You, or someone you know, may contemplate running for office in the 2010 election.  Maybe they just want to become involved in political matters--more than just protests and rallies. This information is basic, but may point the way for those who have not looked into matters.

Foot in the Door:  Get Appointed
I knew a Republican county chairman for several years.  He asked if Iwould be interested in serving on a police board in the city next to ours.  Another time, I was offered the opportunity to fill the unexpired term of a city councilman in our city. I received these offers as I knew the chairman and he knew what I was about.

Sometimes, it is difficult for the county chairman to find persons to fill slots. First, they ask those they know. From there, the selection process gets harder. It would be a help to the chairman if they knew someone who was willing and able to serve.

Call your county party chairman and let them know you are interested in serving on boards or commissions.  They may just keep you in mind for some future appointment to see how you do.  But, expect them to ask you a lot of questions. They may want you to come talk to them to see you and how you will represent the party. They may even buy you lunch.

You can volunteer to fill an unexpired term for any vacancies that occur in elected positions.  You can get information about current precinct committeemen and contact details from the county clerk.  Maybe from the county Republican web site. If you find there is a vacancy for precinct committeeman in your district volunteer to fill that vacancy.  Once you are a precinct committeeman, you will become better known to the chairman. Any familiarity may lead to you filling a vacant spot in the party organization or various governmental jurisdictions. 

Foot in the Door:  Precinct Committeeman
Precinct committeeman is the easiest position to which you can be elected.  Because it is actually a "party" position, it is possible to hold this elected position while being elected to another post.  There is no salary.

Precinct committeemen vote on who the party will support in primary contests. They also vote on who will be the county chairman.  There are other party tasks.

As precinct committeeman, it is your job to go door-to-door and learn the political affiliation of each voter.  Your county clerk or the election commission may have a printout to help you save time.  You urge the citizens to register to vote. As  election day approaches, you ask if you can place a sign in their yard for the party's candidate.  Even closer to election day, you urge them to vote-for your candidate while they are about it.

You will likely be responsible for about 400-600 voters.  In precincts that are more dense, it could be substantially higher.
If you become precinct committeeman you might want to ask the county chairman about using block captains to assist you.  This would be especially important in very dense precincts.

Precinct committeeman is an important first step in politics. One can remain as committeeman or use it as a stepping stone to other opportunities.   It is often regarded as the most powerful position as the committeeman decides who is in or out of the various primary races and other decisions.

When I was 22, I was a Democrat-I didn't know any better. I decided to run for precinct committeeman.  When the incumbent learned of my plans, he asked me not to run.  He promised if I wouldn't that he would get me involved and introduce me to some major players in the party.  I sold out. He delivered.  I learned a lot.

My Democrat mentor taught me many things.  He had been elected to about every position but mayor, sheriff and governor. I was appointed to a county executive board with oversight for the local Office of Economic Opportunity.  I met the powers in the party.  I even saw my first RINO (that term didn't exist at the time) when I went into the wrong room in our meeting facility.  He was meeting with the most powerful Democrats.

I lost interest in political matters after I saw the director of the OEO office replaced twice in 18 months. The problem was usually embezzlement.  They were only replaced and not punished.  The capper was when I saw the party destroy the chances of a man who announced he would run for city attorney.  I didn't see anything wrong with him, but the "party" didn't want him in office.  So they started a whispering campaign.  It worked.  The targeted Democrat didn't win the primary as the chosen one for the party won. These and other things bothered me to the point that I didn't want to participate any longer.  I was young and naive. 

Get to Know Your County Chairman
Whether running for office or seeking a precinct committeeman position, it is important that you get to know your party's county chairman.

This person serves as county chairman but usually has a day job, too. I knew a party chairman who had been in that position for several years.  His day job was as an attorney for an important corporation.  He served on the board of directors of that company and on boards of charities and other organizations. While he was a powerful person, the general public wouldn't have recognized his name. He had been highly effective as county chairman. He was mostly responsible for two candidates becoming governor of our state.  

Once, I asked him why he never ran for public office when he had made it possible for at least two men to become governor. He replied, "better a king-maker than a king".   So, remember, these persons are potential king-makers.

When you visit with a county chairman in person, know that you are going to deal with a highly-skilled politician. One who actually can pull some strings for you.  But, in politics it is important to understand there is a quid pro quo.  You may receive a favor from someone, but you then owe them a political favor in return.

When talking or visiting with your county chairman conduct yourself as though you are in a job interview.  It doesn't matter if you are a close friend of this person.  This isn't the time to be friendly. This is politics.  You want to show you can be a good representative for the party.

Bottom line:  politics is networking. Your county chairman is a vital link to your political future. Get to know them.  If they are already a long-time friend, get to know them as your county chairman.  Friendship and politics are mutually exclusive. 

Run for Congress or State Legislature....but go to school for it.
No matter what position you choose, you can't expect to win by just announcing your candidacy.  There are many things to do even before you file.  There are many, many, things to do after you file.

The first thing to do is get educated in how to conduct a winning campaign. Leadership Institute is in Virginia and on the web. Check them out.  They have one-day seminars at low cost. They have various ways to help you be a successful candidate.  They are a conservative organization.  The institute even has a well-equipped television studio so you can see how you come across to voters.  

GoPac is an organization that works with Republican candidates.  Their web site has a free campaign checklist. There is also a list of questions candidates should expect to be asked.  They offer training and consulting services.

Check out both of these organizations. They are not the only ones, but are very well equipped to help candidates learn the ropes of campaigning.  Information is power-especially when running for office. 

Third Party or Tea Party Republican?
There is currently talk about third-party candidacies.  Even a third-party presidential candidate.  When campaigning for the presidency it would be suicide to run as a third-party candidate.  Congressional positions are nearly as risky. Third party victories for president are , historically, non-existent. 

Presidential Campaigns are a poor choice for third-party candidates. Theodore Roosevelt had huge name recognition, strong financing and, seemingly, the will of enough of the people.  Good grief, the Teddy Bear was even named for him. Still, when the campaign was under way he quickly learned he would not win.  Even having all he needed, he couldn't pull it off.

The Libertarian Party gets a few votes but is only a power when aligned with one of the major parties. Ross Perot had a lot of support but became a loon in the eyes of the general public.  Only die-hard supporters and volunteers stuck with him. So, Clinton was elected.  Just enough of Perot's people voted for him to keep GHW Bush out of a second term as Perot took a chunk of the Republican voters.  Democrats argue Gore would have beaten G W Bush but for Nader's Green Party that took enough votes in a close election to make a difference.

The Republicans and Democrats have political organizations.  They start at the precinct (in some cases, block) level and go all the way to national.  They are organized and organizing between elections.  Third party candidates and groups don't have that level of organization. They lack something else. 

The major parties are very well funded.  They have clout and contacts.  Running against one of the major parties is a fool's game.  It is simply better to beat the incumbent or other challengers in a primary and change the party from the inside when the general election is won.   Voters don't want to "waste their vote" by choosing a third-party candidate.  Donors don't want to waste their dollars on someone who will likely finish third. 

Even at the state level a third party candidacy is risky.  You have to overcome the state organizations of both major parties, their money and bloc of voters.  What do you offer that is so much better than one of the major candidates?   See, I just accidentally said "major" when thinking of Democrat and Republican candidates. What do you think happens in minds of voters?  Are you electable?  That is the million dollar question. There is no effective way to prove you are electable unless you have been previously elected to the same seat.  A catch 22.

There are many who want a conservative candidate. It should be a conservative running as a Republican.  A third party candidate, at any level, may not be regarded seriously.  While conservatives are wanted, they shouldn't be aligned with a different party.  Keep it simple and familiar for the voters.  When you can stick to issues and not have to explain your third party affiliation you stand a better chance. Soon as you have to explain the third party, you have lost the voter. 

Some want to run as a third party candidate to "make a statement".  That is absurd.  Why would anyone run and not try to win?  If you gain hundreds of votes when the other candidates gather thousands makes you look like a chump. A loser. Why not try for a lower-profile position?  School board or city council? There is no need to foul the waters by running as a third party candidate when it could cost a victory for someone who would do a pretty good job for the taxpaying voters.

Third parties are a fool's game. Like playing Russian Roulette with an automatic pistol. You already know the outcome will not be pretty.  So, why do it?

As I was concluding this item I heard of a straw poll in Florida for the prospective senate race. The poll showed the Democrats with 36% of the vote. Republicans got 32%.  A Tea Party candidate would get 23%.  The poll had no names for candidates, only party affiliation.   If this scenario played out, the Democrats would win the senate seat. But, if a Tea Party Republican was the candidate, they would likely defeat any Democrat. Such a candidate should attract both Republicans and tea party members.

If you are a serious conservative candidate, I recommend you run as a Tea Party Republican.  Doing so gives the advantage of using a state organization and their money in your campaign.  As a Tea Party Republican, you would use the tea party identity to attract conservatives, independents, Republicans and conservative Democrats.  I believe it would be a winning strategy.  It also has the benefit of being able to work like a third party once in office.  All you would need do is align with other Tea Party Republicans and conservatives to form, or join, a conservative caucus.

Don't be a third party candidate and waste your time.  Run as a Tea Party Republican.  Better hurry.  Skilled Republicans may steal the label.  They don't have to state they are a member of a tea party to gain the benefit of being associated with the tea party movement. Don't you want the winning edge before someone else grabs it?

Running on a Small Budget
Here's where tea partisans can help their candidate.

1        Tea party groups can increase the size of a crowd at newsworthy events.  The tea party groups that support you should 
           join to create a larger crowd.  When you show popular support and attract large crowds, you will gain notice by the
           media. They may not want to cover your candidacy, but they will know you are out there.  At some point, they will not 
           be able to ignore you.  Tea party groups can coordinate with other groups (taxpayer, conservative and patriot groups).

2        Tea party groups can distribute flyers, cards or other campaign materials.  Why not a flyer that hits the high points of an
           issue, then has space to list candidates endorsed by the tea party group?  How about a candidate comparison matrix?
           Like the ones you see on software boxes.  Compare yourself with the other candidates.  Include one row that says       
           something like "Endorsed by local tea party groups", with one check mark in your column. Zeroes in the others.

3        Tea partisans can be a great benefit at "town hall" meetings.  Some can carry signs that pertain to an issue the 
           candidate wants to raise.  Citizens should ask questions for which the candidate has planned answers and talking points.
           This takes a little coordination but can be highly effective.  This is a method used by Republicans, but especially the      
           Democrats. It helps win elections.

4        Get on local radio or television talk shows.   While on the air, some tea partisans can be outside with signs that say "Tea    
           partisans for (insert name here)".  The crowd will likely be mentioned on the air.  When asked if you prompted them to 
           show up, you can say something like "They make it to many of my events.  But, I'm not asking them to show up.  They 
           like my views that support our freedoms and smaller government.  For example, .............. ".  This may help assure 
           listeners or viewers you are a popular choice.  It reinforces that you are a good choice for those on the fence.

5        Create yard signs.  Tea partisans can distribute and place them.

6        Postcard campaign.  Encourage tea partisans to send postcards to their friends, relatives, neighbors and co-workers. 
         
7        Cookout campaign.  Tea partisans can stage neighborhood cookouts.  They should invite all the neighbors. Discuss the     
          constitution.  They can then mention they are a tea party member.  Show the movie "Tea Party, the documentary film." 
          Then, mention they should mention their group supports you for congress.  "Would you like to meet him?  I can get him
           to stop by and see you at your convenience".  

8        Whispering Campaign.  Tea partisans can mention they personally know the next congressman.  Then, mention your 
          name.  They can mention you have been working to gain the endorsement of your tea party group.  "This guy is right for 
          the job.  I'm going to vote for him so he can help straighten out the mess in Washington."  

9        Read and use this book.   "Guerilla Publicity" by J. Conrad Levinson and a couple other authors.

10        All these measures are low-cost.  Real budget stretchers.  They require time, work and coordination.  The book I 
          recommend will be helpful.   Any other book that discusses free publicity will provide a number of good ideas.  But, first, 
          check out Leadership Institute.  Plan your team and organization.  Canvass precinct committeemen to try winning their 
          support in the primary.