Running for Office: The Strategies, Techniques and Messages Modern Political Candidates Need to Win Elections [Hardcover]

Ronald A. Faucheux (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 22, 2002

This is your first and last stop for everything you need to know about winning the political game in the modern world of expensive, competitive campaigning.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

As a candidate, elected official, political consultant, media analyst, editor, lawyer and educator, Ron Faucheux gained a unique perspective on politics and is one of the world's top experts on campaign strategy and elections.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 220 pages
• Publisher: M.Evans & Company (May 22, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590770102
• ISBN-13: 978-1590770108
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #85,730 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #71 in Books > Education & Reference > Law

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lists for the candidate to work through, February 21, 2005

By 

Mark Mills (Glen Rose, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Running for Office: The Strategies, Techniques and Messages Modern Political Candidates Need to Win Elections (Hardcover)

The book provides a long set of lists for the potential and declared candidate. There is no mention of getting along with your political party.

Decision to run:
1. Do I want the job?
2. Do I know what I want to do with the job?
3. Can I take the time?
Etc.

25 first steps:
1. Make a final, irrevocable decision
2. Determine the rationale for your candidacy
3. Get your resume in order
...
7. Raise seed money
8. Get professional help
...
10. Take a poll
Etc.

Elements of Campaign strategy
1. Position strategies (the issues)
2. Message sequence strategy (prepared sequence with desired emotional path)
Timing and intensity strategy (build intensity over time)
Mobilization strategy (rely on word-of-mouth)
Opportunity strategy (be opportunistic)

Crafting your message:
1. Do the demographics
2. Profile voters
3. Identify a winning coalition profile
Etc.

Art of attack:
Be believable, clear, logical, etc.

Estimating costs:
Raising money 1
Raising money 2
Raising money 3
Etc.

Spending money:
Hiring consultants
Buying media time
The perfect image
Slogans
Debates

And, Handy Tips for the Campaign Trail:
1. Don't let the bastards get you down
2. Always keep your cool
3. The goal is winning
Etc.

There isn't much use of anecdote. The book offers nothing but simple and direct advice.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource For The Modern Campaign!!!, February 12, 2006

By 

Kyle (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Running for Office: The Strategies, Techniques and Messages Modern Political Candidates Need to Win Elections (Hardcover)

Ron Faucheux does an excellent job of laying out what you need to know when you are running for office. You can be assured that every word in this book comes from working on over 100 campaigns.

This is a resource for the candidate, campaign manager, and staffer alike. All can use this book to help in the modern campaign.

Topics include: a checklist for before you announce, strategy, message, fundraising, voter contact, using consultants, debating, and more!

I think that every candidate and potential candidate should read this book early on. It gives valuable advice that helps in every step along the campaign trail.

Along with RUNNING FOR OFFICE, I suggest buying WINNING ELECTIONS also by Faucheux. These two books complement each other and will guide you through election season.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Decent book; geared toward big-money candidates with pre-existing connections, May 21, 2007

By 

Jason Seagraves (Saginaw, Michigan) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Running for Office: The Strategies, Techniques and Messages Modern Political Candidates Need to Win Elections (Hardcover)

When I ran for office in 2004, I purchased four or five how-to-run-a-campaign books, and while they all included some unique insights (this one included), RUNNING FOR OFFICE was easily the least helpful of the bunch. The worst aspect of this book is that it presupposes that you're going to be running a big-money campaign as a Democrat or Republican, and that you have wealthy friends and/or political connections. If that is the case, then do you really need this - or any - book? I would not discourage a potential candidate from purchasing and reading this book, but it should not be your first or only choice. There are much better how-to-run-for-office books out there. Check my other reviews.