‘Throwing bums out’ not enough
VETERAN American pollster and political strategist Stan Greenberg has warned that Mmusi Maimane’s campaign for the Gauteng premiership will have to move up a gear if it is to have any chance of success.
This week Greenberg, who is widely regarded as the most accomplished political strategist in the world and is assisting the DA in Gauteng, told the Sunday Times Maimane’s campaign needed to start focusing on the DA’s ideas for job creation and poverty relief, and move away from merely attacking President Jacob Zuma.
“People will only vote for you if they believe you have a better offer than your opponent, which will improve their lives,” said Greenberg, who worked on “change elections” for Tony Blair and Bill Clinton.
“In Clinton’s case, from the first primary in New Hampshire, he focused on the promise to create eight million jobs — a plan which maintained credibility . . .
“You cannot win a change election simply with a message of ‘Throw the bums out’,” Greenberg said.
“Our polling has shown that success in Gauteng is possible, but only if we start focusing on aspects of DA policy such as the creation of one million apprenticeships.
“Our policies, including the policy of six million jobs, are realistic, attainable and costed.
“In a country like South Africa, where a single party has been dominant for as long as the ANC has, it is tempting for the opposition to merely propose amendments to government policies. But for a change election campaign to be successful, you need a disruption in policy to occur. We need to show we will put jobs first, in a balanced budget,” he said.
“The ANC can be brought below 50% in Gauteng if the DA focuses on its own policies . . . But that would have to happen very soon if the campaign wants to reach its potential.”