You’ve got the passion. You’ve got the work ethic. You’ve got the support. You’ve got a great cause. Victory, you’re assured, is simply a matter of time and drive.

We live in a society that loves to dream and embraces positive change. Our nation’s popular culture idolizes movements of resistance, perseverance, transformation, and triumph. It’s practically patriotic to believe that if your cause is just and your heart is in it, you will succeed.

Sometimes the patriotism is a bit on the nose.

If only it were that simple. When it comes to achieving your political goals, you won’t get far without understanding the numbers. Where are which voters distributed in your area? What are the precinct, district, and statewide trends in voter turnout? Which data are most reliable?

Even the most qualified candidates and public servants can be tripped up when it comes to the data and research. Confirmation bias guides people towards whichever figures support their preexisting beliefs about their campaign. History is filled with examples where one’s failure to take note of the right numbers snatches defeat from the jaws of victory.

We get it, numbers aren’t sexy to most people. At Grassroots Midwest, however, we thrive on them. We take on candidates and causes because we believe in their ability to win, but a critical part of our business is to counsel against an action that the research does not support. Sometimes, this means not taking on a client at all. If we think the numbers aren’t there for you, you’ll be the first to know.

Our firm was founded in the belief that fundamentals and best practices matter. We take pride in using the best available data to determine the best course of action. We take this on so that our clients can focus on what really matters to them: the cause.

About the author: Steve Heikkinen serves as the Communications and Marketing Strategist for Grassroots Midwest, Michigan’s only bipartisan political advocacy firm.