquarters today, you might be surprised by what you see – or better said, what you wouldn’t see.
The final day of a campaign is weird. For weeks, months or longer you’ve been at the epicenter of activity and now… well, there’s not much left to do.
Ad-buys are complete, mailers had to be finalized days ago, and other than a few emails and social media posts encouraging your voters to fill out their ballots, it can be an eerily quiet place filled with nervous tension if you’re in a close one, excited anticipation if you’re cruising to a win and depression if you know there’s no reason to celebrate.
The one thing you can work on are the two speeches. It’s like that scene from The West Wing:
Toby: We haven’t won anything yet.
C.J.: The speech is done.
Toby: Two speeches are done.
C.J.: What’s the second?
Toby: I’ve got a speech is he wins; I’ve got a speech if he doesn’t.
Sam: You wrote a concession?
Toby: I’ve course I wrote a concession. You want to temp the wrath of the whatever from high atop the thing?
Sam: No.
Toby: Then go outside, turn around three times and spit.
Most of the campaigns here in Utah aren’t going to be that close so it’s unlikely many have gone so far as to write two speeches. But since all candidates have to say something tonight, whether in a speech to supporters or just by posting a tweet, let me offer a nickle’s worth of free advice.
To the vanquished… don’t be a sore loser. I’ve worked on campaigns that won big and lost excruciatingly close so I know it hurts more to lose than it feels good to win.
So, in your disappointment, whether you saw it coming, should have seen it coming or lost at the wire… your role is to lose graciously, congratulate your opponent and wish him or her the best as they take on the big responsibility you were vying for.
A loss tonight may be the end or it may be setting you up for another run. But if you handle disappointment with grace you will win more respect than you will by taking the opportunity to vent. You should vent, but in private or on long, contemplative walks.
To the victors… take the high road. Be old school and offer gracious words to your opponent – no matter how nasty the race may have gotten.
Thank your family, thank your team, thank your supporters.
Say the things that shouldn’t need to be said. That your opponent is a good person with whom you disagree on key issues. That anyone who has the courage to run is worthy of respect. That your goal is to represent the people with dignity and humility.
You’ll never regret taking the high road.
Congratulations to the winners!
That’s it for this week.
More On Message in the next issue of the Utah Political Underground.
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