Party Time for the GOP

Thank goodness the presidential inauguration is over, and the associated fluff stories about Beyonce’s lip syncing debacle and Michelle Obama’s bang up hairdo are on the decline. I’m not sure if this political season reinforced the one-sidedness of the entertainment media or if it has made a stronger case for the minimal interest that the average American has in politics verses stardom. Regardless of the past election results of 2012, many Republicans are setting up shop to prepare for future elections.While many Democrats are basking in the afterglow of Mr. Obama’s victory, Republicans are gearing up and preparing for battles yet to come. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has already had eight fundraising events since the November election, the most recent one taking place this past Sunday at billionaire John Catsimatidis’ 5th Avenue apartment. The much heralded Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) isn’t taking much downtime either. He is now ready to get back in the trenches starting with his newly formed joint fundraising committee, Rubio Victory Committee. On January 30, this new group will be holding a fundraiser with price levels ranging from $500 to $5,000.While we know it’s never too soon to start political fundraising because of the vast amount of dollars needed to fuel any campaign, are supporters ready to get on board? I mean, it’s only January! Most people are reeling from the holiday bills that are starting to pour in, and they are barely at the point of breaking their New Year’s resolutions. Nevertheless, any time of year is a good time for politicking.I have to say that there is a huge advantage to connecting with voters months before election season even enters into the average person’s consciousness. The intensity, pressure, and ruthlessness are diluted as compared to parties that take place weeks before the November ballots are due. You can take time to truly connect with your constituency and invest in building relationships that can lead to meeting other like-minded individuals or bundlers. Furthermore, an early start allows you to create a game plan to reach high impact supporters, implement future events, and maximize your visibility.So follow the examples of McConnell and Rubio: get those guest lists organized, plan a night to remember, and prepare for a campaign trail that will end in victory!