Senior David Roberts led the Hillsdale County Cruz Crew meeting on Oct. 27 in Lane Hall.
Breana Noble | Collegian
Only 17 percent of those registered to vote in Hillsdale County participated in the 2012 presidential primary election. The county’s Ted Cruz for President 2016 organization aims to increase that by 500 votes, approximately 2 percent.
The “Cruz Crew” held a meeting in Lane Hall the evening of Oct. 27 to discuss future campaign plans in support of the 2016 GOP presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). County Chair senior David Roberts introduced six crew members and prospective volunteers to the Michigan campaign’s new grassroots strategy called Operation Catching Fire. It aims to encourage more people to participate in the March 8 primary and vote for Cruz.
“We’re doing old-fashioned retail politicking: neighbor to neighbor, over the back fence, speaking to your friends and family and letting them know what Ted Cruz is about,” the Cruz campaign’s Michigan State Director Wendy Day said in a telephone conversation.
Operation Catching Fire relies on already-established social networks to spread the word about Cruz’s record and ideas. Supporters ask their families, friends, colleagues, and fellow parishioners who did not participate in the 2012 primary presidential election to pledge their vote for Cruz. Solicitors send reminders to vote and, if needed, drive an individual to the polling center.
“That’s really going to be the obstacle, making sure we turn out those votes,” Day said. “If people have wondered, ‘Does my vote count?’ I guarantee it does.” She added that the 2012 primary results in two Michigan counties verged on a single ballot.
Day said many people place Cruz in their top three. Roberts suggested when speaking to such people, compliment their candidate.
“Sen. Cruz has set a great example of staying positive, talking about the issues,” Day said. “We’re really just following his example.”
Day said arguing with people rarely works. Instead, finding common ground may lead them to support Cruz if their No. 1 drops from the race.
“It focuses… on making friends within the conservative movement,” Day said.
Operation Catching Fire’s tactic differs from typical grassroots efforts. Michigan’s winters make it difficult to canvass neighbors.
“It is far easier to speak to the people you know rather than to door-knock or cold call,” Roberts said.
As Feb. 1 — the date the county releases absentee ballots — nears, however, volunteers will begin make phone calls on behalf of Cruz, Day said.
Operation Catching Fire shares its name with the second book in the “Hunger Games” young adult trilogy. Day, a fan of the series, said the book’s theme of fighting against oppressive government lines up well with Cruz’s message.
“Sen. Cruz does remind me of that Mockingjay symbol,” Day said. “Cruz supporters really do care about liberty, self-determination, and personal sustainability.”
Although the initiative is the campaign’s “stealth” measure, Roberts said, Hillsdale County’s crew will reach out to nursing homes by singing carols and delivering cookies, find places to put up Cruz signs off busy roads, and poll sit on Election Day to garner last-minute support.
“Cruz has been thinking about running for years now, and he’s got a game plan,” Hillsdale resident Rachel Kiehnau said. “It’s great to see it executed.”
Roberts also recommended supporters make an account on CruzCrowd, a social crowd-funding platform. People can donate through the website and invite friends to do so as well.
“As you give money, as they give money, it all bundles to your account,” Roberts said.
The more funds raised by supporters and those they recruit, the more Cruz swag they earn.
Attendees at the meeting brainstormed project ideas at the end, suggesting renting a billboard or putting an announcement on the radio.
“I feel like he’s the only candidate in the field who is going to do what he says he is going to do,” sophomore Gabe Prieur said. “He’s honest.”
Associate Professor of Economics Charles Steele agreed.
“There’s a number of good candidates running, but Cruz probably has the clearest set of principles,” Steele said. “People are the masters, not the government. I don’t think anyone has a clearer vision of that than he does.”
In national polls, Cruz averages fifth for the GOP nomination. Roberts said this could be advantageous.
“You don’t want to be in the front because the front guy gets the arrows,” Roberts said. “Whoever is in the lead is going to get attacked by his competitors and the media.”
According to Day, in Michigan, the campaign is off to a great start.
“We want to win Michigan for Sen. Ted Cruz, and we think we can,” Day said. “We have the best ground game in the state.”
