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COVID-19: Tech & Creative Thinking Key to Campaign Strategy

A supporter and volunteer for Esther Joy King has loaded campaign signs in a truck to distribute.
submitted
/
Eric Anderson, Esther Joy King Campaign
A supporter and volunteer for Esther Joy King has loaded campaign signs in a truck to distribute.

A local campaign manager who’s new to the job is learning as he goes.

Michelle O’Neill reports Eric Anderson is running Esther Joy King’s Congressional campaign in Illinois’ 17th District. She's also a newcomer and a Republican. Radio story

King won the primary race, and her headquarters is located in East Moline, with field operations in Rock Island, Peoria, and Rockford. 

A supporter and volunteer for Esther Joy King has loaded campaign signs in a truck to distribute.
Credit submitted / Eric Anderson, Esther Joy King Campaign
/
Eric Anderson, Esther Joy King Campaign
A supporter and volunteer for Esther Joy King has loaded campaign signs in a truck to distribute.

Anderson says in the spring, he would have sent volunteers door-to-door.

But the coronavirus and lockdown delayed that, and supporters have been calling voters from home instead.

Social media and Facebook "live" have been huge assets for reaching voters. 

No one is hosting big rallies or fundraising dinners.

And Anderson says he’s enjoyed the challenge of finding creative ways to introduce voters to King, such as hosting gatherings with ten people or fewer outdoors whenever possible, and with masks and social distancing. 

Like many other candidates, Anderson and King are taking advantage of technology to hold online meetings with supporters and volunteers.

King’s democratic opponent is incumbent Cheri Bustos.

Copyright 2021 WVIK, Quad Cities NPR. To see more, visit WVIK, Quad Cities NPR.

Officially, Michelle's title is WVIK News Editor which really just means she wears many hats, doing everything there is to do in the newsroom and around the radio station. She's a multimedia journalist and serves as Assignment Editor, reporter, radio news producer, copy editor, announcer, news anchor/host, and photographer. She also writes and produces content for WVIK.org and social media.In recent broadcast journalism contests, Michelle's work contributed to WVIK winning various awards for excellence in both Illinois and Iowa. Tweets by MichelleONeilll