Why?  Because pretty much everyone who will be casting a ballot next year is showing up on Nov. 6.  You need to be at the polls to introduce yourself.

First, be sure to catch them on the way OUT.  They will have enough people wanting to talk to them as they walk in.

Second, start by thanking them for voting.  Then, quickly introduce yourself and offer them a card or brochure with some basic information on you.

Don’t give them a lecture on issues unless they ask for it.  Your first job as a candidate is to make sure people actually remember your name.  The average person needs to hear a candidate’

“They did. They gave us five tax proposals — plus one change to the criminal code — that every one of them could support wholeheartedly, from left to right.”

What were they?

1. Eliminate the mortgage tax deduction
2. End tax deductions for health-care
3. Eliminate the corporate income tax
4. Eliminate all income and payroll taxes
5. Drop the income tax, tax consumption
6. Legalize marijuana

Libertarians are the only party dedicated to eliminating income taxes and ending costly drug prohibition, and many Libertarian officeholders

Thirty-one percent (31%) say “the economy” is “the most important problem facing this country today.”  The second most pressing issue is “jobs,” coming in at 26 percent.

Combined, 57 percent of Americans cite jobs or the economy as the issue most in need of attention.  Immigration garnered only three percent.  Drugs, war and climate change did not even register on voter’s list of concerns.

The poll also found:

* “Seniors as well as Americans in households earning less than $30,000 annually join blacks in putting the greatest emphasis on unemployment and jobs as the nation’s top problem. By contrast, middle- and high-income Americans and those aged 18 through 64 are more likely to name ‘the economy.’”

* “Blacks focus more than either whites or Hispanics on unemployment as the nation’s top problem. However, whites worry more than blacks or Hispanics about the federal budget deficit…”

* “About 10% of adults in every major age group mention the federal budget deficit as the top problem, but it is of particular concern to Republicans (16%), adults earning $75,000 or more (12%), whites (11%), and men (11%). Relatively few blacks, Hispanics, low-income Americans, or Democrats mention the issue.”

“That’s the lowest level measured since Jan. 27 and is just two points above 2012′s low.  The Consumer Index is down five points from a week ago, down 12 points from one month ago and down 11 points from three months ago.”

Americans and job creators have no confidence in Barack Obama.  With Mitt Romney now leading in the polls it appears they still see no relief on the horizon.

It’s time to vote Libertarian.

And what did they find?

“My firm, Public Opinion Strategies, in conjunction with Democratic firm Momentum Analysis, has been listening to an important group of voters since the 2008 elections: Walmart Moms. These are women defined as voters with children age 18 or younger living at home and who shop at Walmart at least once per month…

“These moms opted for Obama in 2008 but pulled the lever for Republicans in 2010.  Our various projects over the years have shown these women to be truly swing voters. Six months away from the election, we decided to take their temperature again to hear what they have to say and what they’re going to be paying attention to as the presidential candidates vie for their vote in November.

“It’s clear there is a disconnect between what matters to these moms and what they see and hear coming out of Washington, their elected officials and candidates running for office. (emphasis added)

“These moms aren’t focused on ‘women’s issues,’ they’re not fighting about whether working moms or stay-at-home moms have it tougher.  Instead, they are concerned with the big stuff that’s affecting the whole nation and having a real impact on their daily lives, being able to care of their families and manage the household budget.  Those issues are the economy, jobs, gas prices and education. (emphasis added)

“As you might have guessed by now, these moms are somewhat jaded by the political process.  However, they tell us they are planning to vote in November and they are still very much undecided in how they plan to vote.  They’re open to hearing from candidates on both sides of the political aisle.

“BUT, these candidates must come to the table prepared to have the right conversation.  That means connecting with these women on their terms and what matters to them and their families.  These women aren’t interested in a conversation about “women’s issues” right now.  They’re too busy sweating the big stuff, and think their elected officials should be, too.“

As a Libertarian, what are YOU doing to speak with these voters about what practical, realistic steps you will take to address the economy, jobs, gas prices and education?

Mitt Romney has spent months selling himself to the Republican base. Now, Barack Obama is working overtime trying to re-sell himself to his base of voters age 18-29.Team Obama knows that hard times and the growing libertarian leanings of young voters will make them a more difficult target than four years ago…

…Very few of Obama’s young supporters from 2008 are likely defect to Romney. Some may not vote, and I see the possibility of others abandoning both parties and instead choosing the Libertarian candidate…

…Last week, Harvard’s Institute of Politics released an online study of more than 3,000 U.S. adults ages 18-29. This exhaustive look at the policy priorities of First Globals finds the economy and jobs are far and away their highest concern. That data point and others show why support for Obama has slipped since 2008. They favor Obama over Romney, 43%-26%. There is an 11-point difference in Obama’s margin between those 25-29 (23 points) and those 18-24 (12 points.) Congressional Democrats have a higher approval than Republicans, 39%-25%.

However, on some key issues, majorities of First Globals are not doctrinaire liberals. The poll found less than majorities agree with liberals on   some of their most cherished beliefs.  For example: 44% agree health insurance is a right government should provide for those who can’t afford it, 43% agree with the same statement about food and shelter, 37% agree government should spend more to reduce poverty, 20% agree government spending is an effective way to economic growth and 28% agree government should do more to curb climate change even at the expense of economic growth. (That last number has to hurt environmentalists.)

Lest Republicans get too giddy at those findings, they should also know less than majorities agree with these conservative and neo-con ideals: 22% agree it’s sometimes necessary to attack potentially hostile countries rather than waiting until we are attacked, 23% are willing to give up some personal freedoms for the sake of national security, 39% agree cutting taxes is an effective route to economic growth, 24% agree we should eliminate all barriers to trade, 25% agree recent immigration has done more harm than good, 21% agree religious values should play an important role in government and 25% agree homosexuality is morally wrong.

These attitudes betraying both the traditional left and right fall generally within the bounds of libertarianism. Live and let live.  Individual responsibility is as important as collective responsibility. Avoid military interventions. Distrust both government and corporations. Protect civil liberties.

But an overwhelming majority of those voters say neither Barack Obama or Mitt Romney can do it.

A new Fox News poll released yesterday shows 61 percent of registered voters say Obama does not have “a clear plan for fixing the economy.”  That number rises to 68 percent among the independent voters who will decide the election and is 58 percent among women.  Only 36 percent of registered voters expressed confidence in Obama’s economic policies.

The numbers are just as bad for Romney.  58 percent of registered voters say Romney does not have “clear plan for fixing the economy,” with only 31 percent expressing confidence in his economic policies.  54 percent of women polled say Romney has no plan to fix the economy.

That means voters are desperately looking for a candidate with a clear, practical, proven and believable plan to fix the economy, and they’re not getting it from Republicans or Democrats.  Creating jobs is far and away the most important issue in this election year, especially to the growing number of independent voters not wedded to either party.

Which means Libertarians need to talk about one issue and one issue only — the economy.

If a Libertarian candidate is running on any issue other than creating jobs, he or she is generally wasting their time.

And they need to present a plan to create jobs that voters will see as credible and effective.

Voters are looking for a change. The door is wide open.  It’s up to Libertarians to present themselves as credible, practical and worthy of trust on the important issue of creating jobs.

The Fox News poll was conducted from April 22 to 24 and has a 3 percent margin of error.

• 36 percent say President Obama’s policies “helped” the economy; 33 percent say they “hurt” it, 30 percent say his policies have not made much difference on the economy.

• 32 percent say that if Mitt Romney wins the presidential election, economic conditions will be “helped.”

• 24 percent say economic conditions will be hurt, 39 percent say his election will not make much difference.

• 31 percent say that if Mr. Obama wins re-election this year, economic conditions will be “helped.”

• 30 percent say economic conditions will be “hurt,” 37 percent say his re-election will not make much difference.

Source: An NBC News/Wall Street Journal survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted April 13 to 17, reported by The Washington Times’ Jennifer Harper.

Keep in mind this is just a poll of adults, not likely voters, so it’s essentially meaningless.  But it shows a larger skepticism of the ability of Republicans and Democrats to fix the economy.

• 65 percent overall worry a great deal about gas prices; 63 percent of Republicans and 69 percent of Democrats agree.

• 60 percent overall worry a great deal about the budget deficit; 84 percent of Republicans and 42 percent of Democrats agree.

• 60 percent overall worry a great deal about the affordability of health care; 46 percent of Republicans and 69 percent of Democrats agree.

• 55 percent overall worry a great deal about unemployment; 61 percent of Republicans and 55 percent of Democrats agree.

• 46 percent of Americans overall worry a great deal about the size and power of the federal government; 71 percent of Republicans and 31 percent of Democrats agree.

Source: A Gallup poll of 1,024 U.S. adults conducted March 8 to 11, reported by The Washington Times Jennifer Harper.

Here’s what voters want to hear from you on.  So what is your campaign talking about?

According to Gallup and based on 20,000 interviews from 20 polls taken throughout 2011, “a record-high 40 percent of Americans identify as Independents.” To put that in perspective, consider that self-identified Democrats roll in at a historic low of 31 percent while just 27 percent of us are willing to admit being Republicans…

…In its summary of 2011 attitudes toward government and political parties, Gallup concluded that the surge in independents stems from the “sluggish economy, record levels of distrust in government, and unfavorable views of both parties.” Indeed, a “historic” 81 percent of Americans overall are “dissatisfied with the way the nation is being governed” and 53 percent of us have negative views of the Republican Party and 55 percent of us have negative views of the Democratic Party.

Will you help Libertarians in winnable races reach out to those deciding voters?

Just go here to chip in $10 or more to support Libertarians in winnable races.