Political Candidates
GOP Campaign Guide

FIRST THOUGHTS ON YOUR CAMPAIGN

WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? This is the first question I ask all candidates when they first consider running for office. It is a serious question. It begs you to ask if this is really going to be worth doing. It hopefully forces you to consider if you really have the right motivation for attempting a task that will be stressful, time consuming and many times, quite apparently, just not worth it. Have a good answer for "why?" I can't tell you what the right answer is. But you most certainly need to be sure that YOU know why.

As the Republican Party chairman of Floyd County, I need to make sure you are a Republican. The two major political parties are actually private organizations. Although Americans largely only have these two choices, there is no requirement to allow you to run in one of them. As a matter of fact, if you did not vote Republican in the last Primary, you need the approval of the GOP chairman to run as a Republican. Please consider that when you vote. See me if you did not vote Republican in the last Primary. Please have a very good understanding of why you want to run for office as a Republican.

Here are some interesting quotes to consider since you think you want to run:

"CAMPAIGNS ARE LIKE A BASKETBALL GAME……………THERE IS NO POINT IN CARRYING THE BALL IF YOU DON"T KNOW WHERE THE GOAL IS."

"CANDIDATES SHOULD NOT HAVE A HEAD LIKE A DOORKNOB WHERE ANYONE CAN TURN IT. THEY MUST SURROUND THEMSELVES WITH PEOPLE WHO KNOW HOW TO RUN A CAMPAIGN. THE CANDIDATE MUST HAVE COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN THAT INDIVIDUAL OR COMMITTEE."

"Candidates must stay consistent in their:
      Theme
      Message
      Issues
      Strategy
      Tactics

Some definitions:
Politics: "Politics is the act or practice of those who seek any position of power, authority or advantage". To participate in politics one must provide leadership, have qualities suitable for the office sought, personal skills and a concern for the electorate.

Candidate: "One who seeks or is nominated for an office prize or honor; one apt to gain a certain position or come to a certain fate". Seeking public office is certainly a honorable thing to do, how a person performs in this quest will determine the individual's fate.

Campaign: "A series of operations launched to achieve a specific objective within given area or time; a systematic course of aggressive activities for a special purpose. (This means staying focused and sticking to your written campaign plan)

In my own experience, I have always advised candidates that a good one needs to have three 'Ps':
     Platform
     Passion
     Performance

Platform: What are you planning on doing if you get elected? What is your goal you hope to accomplish if the voters choose you? Why are you a better choice than your opponent?
Passion: Do you care? Can you portray that attitude to the voters? Are you enthusiastic about getting elected?
Performance: What have you already done? Have you demonstrated in the past why voters should choose you now? What makes you uniquely qualified to do the job of the office you are running for?

No one starts a political career experienced. However, if you can honestly answer the three questions above positively enough that it makes you feel you have a chance at success, that you are a better choice for office than your competition and that you actually can make a difference by being elected, then this race may be for you........

Feel free to read on........

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Floyd County Republican Party - Floyd County, Indiana 2008
This website paid for and authorized by the Floyd County Republican Central Committee
Dave Matthews, Chairman

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