Thinking Of Starting Your First Political Campaign? 3 Mistakes To Avoid

Government & Politics Blog

When you think of starting your first political campaign, there is a lot for you to do. It can be easy to make some mistakes along the way. Here are a few mistakes that you should avoid when you jump into the political fray.

1. Assume the Party Will Help You

Your political party will likely check in with you from time to time, but don't make the mistake of thinking that they will run your campaign for you. Don't assume that they will pitch in with money on a regular basis. Your campaign is very much your campaign, and you need to be the one keeping it afloat. Try to think of help from the party as something extra, but don't lean on them for success. They have another race coming up in the future; you may not.

2. Underestimating How Much Money Your Campaign Will Need

One of the biggest mistakes that you can make when throwing your hat into the political ring is to not understand how expensive running a campaign can be. You have to know where that campaign money is coming from, and how often you will be able to get it. Talk to politicians in the area for some idea of how much a campaign costs and how they finance their work.

If you have relatives and family helping you finance your campaign, find out exactly how much they can donate and how regularly they can do so. If you plan to raise money through small donations from voters, try to surpass your goal as much as possible, so that you don't have to panic if your bus breaks down or the computers freeze up.

3. Underestimating Your Competitor

If you are like most people getting into a political race, you think you can win. However, beware of underestimating your opponent, whether they are an unpopular incumbent or someone you think is unqualified.  As the race wears on, you may be surprised that they are doing better than you expected. Always run your campaign as if you are running against a competent competitor, and you won't have to regret not trying harder after the race is over.

Now that you know some of the pitfalls you should avoid, get in touch with a good political campaign consultant in your area. They can help to guide you through the process and help you make the best decisions for you and your campaign.

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23 July 2015

Getting More Involved

Everyone is different, which is why I didn't care much for politics until a few years ago. However, after I purchased my house, I realized that the property taxes were going to kill me if I didn't work hard to fix things. I started paying more attention to how our local government ran, and I decided that it might be smart to start spending a little more time in the political arena. I ran for city council, and to my surprise, I made it. This blog is all about the importance of getting more involved and what you can do to change your community for the better.