A DISTANT RUMBLE: The Unnoticed, Unreported World of Grassroots Politics | GT Long, Lulu Publishing, 139p.
Longtime Michigan political operative G.T. Long penned this assemblage of vignettes about his experiences as a Democrat campaign operative in the Great Lakes State. Most of his collection covers the mid-'70s through the early 2000s.
It's a quick read, easily organized into digestible context for would-be first-time candidates or those simply curious about the behind-the-scenes operations of state legislative races. Long provides the basics of campaigning, including door-to-door, yard signs, Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV), fundraising, and scheduling.
The author peppers his instruction with his real-life experiences that include the shameful - of both parties - and the heartwarming nature of that aspect of politics fueled by the reverent goodwill of activists committed to a cause they deem greater than themselves.
This is a recommended introductory read for any local or state legislative office candidate. It's not prescriptive enough to guide the development of a campaign plan, but it's the pre-read to those tools. It will help set the tone and tenor of what lies ahead on a campaign much better than the bloviating pundits on screeching cable cattle calls. Additionally, it's an excellent addition to the corpus of Michigan political history.