First Rule of Politics: Never lose your cool in public…
Campaign Rule #2: If you want help on the campaign trail and want voters to take your candidacy seriously, do not post pictures of yourself at the ballgame, beach or participating in any other leisurely pursuit. No volunteer is going to work harder than their candidate.
Campaign Rule #3: If they aren’t a registered 3/4 or 4/4 voter, or have a great sign location, you have no time for them until AFTER November 6th.
Campaign Rule #4: A debate without media coverage isn’t a debate…It’s a waste of your time!
Campaign Rule #5: When door knocking, always place your foot against the bottom of the screen door. Don’t trust the latch to keep the dogs in.
Campaign Rule #6: Never, ever, touch, or deface, your opponent’s campaign sign… For any reason… Ever.
Campaign Rule #7: When in a parade, if you got legs, you better be walking. Nothing says arrogant like riding. Nothing says humble like walking. This is why it is called, “Running for Office.”
Campaign Rule #8: If former Delegate Kelly Schulz didn’t put a picture on her campaign sign, why should you??? Since only your name is on the ballot, your name should take up the majority (2/3rds) of the sign. It should be left and right justified. Use contrasting colors. Just because it looks good (readable) on your palm card, doesn’t make it readable at 50 mph. It should be designed like a bumper sticker. If it doesn’t fit well, consider other sizes, like a 4×4 or 2×8. And signs go perpendicular to the road! See: Good Sign Bad Sign 101
Campaign Rule #9: Don’t be the type of candidate you say you are running against. As election day draws near, you may be encouraged to engage in questionable political activity. Ultimately, only you are responsible for statements or actions made by you, or on your behalf. False, misleading, hypocritical or disingenuous statements, literature, advertisements or robo calls created by others made in your name are your responsibility. You make the call. It is your name on the Authority Line. No campaign is worth losing your integrity or your reputation.
Campaign Rule #10: The Consession Call. Don’t be a sore loser, and more importantly, don’t be a sore winner. Truth is, there will be more candidates who will come up short on election night than not. Understand that you challenged the status quo, and for that, you (and your family) are owed a debt that will never be repaid and thanks that will never come. So make the call(s), or take the call(s), and be as gracious as you can possibly be. Remember, there’s always 2022…
GOOD SIGN BAD SIGN 