It’s been said that there are only two ways to run a political campaign: unopposed or scared. But just what exactly does that mean?

It means that before you get in race (or as soon as you do) you do everything that you can to freeze out any potential competition in the campaign, or if you do have competition, you go 110% all-out, all the time and do anything and everything that you need to do in order to win and leave no stones unturned.

Run Unopposed

Having competition can be expensive, and it makes winning more problematic.  It’s better to invest time and effort early on in order to avoid it rather than having to spend the extra time and money it will cost later.  It’s why so many candidates and elected officials will focus so much on fundraising and putting as much money in the bank as possible, as early as possible, in order to scare off potential competition.

It means working to pick off as many critical allies and resources as early as possible and to leave nothing (or no one) that might encourage a potential competitor, (from major donors to big name endorsements or critical volunteers).  Anything that could help their ability to successfully organize or raise money. Leave them discouraged from even thinking about running.

Run Scared

If you can’t avoid competition, then commit to running all-out like you’re being chased by a pack of wild dogs.  Leave nothing undone and no resource unutilized.  Be as fast and overwhelming as possible.

It doesn’t mean that you’re fearful of others, it just means that you’re flat out doing everything that YOU have control over.  That you’re NOT going to let anyone outwork you. That you’re going to leave it all on the field.

That kind of commitment attracts others.  Whether it’s volunteers or donors, people like to be with someone who looks like a winner.

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Whichever way it works out, the larger point is that if you’re going to run, RUN!  Anything less invites defeat.

 

It’s a fundamental truth of politics that if you don’t win, you can’t govern.

You can’t implement policy if you aren’t elected to a position that allows you to do so, or if you don’t have sympathetic elected officials that are willing to help.

With that being the case, it’s critical that conservatives know the basics of effective campaigning if we expect to see our ideas implemented in government.

The good news is that the fundamentals of a successful campaign of any type is the same today as it was thousands of years ago.

Julius Caesar once said that the only thing needed to conquer the world was “men and money”. Modify that idea slightly by adding “message” and you’ve got a good thumbnail sketch of what political campaigns are all about.

They’re known as “the Three M’s”:

• Manpower: Do you have the supporters that can build a successful campaign organization?
• Money: Do you have the resources to run a campaign that identifies, informs and mobilizes your supporters – and gets your message out?
• Message: What are you saying? And does it motivate people to get involved?

These three elements are universal to all campaigns. They don’t change. That means that you should arrange your campaign accordingly (time, staff, etc.) around those areas of responsibility.

Regardless of whether a campaign is national, state or local in scope, the objective is the same. To win.

Having the most devoted and numerous volunteers, the most money (or enough) and the most compelling message goes a long way towards that goal.