There is no way around this. You have to be a tried-and-true American. And it helps if you’re an American with a squeaky clean criminal record, too.
You’ll need a nice suit for your more important conventions and meetings. Then, when you’re meeting with the townsfolk, men you’ll need to bust out that pair of pressed khakis and long-sleeved, white, button-down shirt. Bring your best business casual wear. You will be rolling up your sleeves and digging into your best speeches on how you can help America! Work on that smile. It needs to say, “You! Yes, you. I’m doing all of this for YOU because I CARE. " Does your smile say that? When your smile says it, does your body agree?
Get yourself into uncomfortable situations. After all, you’re gonna be getting some heat – you need to know how to handle the kitchen. The last thing you want is to be a second-rate version of James Clapper, rubbing your forehead nervously while you tell the world the NSA doesn’t follow around civilians. That’ll lose you credit that took you years to establish. Think in congruency. You know that one politician (one here meaning “dozens”) that says something like, “I’m sincerely receptive to a dialogue with the young people,” all the while shaking his finger or his fist at the audience? Neither are things you shouldn’t do alone – they’re just obvious tells when combined. So get in the mirror and monitor not just your face, but your entire body.
Your other option is to attract significant favorable notice from the news media, party officials, prospective campaign strategists, and donors. How you do it is up to you. But you may want to start with this next point:
Don’t be disheartened if you can’t get the attention of a lot of people right away. These things take time. Plenty of other folks have gotten their names on the ballot with only a handful of backers. Bradford Lyttle ran in 2008 and received 111 votes. Surely you know 111 people. Jonathan E. Allen ran to the tune of 482 votes. The more the merrier, definitely – but less won’t keep you from running. P. S. Do NOT make a TikTok publicly humiliating a group of freshmen for public display of affection.
You’ll have to keep the FEC updated with financial reports on income, personal spending, and debt settlements for the entirety of your campaign. If you can, hire someone now to do this for you. You’ll be too busy wining and dining, schmoozing and boozing, and meeting and greeting to balance receipts.
Each state is different. You must contact each state’s Secretary of State for the forms needed to be listed. Getting signatures and support across the state is the goal. As always, there’s a website to help you get started with that, too. [6] X Research source
Assemble a team of ground workers. They’ll go knocking door-to-door, spreading the good news of your name and getting a feel for the area. Do this in as many metropolitan areas as possible to feel out the competition and the areas you may need to concentrate on for your campaign.
Design t-shirts, car magnets, sandwich boards, yard signs, and bumper stickers all with your name and/or catchphrase. Ask local establishments if you can put flyers in their windows (or if they can name a product after you (at least temporarily)). Send these out to your friends on the opposite coast and have them distribute them there. Go virtual! Start a YouTube channel and get a website or blog. Get an account for your campaign on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. How else will you reach the newest generation of voters?
If you like something or think it needs to be changed (for example: humanitarian aid to foreign countries), have it all planned out. What party are you aligned with? Do you support their generic stance on all issues? Where do you fall on the liberal/conservative scale? Make these beliefs clear on your blog, your social networking accounts, and to your friends and family. The more people who can explain you for you, the better.
It’s a good idea if you actually believe what you’re putting out there. It’ll be much easier to remain consistent and not get caught switching sides or dilly-dallying on an issue. If you believe something the public doesn’t want to hear, quite frankly, good luck.
You may want to start with the early caucus states like Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. These states can give you an early lead that is hard to catch up in the long run. They’ll also give you a boost in being considered for the party nomination. Be ready to travel. If it wasn’t already clear, you’ll need to quit your job. You’ll be racking up those miles daily, so load up on Dramamine, deodorant, and sign up for a Premier Member card at your favorite chain of hotels. Campaigning requires vast amounts of money. Come up with an easy way to accept donations and to stay in touch with your initial backers. They’re your bread and butter for a long time coming.
Know what you believe and are advocating. What’s more, know what everyone else believes. Not only do you have to have you down, but you have to have your opponents and the world down too. Study precedents, current events, and all your competitors so you know what to expect when you get in the inquisition arena. If you come unprepared, the whole country will be watching your darting eyes and unsteady hands. Do the research on debating techniques while you’re at it. You need to be forceful but not a stick-in-the-mud, caring but not a pushover, and charismatic to boot.
Surround yourself with a sturdy support system before you get in too deep. They’ll be able to catch you when you fall. Running for President of the United States is an incredibly stressful endeavor and should not be taken lightly if for no other reason than your health. Generally, Americans likes a candidate they can relate to – at least a little. Keeping your feet on the ground and a good head on your shoulders will benefit you, come failure or victory.
