News on the campaign trail

October 30, 2008

Today has been interesting and busy. This morning the Salt Lake Tribune released a new poll in which I remained at 4% support. With all I have been doing, that number is disappointing. Ms. Hill, the Democrat, however, is at 20%, and improvement, but not a great one. And Mr. Shurtleff continues to decrease in support, despite his huge financial advantage. There is a large percentage of "undecideds", of 17%, and lots of opportunities to increase my share. Mr. Shurtleff assays it must be people who don't know what the office does. I rather think it is people who are not satisfied with the choices they have. Perhaps many of them don't know that a real choice for real change is available. I will work right up to the last minute to get the maximum Libertarian vote, and to make a showing that will remind people that we really do have something to say. I urge you to do what you can to help.

Today also, I talked with Doug Wright on his KSL talk show, The subject was our candidate for Governor, "Superdell" Schanze. He wanted to know how even 2% of the electorate could support that nut. I told him that the more I see, the more I think Dell is not as crazy as he seems. He was on the cover of the latest Salt Lake Weekly, and he got a whole hour of air time on KSL today. I'm lucky to be mentioned at all, even though I have run an active campaign and spent over $10,000. It seems that the way to get noticed is to act crazy; and now we have to wonder who really is crazy. Well, if he gets two percent, he will keep us on the ballot, no matter how I do. But, of course, I would like to outpoll him and all other "third party" candidates to show that someone who works at it and has a good platform really can get votes.

Today I received a "robo-call" from Mr. Shutleff's campaign, asking me to "push one" if I wanted to pledge my vote to him. Well, at least you can all be glad that I am not using such an obnoxious method to get votes. But, there are still people who do not know who I am. Tell somebody today, and ask for their support.

One vote at a time

If you haven't already done so, please read my previous blog and the comment that just came in. Thanks to my new supporter. I need lots more like him. Today there was a story on KSL radio again about the "two candidates for Attorney General". Now they can't even bring themselves to acknowledge that I exist. And our goofball Libertarian candidate for Governor made the cover of the Salt Lake Weekly election edition, because he knows how to act just crazy enough to get attention. I was ignored again. Well, I have a steady stream of people telling me they have already voted for me or intend to do so. And I need them all to tell their friends. We can yet make a big splash here. My website hits are way up, and my internet advertising campaigns are going well. I just need a few more of you to get involved in getting out the message. Help where you can, and let's make waves!

Need your help!

October 23, 2008

This morning I got a call from a gentleman in Sanpete County who is still trying to make up his mind on who to vote for. He was looking at the various candidate websites, and saw that the current Attorney General is scheduled to be in a KSL debate tomorrow. He called to ask if I had also been invited. Since I had not, my campaign secretary sent out an e-mail asking why. I later received a telephone call from KSL saying that their latest Dan Jones tracking poll had me still below their threshold for an invitation. She gave no details of the poll, but said there would be one more poll coming before the election. Also, she said, the fact that I have run before and did not get enough votes to qualify also was figured in.

I have been working quite hard on this campaign, and have spent quite a bit of money on it as well. I was hoping to see more evidence of traction. Hopefully I still will; and I am getting a steady stream of messages from people who say they have already voted for me.

Anyway, there is still time to do more. Please, if you have not yet done any of these things, pick one out and do it today.

I would like to place a few more ads. If you can spare a small contribution, please get on my website at www.andy4ag.com and make that contribution right away -- preferably by Pay Pal, so I can use it immediately.

Come by my office and get signs, bumper stickers, and literature, and help me become more visible. Or, simply call or e-mail some friends and ask them to vote for me and then ask their friends to do the same. Send out some of my blog entries to friends, and ask them to read them or watch my videos, and send them on also. There are many people out there who would vote for me if they knew what I stand for, but still don't. We have 11 days to tell them. Please help me do this. You are protecting your freedom, and that is important enough to put some effort into it.

"The stakes are too high to stay at home."

Ogden Standard Examiner

October 20, 2008

I am taking the unusual step here of linking to Saturday's Ogden Standard Examiner editorial endorsement of Jean Welch Hill for Utah Attorney General. I think it is an interesting and informative article, written after the full editorial board spent a half hour with each of the three candidates, and taped the interviews for their website. Perhaps most people do not have an hour and a half to invest in watching all three interviews; but they are attached to the editorial, for your information.

http://www.standard.net/live/opinion/editorials/146176/

At first glance, the brief mention of me in the editorial might seem dismissive: "Libertarian Andrew McCullough is a candid man and we appreciate his blunt talk, but many of his ideas are not in the mainstream." Of course, they are right. That is the function of a "third party" candidate: to move the mainstream in a new direction. As I said in my comment on their website, I am looking for voters who "are tired of the failed policies of the mainstream, such as the hopeless 'war on drugs'". At least these voters now know they have a real choice.

Frankly, if I am to pull an upset and beat Mr. Shurtleff, I need Ms. Welch Hill to do better than early poll numbers suggest she is doing. When I went into the interview at the Standard Examiner, I told them that they would not find it possible to endorse me, as their readers would think they had become too radical. I didn't go there with the hope of an endorsement, just the hope of being heard. And I am being heard. If you want to be heard, join me in my campaign to "move the mainstream in a new direction", and to change the failed policies of the present. Ms. Welch Hill is not an agent of real change, and real change is what the nation is seeking. If you are tired of fearing your government, this is your big chance to make that change. If you wait until November 5 to do something, it will be too late.

Today I had my first joint appearance with Ms. Welch Hill, on KTKK radio. Mr. Shurtleff was invited, but declined. He believes he is so far ahead that he does not have to debate his opponents. Tomorrow, at 9:00 AM I will again be featured for an hour on KTKK radio, this time by myself. Tell your friends.

Campaign whirlwind, new videos

October 15, 2008

I am having a lot of fun, and at the same time; I will be glad when it is over. There is no doubt that my law practice suffers a bit lately from lack of attention. But there is so much to do and so much to say. We have started advertising online, in print and even on TV. Signs, bumper stickers and fliers have been going out to more and more people. I have been mentioned in several publications, and people are taking notice. There is still lots to do, as many people still have not heard of me. But, by November 4, I think it will be hard to utterly ignore me. If you agree with what I have to say, I still need your help in passing the word along to friends and neighbors. Send this blog on to a friend, put up a sign, pass out literature, or find your own way. What a shock it will be to the "powers that be" if I score in double figures, or maybe even come in second. Why not? It is within reach.

I have created new campaign videos that are running on broadcast and cable TV. Click on them below, and share them with your voting friends.








Get out and vote, and if you still know someone who is not registered, there is still time to drag them to the county clerk and get them registered. Two of my closest friends have told me in the last two days that they have not yet registered. (You know who you are, now get down there and do it!). Those who support the Republican establishment will vote. Do you have an excuse not to? The stakes really are too high to stay at home.

Rolling along as election time nears

October 3, 2008

I just watched the introduction to KUED's Attorney General debate this evening, and it started out with two untruths. That was enough for me, and I decided my time was better spent here. The first untruth was that the debate was going to feature the "two major candidates for Utah Attorney General". I don't know how they measure that, but my Democratic opponent polls at 16%, and that has to be a stretch to call her "major". The second untruth was that the AG race this year has been "one of the most lively" of the election year. How they could say that about a race where I am not heard and where Ms. Hill has almost no presence despite her "major party" status, I do not know. If there is anything lively about the race, it is my presence, and it will get more lively with your help.

While up on campus at the University earlier this week, we had some contacts with KUED, and tried without success to get them to include me in their debate. So, I have purchased an ad in the Daily Chronicle for next Tuesday to protest my exclusion from three separate debates sponsored by parts of the tax supported university. I should not have to pay to be heard, but I am willing to do so, in order to let the public know I am running. It is too late to change any minds at the university about including me, but there is much you can do to help with very little effort or expense. Read through some of my recent blogs, and you will come up with some ideas. Signs, bumper stickers and flyers are available in many places around the State, and the flyer is now online at my website at www.andy4ag.com to be printed out and spread around.

Also, this week we have added to our YouTube presence with my 8 minute speech to this summer's hemp rally at the State Capitol. This video needs to be spread around. Please view it and find someone in Utah to send it to. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RA3LW2P7tpk
It is actually pretty good, I think.

Next week we will have our TV ad out. There will be a 30 second version to be used on actual broadcast television, and a longer version for YouTube. This medium works only when people watch and then ask others to watch. Very little time, and no money to do this, so please do it today.

Keep tuned in. I have money to spend, though I still need you to donate. It is very quick and easy at my website. I will be popping up all over the place. This week I have also starrted advertising in the online edition of Salt Lake's two major newspapers. Tell your friends, the revolution is here.