How to organize and run a successful campaign for public office. Why on earth should anybody get involved in politics? An untested neophyte would answer: What’s not to love? The political lifestyle seems enjoyable. There are lots of parties, great seats at events, and of course just like Cheers, everyone knows you name? Let me say it again: What’s not to love? Yet, when a prospective candidate looks at the reality of the game, however, the more experienced person will say that the political life is a difficult life-far more difficult than it seems at first blush. Political candidates are continually forced to run through hoops. They are sliced and diced every way possible, especially when their chances of winning are good. Everybody wants a piece of them including the media and their ultimate constituents. Their tax returns are made public . Both old friends and old enemies are interviewed by an unfriendly media, and the candidate’s every word is checked for mistakes and gaffes-the more the better. The bottom line is that it’s grueling, tiring, busy, and difficult. There is always something to do. There is always someone who wants something from you. and did I say you are always tired. Yet, somehow, you have to walk around with a smile on your face and a nice comment ready to come from your lips even if it is a bad day. Even if your purpose for running is altruistic so you can help your city, state, or the country, and you really do not want to be a politician, just a worthy representative of the people, there are many who simply will not believe you. The political game itself is rigged. You need way too much money to win. Regular folks like me for example who run for office have only enough money to live so shortcuts always must be taken to achieve any political gains on a poor man’s budget. One such way is to be a write-in candidate, and another is to have a pack of friends willing to work hard for signatures on ballot petitions and to help arrange speaking engagements and public places where you can drop in to greet the folks. Though you are not a fool, many will call your quest a fool’s errand. Try running for office in a state such as Pennsylvania, in which the political incumbents and the establishment have the game 100% rigged. Corrupt state politicians in all 50 states have slanted the ballot-access table in favor of incumbents and against non-political regular citizens of America such as me and you when you become inclined to throw your hat in the ring. The alternative of course is not attractive. If not you, then who-a dirty rotten politician, and we just cannot have that. Using this experience as a basis, this book is written to help all potential candidates understand the reality of restrictive ballot access laws in all the states and what one must do to comply with them and/or get around them. It presents a program that can be used to help you win election to public office. When you choose to run, it will serve as an effective learning tool and a how-to guide. It contains a lot of great platform information, a great announcement speech, and helpful stuff that you can use in your campaign. You won’t want to put this book down as you learn the ins & outs of running for office and the rudiments of running a campaign. Moreover, you will gain insights about how I ran on the ballot for Congress in 2010, a write-in for the US Senate in 2012, Mayor in 2015, and now again in 2018 as a write-in candidate for the US Senate. I freely admit that I have yet to win an election, but I now know what it would take to win. Besides being able to raise money, which is the ugliest part of running for office, to win an election you must have the heart of Robert the Bruce (think spider) and the spirit of The Little Engine That Could, and you have to be willing to lose a few times before you finally win.
