The Underdog and Her Dog: Campaign Strategy or Just Flailing?

I get that Jennifer Brunner, Ohio’s Secretary of State and one of the two Democrats running for the U.S. Senate seat held by George Voinovich, is running an upstart, underdog campaign.  Lt. Governor Lee Fisher is a more well-known quantity in the state, and he’s dramatically outfundraising her. She’s trying to beat him to taking public positions on the major issues being debated in the Senate.

But I don’t know how this advances that strategy:

I’m an underdog. And you can believe me on that. My owners found me at a pet shelter in an old house in north Columbus a little over 2 years ago. I was named “Lane” I guess because they found me emaciated and wandering around Lane Avenue. I was pretty scared and traumatized, just like many people are today with the tough times they deal with.

That’s the opening line from Brunner’s latest fundraising e-mail pitch.  It is from Laney — her dog.  And it goes on:

Lately, my mom’s been pretty busy.  She’s running for the U.S. Senate. I watch how hard she works and I’ve even heard her on the phone for hours working to raise money. Once I heard my mom and her oldest real daughter, Kate, talking about how this was the first time a woman would be elected from Ohio to the U.S. Senate. I swear I even heard her say “underdog.” I couldn’t believe it!

I get their campaign strategy, but I don’t think this is it.  I’m not sure if e-mails from a candidate’s dog win over an e-mail list to give an underdog campaign more money.  I’ve been more than willing to say that the money distinction — during the primary — isn’t make or break just yet, but looking desperate at the same time (and not exactly looking Senatorial) aren’t the way to make up the difference.

I really hope this isn’t the new “strategy” of Brunner’s post-finance team shake-up.

Read the full pitch below the jump.

[UPDATE: on the "ya do what ya need to do" front, the ask is getting attention -- although only in the "say what you want, just spell my name right" category.  In addition to being noted by the Dispatch, Brunner's pitch was picked up by the USA Today On Politics blog.]

* * * * *

Brunner’s E-mail

Dear Chris,

I’m an underdog. And you can believe me on that. My owners found me at a pet shelter in an old house in north Columbus a little over 2 years ago. I was named “Lane” I guess because they found me emaciated and wandering around Lane Avenue. I was pretty scared and traumatized, just like many people are today with the tough times they deal with.

I remember being in a cage. And this tall woman was looking at me and then quietly kneeled beside my cage. The next thing I knew, I had a leash on my collar and she and this big guy wanted to take me that night, but they wouldn’t let them until I had some kind of operation. So they left and said they would be back in a few days. In the meantime, I got kennel cough from some beagle puppies. I never got the operation until after they took me home.

Things weren’t so good for me at first. I coughed something awful and chewed up everything in sight. They were pretty mad when I chewed up a picture frame with all 3 of their kids’ pictures in it. Eventually, I got the hang of things.  I learned how to play with toys, walk in the park and avoid chewing family photos. It wasn’t easy.

Lately, my mom’s been pretty busy.  She’s running for the U.S. Senate. I watch how hard she works and I’ve even heard her on the phone for hours working to raise money. Once I heard my mom and her oldest real daughter, Kate, talking about how this was the first time a woman would be elected from Ohio to the U.S. Senate. I swear I even heard her say “underdog.” I couldn’t believe it!

I heard Kate say, “Mom, you know, you don’t have to do this.” Then I heard my mom say, “I owe it to you and Laura and all the young women who need someone to prove to them that they can be whatever they want to be.”  That’s my mom.

She never gave up on me. She won’t ever give up on you. That’s why all of us underdogs understand that she’ll make a great U.S. Senator.

That’s why we need all you other underdogs (and big dogs, too) to help her with a donation.

Please give her $25 or $50 or pledge $10 a month starting now. You won’t be sorry. I’m not. And when she’s our Senator, Ohio will go from being an underdog to on its way to being the new top dog.

She’ll help grow jobs in Ohio, because she’s smart, she listens, she works hard, and she knows how to bring together the people and the parts we need to build a thriving economy in Ohio. She’s top dog in my book, and in your book, she’ll be a great U.S. Senator.

So, please give to her campaign today.

Woof best regards,

Laney (the Underdog)

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