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Western Energy Attitudes. Tim Wigley President Western Energy Alliance. Research. Bringing discipline to our advocacy and offering political cover to our friends and allies. Research Background. Political “marketing” is different - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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WESTERN ENERGY ATTITUDES
Tim WigleyPresident
Western Energy Alliance
RESEARCHBringing discipline to our
advocacy and offering political cover to our friends and allies
Research Background Political “marketing” is different Unlike typical corporate marketing – with
substantial financial resources and time – in an effort to get 3, 5, or 7% of the market share (if lucky) – the “marketing / advocacy” of the Alliance offers little resources, little time, with a requirement to attain 50% PLUS ONE of the “market share”
Laser beam focus is required
Research Background Continued
Issue Management Campaigns Healthy Forests ESA ANWR Gray Wolf Management
HOT OFF THE PRESS!Survey conducted March 19-22, 2012
Conducted by The Tarrance Group1,000 high-performing voters in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Montana, New Mexico and
North Dakota
PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS PROBLEMS IN THE WEST!
69% of voters feel the country is on the “wrong track”
59% feel strongly this wayOnly 26% feel “right track”
10 point gender gap (more men feel wrong track)
PRESIDENT’S JOB APPROVAL IN THE WEST
42% approve / 54% disapprove48% strongly disapprove
Nationally: 53% approve / 45% disapprove/ 39% strongly disapprove
PRESIDENT’S ENERGY POLICIES
54% disapprove of his handling of energy issues
37% approveMany voters question whether or not the
President truly has an energy policy
HOWEVER….PEOPLE DO GENERALLY SUPPORT HIS EFFORTS TO
DEVELOP ALTERNATIVE SOURCES55% approve of his efforts to develop
alternatives39% strong approve
“peel the onion”
THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES…
Jobs & Economy: 35%Government Spending: 28%
The Environment: 3%
IMPRESSIONS OF THE INDUSTRY
“oil & gas” industry: 48% favorable“natural gas” industry: 69%
favorable
INCREASED ENERGY PRODUCTION ON PUBLIC
LANDS72% support increased production
56% strongly support
REGULATIONS37% say too many regulations
25% say too few28% say about right
The 28% would be our advocacy target – like an un-decided voter
REGULATIONS CONTINUED…
66% agree that a moratorium on any new rules and regulations is needed
This was a major theme in the “Blueprint”
“FRACKING”High level of awareness
38% very concerned30% somewhat concerned
30% no concern
BANNING “FRACKING”28% would support a ban58% would oppose a ban
38% oppose strongly
KEYSTONE PIPELINE82% have seen, read or heard69% favor development / 55%
stronglyOnly 23% oppose development
SO WHAT NOW?What’s the game plan?What do we do with this
information?
The political environment is perfect!
More than any previous election, ENERGY issues ARE and WILL CONTINUE to play a major role in the 2012 election cycle
When the economy is strong and the 401(k) is growing – people can afford to be “green”
Issues of the environment have not been in the top 10 issues of concern in ANY survey work I’ve done in the past two years.
Jobs and the economy have been #1 in EVERY survey
“Messaging” We will conduct “dial test” focus groups to
further test specific messages from this survey
We will create a “language dictionary” Speeches, newsletters, interviews, etc. We
try and speak from the same page, of the same book, at the same time
Give elected officials a “backbone of courage” or a “cushion of comfort” as these issues take center stage in the public domain
On a personal note – GRASSROOTS is key!
I remember the days when…. 2000 election brought false hopes Our grassroots were burned out! We
“assumed” things would change and problems solved / reversed from the previous 8 years
Our collective sigh of relief ended up biting us
New Administration shows up in 2009 with a plan, agenda and a determination to get it done
GRASSROOTS continued…. Part of the blame goes directly to industry
who stopped funding grassroots We’ve already begun the process of re-
igniting this old coalition with new techniques and technologies
In May we met with leading sportsmen and conservations groups
We met with Cattlemen last week / larger meeting to follow
On deck: Farm Bureau; Mining; Forestry; recreation communities
THE WEST WILL PLAY A KEY ROLE IN 2012Several states will be key “swing” states: Colorado, New
Mexico and MontanaNot a ton of electoral votes – but difference makers in a
close campaign season!Key Senate races in New Mexico, Montana and North
Dakota
WARNING!If there is a change due to the election – this
Administration is already looking at what they can do in the “lame duck” period: use of Antiquities Act to create
more monuments (de-facto wilderness)And more…via Executive Orders
We must be ready!
THE BLUEPRINT FOR WESTERN ENERGY
PROSPERITYPlease go to our website:
www.westernenergyalliance.orgDownload the document and you can see our strategies for informing the public about the
importance of Western energy
