There are many reasons people choose to run for public office. Some of these are altruistic and based on a desire to genuinely make a difference while others are entirely ego-driven. All candidates should have a 25 word "I'm running because..." that articulates their public reasons for running. This is carefully crafted and is usually not the real reason a candidate is running. So why do people run?
Read MoreMany candidates decide to jump into a race without assessing their prospects. They see an opening and dive in head first. These are usually the candidates driven by ego who want to see their name in the paper, and these candidates usually fail. With this in mind, here are a few questions to help you decide if you are running for the right office or at the right time.
Read MoreMany candidates are unaware of what’s needed to get on the ballot. They assume that after they file paperwork to run they are automatically on the ballot. In actuality, in order to get on the ballot, requirements vary from state to state.
Read MoreMany parents give their children unfortunate or hilarious names. Some of those children grow up to run for office. However, having a memorable name can work to your advantage when Election Day rolls around. Dick Swett was repeatedly elected to Congress by the people of New Hampshire. Here is a selection of some of our favorite candidate names and the outcome of their elections.
Read MoreA famous political consultant used to say “In a tsunami, a lot of shit gets washed up on shore.” After meeting Members of Congress one often scratches their head as to how in the hell they got elected in the first place. The reality is that no matter how awful a candidate is, if they have certain skills they can increase their chances of success exponentially.
Read MoreCandidates often find it difficult to navigate the intersection of religion and politics during their campaigns. Many candidates are religious and think that other followers of their denomination should be an easy target for votes. They are often unaware that churches risk losing their tax exempt status by engaging in partisan politics...Here are some helpful tips for courting religious voters.
Read MoreCandidates for office need to weave together a compelling narrative that answers the question of why they are seeking public office. In American public life, certain aspects of a person’s background can help them build for election, while others can be an impediment to the campaign.
Read MoreSince the advent of television, campaigns have used theme songs and jingles as a way to keep themselves fresh in a potential voter's memory. From Eisenhower to JFK to the modern day, we look at what works and what doesn't.
Read MoreWhen you meet someone face-to-face, 90% of how you are judged is based on nonverbal data—your appearance and your body language. Only 10% is influenced by the words that you speak. Whoever said that you can’t judge a book by its cover failed to note that people do.
Read MoreToo many candidates fail because they have issues in their background that they don’t disclose soon enough. Campaign staff hate it when you are months into a campaign and negative information on you surfaces that they didn’t know about. Everyone is forced to scramble and do crisis management, you get sidetracked. In reality, an ounce of preparation is worth a pound of cure.
Read MoreMany candidates struggle with what role their spouse and children should play on the campaign. The answer is very simple: a flattering one. If they are not going to help or make you look good, don't use them on the campaign.
Read MoreThe news recently has been a steady drumbeat of disaster and tragedy. From the flooding in Colorado to the mass shootings in Washington DC, these events create a torrent of reaction from regular citizens, elected officials, and aspiring candidates. Ultimately, those in the public eye must react in a measured and respectful way in order to avoid the perception that they are exploiting a tragedy for political gain.
Read MoreEveryone loves a good scandal. Especially the media. Politics reliably provides salacious scandals mixing sex, money and power. Everyone is looking for their next big story and political scandal will always provide. Whether it is Congressmen sending naked pictures on twitter or hiding cash in their freezer, Mayors smoking crack with prostitutes, or Governors “hiking the Appalachian Trail,” the truth always comes out because someone will keep digging.
Read MoreThe unrivaled influence and effectiveness of telefundraising call centers is in their ability to coerce money from constituents who cannot afford to contribute. This cannot be overemphasized, especially with retired elderly adults on a fixed income. Relying on sheer volume of calls, these centers are sure to secure contributions purely based off of how many contacts one individual caller can make per hour.
Read MoreGeorge Washington didn’t have to read about his flub on Twitter. There was no Facebook feed on JFK’s relationship with Marilyn Monroe. Bill Clinton’s press conference didn’t get parodied on the internet or get songified on YouTube...well not in 1997 at least. Lets face it, if you want to be a political figure now a days, you have to prepare 100 times more than your predecessors even 10 years ago...PART 2
Read MoreGeorge Washington didn’t have to read about his flub on Twitter. There was no Facebook feed on JFK’s relationship with Marilyn Monroe. Bill Clinton’s press conference didn’t get parodied on the internet or get songified on YouTube...well not in 1997 at least. Lets face it, if you want to be a political figure now a days, you have to prepare 100 times more than your predecessors even 10 years ago...PART 1
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