Why Wishard Won
I was going to start this post taking a shot at a local blogger who spent an ungodly amount of Internet space railing against the Wishard referendum but who will now likely be its first patient at the new Hospital since his head exploded when voters overwhemingly approved the measure last night. However my lovely wife said that would not be nice, so I won’t.
Wishard won because its proponents were organized opponents weren’t. Opponents can blame the media, the money and the rain. But at the end of the day, organization tends to win elections more than anything else. In 2007 we saw organized tax protesters start a revolution that changed the course of Indianapolis. In 2008 we saw organized campaigns put Indiana in the win column for Barack Obama and re-elect Mitch Daniels at a time when Democrats were winning across the country.
Wishard supporters identified their base, worked with local leaders, engaged the community, took to the airwaves and got people out to the polls. Opponents blogged about it, did a few interviews and held one news conference.
When you are organized, have a clear coherent message and engage the public and have a message rooted in optimism, you’re more likely to score points than if you are an angry, bitter and disorganized.
