Lee Byberg talks fundraising, partisan voter index & congressional campaign media strategy at totally nonpartisan movement event in Alex

Although MNCD7 Republican congressional candidate Lee Byberg pitch his "Freedom Chorus" concert with singer Lee Greenwood as a "nonpartisan" event, Sunday night he talked about fundraising and voter indexes to the audience of over 1000.

In Lee Byberg's paid friends: committee spends $8000 on Lee Greenwood solo appearance, Bluestem posted that the Alexandria Echo Press reports in Freedom Chorus featuring Lee Greenwood to perform in Alexandria:

The Lee Byberg campaign is bringing a “Freedom Chorus” to Alexandria featuring Lee Greenwood.

The choir is wrapping up its tour with a grand finale event in Alexandria on October 21, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Lake Geneva Christian Center. Admission is free.

Byberg, who is making his second bid for U.S. Congress, said his campaign isn’t sticking to the script of TV ads, phone calls, and direct mail.

“Yes, we’ll be advertising on TV. Yes, you’ll hear us on the radio,” said Byberg. “But to really connect with voters we are going big. We are leading a movement, and the Freedom Chorus is a celebration of what unites us as Americans.”

The Star Tribune mentions the appearance here, while the Fergus Falls Daily Journal reported in Byberg looks to grassroots for success:

Byberg has been able to command more attention this year than in 2010 for a variety of reasons. His name recognition is higher now just because he’s been in the public eye for so long, but door-knocking and making speeches is only part of his strategy. He published a book this year (“Builders of Our Land”), has scheduled a concert with country music star Lee Greenwood (of “God Bless the USA” fame) in Alexandria, and, in one of his campaign’s more ambitious efforts, is assembling an area “mega-choir” of more than 100 District 7 residents to sing hymns and patriotic songs at a few venues around the area.
“The music is symbolic of us coming together,” he said.

Now that Byberg has a more visible platform, he’s trying as often as possible to broadcast his message, one of smaller government and economic encouragement. The best way to increase government revenue, he said, is by businesses and individuals making more money. . . .

Byberg told the Echo and other venues that the Alex concert is "nonpartisan."

Here's a video of select moments from Byberg's 28 minute or so nonpartisan speech:

A friend who attended the event estimated that 1,000 people attended the Lee Greenwood concert and Not A Partisan political rally. Republican activists estimated 2000 in the crowd. While the event was free, those who attended were given a copy of Byberg's ghost-written book with a contribution envelope inside the front cover.

Byberg's Q3 2012 fundraising report to the FEC can be found here.

In addition to Republican Congressional candidate Byberg, Republican state senate candidates Torrey Westrom and Bill Ingebrigtsen, house candidate Mary Franson, and U.S. Senate candidate Kurt Bills.

Photos: Representative Mary Franson and state senator Bill Ingebrigtsen and the event emcee (top); crowd shot (bottom).

MNCD7: Lee Byberg raises only $86,591.06; $74,383.65 COH; $112,262.43 debt

Fakes of our fathers: Lee Byberg's book on restoring America is one awesome read