Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I'm curious about this book, but I'm wondering why three of the four reviews were posted from San Diego, why two of those three were by the same person, and why two of those three (not by the same person) were posted on the same day.

To post this review I have to give it some rating, so I'm giving it three stars which is the middle of the range, though I haven't read the book. I would just like to hear from more people who I can be confident HAVE actually read the book.

This book is great. It covers everything a political candidate needs to know about putting together a campaign. It was written by a real pro who knows elections from every angle. Ron Faucheux did a great service to people who want to run for office with this book.

Faucheux does a great job laying out the fine points of campaign strategy, message making, fundraising and campaign tactics from the standpoint of candidates. I gave the book to two novice candidates running for local office and they both loved it. Includes plenty of tips about little things you need to know if you want to run.

Faucheux's book is a great resource for new candidates. I gave two copies to friends who are running for local offices and they loved it. It covers all the essentials of running for public office and is a bargain at this price.