The Republican Party of Florida is offering free gas cards and chances to meet John McCain and Sarah Palin to volunteers who rack up phone-bank calls to support the ticket.

Motivating volunteers is an age-old problem for political parties. Thousands of them stuff envelopes, go door-to-door and dial phones for both parties in every election. Without that work, the campaigns’ crucial get-out-the-vote effort can’t succeed. These techniques are how the campaign identify friendly voters, whom they then call on Election Day or set up with absentee ballots to make sure their votes get counted.

To the folks who do this work, a chance to be near the center of the action, maybe even meet the candidate or attend a small gathering with him/her, is a thrill, and such events are commonly used as motivators.

But gas cards is a new one.

On McCain’s Super Saturday, Oct. 18, the volunteer who makes the most phone calls and the volunteer who knocks on the most doors will meet Sen. McCain during his next trip to Florida, Greer announced. The volunteer who comes in second in each category will meet Gov. Palin.

(Some might wonder whether it should be the other way around.)

Additionally, any volunteer who makes 1,000 phone calls will earn a $100 gas card, and volunteers who knock on 100 doors will get a $50 gas card.

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