First time candidates make mistakes, and it is because we expect them that we can take steps to minimize them.
Over the past 20 plus years, I have observed first candidates making mistakes early in the process and during a campaign.
This quick guide is an attempt to help first time political candidates avoid the most common campaigning mistakes, and it may act as a refresher for more experienced candidates.
PRE-CAMPAIGN LAUNCH MISTAKES
Not Doing Correct Research Before Declaring / Deciding to Run before Evaluating the Terrain
This maybe the single biggest mistake a candidate can make. I rue the phone calls that begin with “I’ve filed my paper work and I am running. I’d like to discuss it with you.” Too Late.
It is better to call with “I’m considering running for office, and I would like to discuss the decision making process with you.”
In politics timing is everything, and sometimes this just isn’t the time to be successful.
Mistaking your Friends for Voters
Your friends lie – not in a mean spirited way, but in a non-malevolent way that is crushing. Your friends like you and most likely think you would be a wonderful public servant. Your friends also most likely look like you, live near you, and share political opinions similar to yours.
But most importantly, your friends are NOT likely to say something to you that will test or risk your friendship.
Thinking Beating an Incumbent will be easy
Yes, you and your friends think the incumbent has done an awful job. (But we’ve already talked about your friends.)
Incumbents enjoy significant advantages over challengers and are extremely difficult to up-end. The base rate of success in the Congress? Less than 10%.
Not polling
Running for office without polling is like driving a car blindfolded.
One wouldn’t be as stupid to drive blindfolded, why would one ever consider running without objective research?
Research is the way to test your friends’ and the campaign’s critical assumptions.
Cost too much? Nope. Not in with advancement in technology.
Want to know what really costs too much? Running a losing campaign because the message was off or campaign strategy was based on erroneous assumptions.
Saying “They’ll Never Find It” when it comes to past events.
It will always be found!
In fact, sometimes your former spouse, former business partner, or just someone who doesn’t like you will gift-wrap and hand-deliver it.
Your supporters can forgive most things, but cannot and will not forgive being surprised.
CAMPAIGN MONEY MISTAKES
Underestimating the Time Needed for Fundraising
Underestimating the difficulty in raising money may be the second biggest mistake.
Raising money for political campaigns is hard. It takes as twice as much effort and time as a candidate thinks it will – especially first time candidates.
Your good friend who said you would make a great public servant will suddenly stop returning your calls. Others will terribly disappoint you.
Rule of thumb for first time candidates: I take whatever figure a first-time candidate tells me they can raise, and I cut it in half and then cut it half again. The result is the actual working budget until proven incorrectly.
Messing up the Money
Don’t ever, ever mess up the money. Make sure the campaign keeps impeccable records and hits all filing deadlines.
- Pro-tip – photocopy each and every check before depositing.
- Second pro-tip – no cash even if the law allows it.
Candidate fills days with campaign work because she is avoiding FR
A candidate can find an infinite amount of things to work on, but normally a candidate starts doing these things because they are avoiding fundraising.
If you are a candidate, sadly your first priority is the role of head fundraiser in charge. You must provide the fuel for the campaign to run well.
If you find yourself digging holes for signs, writing television/radio commercials or attending government meetings you are most likely avoiding fundraising.
Yes, fundraising is hard and grunt-like, but all candidates volunteer for it.
DURING CAMPAIGN MISTAKES
Being Cheap About Photos
Good photos are essential to your campaign.
Most people are visual. They learn visually, they are persuaded visually.
Just because your cousin has a smartphone camera doesn’t mean you get good photos.
Don’t be miserly, hire a great photographer.
Valuing Expert Opinion as Much as Your Cousin’s
If you hire a political consultant, please don’t weigh their opinion equally with your neophyte cousin.
It is always desirable to seek advice and counsel from multiple people, but when push comes to shove weight the expert opinion more than cousin Eddy’s novice opinion.
Getting Bored with the Message
Once your campaign researches and develops the message, repeat it until people scream – then repeat it more.
One of the biggest challenges for first-time candidates is they get bored with the message thinking everyone has heard it before. The reality? Most people don’t tune into the campaign until the final week / days.
The trouble begins when the candidate decides to talk about something new. All consultants can recall picking up a newspaper story about the campaign (maybe the only time the hometown paper profiles a candidacy) to read pontifications from a candidate never discussed or researched that does NOTHING to advance the campaign’s message.
Don’t do it. Repeat the message, repeat it until you get complaints, then repeat it more.
Mistaking Politics for Popularity
If a political candidate is attempting to be everything to every voter, the candidate is going to have a bad time.
In a political campaign, a winner needs just one more voter than 50%. As a political candidate, you will NEVER have all voters love you, so stop trying.
Acting like it all about the candidate – It’s not.
Campaigns are about the voters, not you.
Resumes rarely win campaigns.
A candidate needs to suspend somewhat of what brought you to the dance – the ego. Candidates need to position smack dab in the middle of what the voters want.
Winning the Argument is NOT the same as winning the Election
Yes, you can be right, but please not to the detriment of the campaign. If you are trying to win every single argument, every single time, reconsider.
Conclusion
While this list is not comprehensive of every campaign mistake first-time candidates can make, this guide does represent some of the most common mistakes made.
If you take away nothing else, please remember – do research before filing paperwork and don’t underestimate the amount of time needed in the fundraising department.
PS. Before you go, you may want to check out some additional free information for first-time candidates: Additional Reading for First Time Candidates
