12 Data Points Political Candidates Must Know by Heart
Running for political office is no small undertaking. In the excitement of launching a campaign, many candidates overlook the basics.
Running for political office is no small undertaking. In the excitement of launching a campaign, many candidates overlook the basics.
This article highlights twelve objective and subjective indicators (or data points) that candidates can use to improve their likelihood of success.
The twelve data points fall into one of five categories: District, Money, Time, People, and Knowledge.
Category 1: District – The past is usually a reliable predictor of the future.
Districts vary in size depending on the level of office being sought: local, state, or federal. But, more important than geography, is understanding who lives and votes within the district. The first three data points can help candidates first understand district “composition”:
It is also important to know whether a district leans towards or is dominated by a particular party. High primary turnout and/or large average margins of victory by a specific party suggest more voters from that party reside within the district. This also serves notice to candidates from the opposite party that winning in that district might prove difficult.
Category 2: Money – Politics is not cheap.
The common denominator across every campaign is Money. The following three data points can help candidates forecast what will be required financially:
Challenger candidates often need to raise more money than their incumbent opponents to overcome two assumed disadvantages: (i) name identification, and (ii) voter turnout.
Category 3: Time – There are only 24 hours in a day.
Raising money and managing Time are the two most important factors within a candidate’s control. The following data points can help candidates manage their time efficiently:
Also, someone needs to be the “bad guy.” Candidates should task one person with the sole responsibility of holding them accountable for accomplishing tasks.
Category 4: People – HELP WANTED!
Unless they are alone on a desert island, candidates need help from otherPeople. The following data points indicate whether a candidate has the requisite supporters needed to survive a long campaign:
Only candidates who are recruited can rely on third party resources for providing volunteers, staff, etc. As such, family and friends are central to the success of the majority of campaigns.
Bonus tip: to learn quickly many of the data points listed so far, candidates should start by talking with other candidates, specifically those who ran for the same office previously. There is no substitute for experience – and certainly no need to try and reinvent the wheel.
Category 5: Knowledge – Is it meant to be?
The final category is Knowledge, and it boils down to a single data point:
This post was adapted for use from LocalVictory.com.
What do you think? Leave a comment or tweet me @AnnieMDance
...................................................................................................................................
Are you or someone you know in need of political campaign/email marketing/social media/PR/other help? Please email me, and let's connect on Linkedin, and follow me on Twitter. I'm available for full-time or freelance work.
This article highlights twelve objective and subjective indicators (or data points) that candidates can use to improve their likelihood of success.
The twelve data points fall into one of five categories: District, Money, Time, People, and Knowledge.
Category 1: District – The past is usually a reliable predictor of the future.
Districts vary in size depending on the level of office being sought: local, state, or federal. But, more important than geography, is understanding who lives and votes within the district. The first three data points can help candidates first understand district “composition”:
- What is the average voter turnout, per party, in the Primary?
- What is the average voter turnout in the General?
- What is the average margin of victory?
It is also important to know whether a district leans towards or is dominated by a particular party. High primary turnout and/or large average margins of victory by a specific party suggest more voters from that party reside within the district. This also serves notice to candidates from the opposite party that winning in that district might prove difficult.
Category 2: Money – Politics is not cheap.
The common denominator across every campaign is Money. The following three data points can help candidates forecast what will be required financially:
- How much money did previous candidates for the same office raise andspend?
- Does the candidate have access to funds?
- Who is the candidate facing: an incumbent or a challenger?
Challenger candidates often need to raise more money than their incumbent opponents to overcome two assumed disadvantages: (i) name identification, and (ii) voter turnout.
Category 3: Time – There are only 24 hours in a day.
Raising money and managing Time are the two most important factors within a candidate’s control. The following data points can help candidates manage their time efficiently:
- How much time can the candidate dedicate per day? per week? per weekend?
- Who will hold the candidate accountable?
Also, someone needs to be the “bad guy.” Candidates should task one person with the sole responsibility of holding them accountable for accomplishing tasks.
Category 4: People – HELP WANTED!
Unless they are alone on a desert island, candidates need help from otherPeople. The following data points indicate whether a candidate has the requisite supporters needed to survive a long campaign:
- Did the candidate receive his/her significant other’s blessing to run?
- Does the candidate have friends who will help for free?
- Was the candidate recruited or did s/he decide to run independently?
Only candidates who are recruited can rely on third party resources for providing volunteers, staff, etc. As such, family and friends are central to the success of the majority of campaigns.
Bonus tip: to learn quickly many of the data points listed so far, candidates should start by talking with other candidates, specifically those who ran for the same office previously. There is no substitute for experience – and certainly no need to try and reinvent the wheel.
Category 5: Knowledge – Is it meant to be?
The final category is Knowledge, and it boils down to a single data point:
- Is the candidate prepared personally to seek public office?
- Are you motivated by the “right” reasons?
- Are you an effective communicator one-on-one? in public settings?
- Do you like being around a lot of people you do not know?
- Do you have any skeletons in your closet?
- Can you remain positive even if you are criticised publicly?
- Will you be okay if you lose? What if you lose badly?
This post was adapted for use from LocalVictory.com.
What do you think? Leave a comment or tweet me @AnnieMDance
...................................................................................................................................
Are you or someone you know in need of political campaign/email marketing/social media/PR/other help? Please email me, and let's connect on Linkedin, and follow me on Twitter. I'm available for full-time or freelance work.