Democratic Candidates: What it takes
In the previous blog sharing my experience as a Democratic Candidate, I discussed why it was important for Democrats to run in every single race. Now I’ll share a little about what it really takes to become a candidate.
Bare-Bones Candidate
There is honor in simply putting throwing your hat in the ring. All you have to do is be eligible for the elected office, cough up a filing fee, and file by the deadline. This act alone will wake up any incumbent, get you invited to candidate forums, and clog your mailbox with flyers and catalogs of vendors of political products and services. And it requires no skills.
Serious Candidate
So why are there not more candidates? The combination of skills and characteristics needed in a serious candidate are fairly unique. First is a real call to public service, and as many of us who have tried to just mobilize volunteers know, this really narrows the field.
Next is a willingness to “stick your head up”. You become a target not just for your opponent and their supporters, but for many folks with their own agendas. A thick skin is an absolute must. You also forego much of your privacy for you and your family.
Public speaking skills are needed. As anyone who has watch more than 20 minutes of CSPAN can tell you, the quality of those skills vary, but you do need to address large groups of people and get your point across.
You must be determined. At every turn, there will be something that might discourage you. You have to be ready to soldier on.
You have to be able to prioritize. That means prioritizing time: Do you go to a “friendly event”, make fundraising calls, or knock on doors tonight? But also prioritize issues: You may feel strongly about the Iraq war, but if you are running for city council, you may want to highlight affordable housing instead.
Swallow your pride and ASK: for money, for time, and for votes. To mangle a phrase, if you don’t ask, you will not receive. If you are not willing to ask for the resources you need in the interest of the greater good, you will not be successful.
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How rare are candidates?
In the NC House 37, there are about 65000 registered voters. In 2006, there was not a primary for either myself or my opponent. That means only 2 people out of 65000 were interested enough to file and run.
In 2004, no Democrat ran for the NC House 37 seat. A Libertarian did run as a "bare bones" candidate. He got 15% of the vote.
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Ed Ridpath
www.EdRidpath.com
Thanks Ed
Your comments and experience are valuable. Do you know if there is an organized effort to make sure those 40 or so GOP legislators are not unopposed again in 2008? I agree that we need a Democrat in every race, every time. You just never know when the next Rep. David Arnold will stick his head up.
Organized effort.
Todd,
I think that Democrats are just waking up to the need to challenge every seat. I think with the 50 state/100 county strategy and the Regional directors for the state party, potential candidates have more resources and much more encouragement to run than ever.
There is common counter-argument about diluting resources - frankly, I don't buy it. Any serious campaign will actually create the resources needed, finding new activists and new donors, and getting even more out of the existing pool of people who care.enough to give their time and money.
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Ed Ridpath
www.EdRidpath.com
Diluting resources
is a BS argument. I think misdirected resources is a bigger problem. The DCCC spent millions on an unsuccessful challenge to a GOP incumbent in suburban Chicago in 2006. The Dem was a great candidate, but what a waste of resources. If they had spent a couple million less there and split it among some other races (cough - NC-08 - cough), we could have won more seats. After all, a NC seat counts the same as a IL seat, right?
In a similar way, it seems like a huge waste of money for legislative candidates to run TV ads when any one TV market includes dozens of house and senate seats. That $1,000 TV ad in Raleigh could pay for an entire campaign in Avery or Iredell county.
And I agree that every candidate also brings their own momentum, money, and volunteers to the race, which helps the party as a whole in other races.
One way
to include tv and save money, would be to develop state level specific ads that the party could pay for on specific issues.
For instance, there could be an ad that every one could help finance on education funding under a Democratic legislature. Every incumbent democrat would benefit from the ad, and every challenger democrat would have something to build on, and it wouldnt involve a specific campaign wasting precious resources.
"Keep the Faith"
Thanks Ed
This is quickly becoming a must read series by you. I think your last line says it all. If you arent willing to ask, why should anyone else be willing to give?
I hope we can help you out a little(or a lot) in 08.
"Keep the Faith"
I was musing this morning over term limits
and I don't believe in them. For one thing, it limits the valuable "Statesmen" that sometimes emerge from the pack and we need the wisdom that comes from years of service in every field of endeavour but especially government.
Though I know there are all kinds of people who run for office with all types of skills, I was also thinking about "Leadership" and I have been around enough to know that I will never have that quality and that there are natural born leaders. When you factor in all the points that Ed makes here, it's a wonder that we ever find any at all.
Once you win, you then must govern.
Since I've been talking about candidates, I've cheated and not made reference to the what is needed to govern once elected. While there is some overlap, the set of skills and characteristics to govern effectively is different.
I like term limits for "executive" offices - we need to change out our leaders regularly. Representative offices (House, Senate, School Board. City Council) I'm inclined to think may serve longer.
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Ed Ridpath
www.EdRidpath.com
Agreed, Ed.
I was at a legislative event a few years ago when the issue of term limits for the Legislature was brought up. A few folks said what they thought, but I was most struck by what someone saw happen in Florida when they instituted Lege term limits ... she said in a few short years the unintended consequences became clear ... and horrendous ... the only people in Tallahassee who really understood how to manage, direct and navigate the legislative process were the lobbyists.
I understand what you're saying about Statesmen
and we need them.
but at the same time, we need to be able to develop some protections against anti-statesmen like Howard Coble who set themselves up in office and stay there forever, even when they've promised otherwise.
That's why I truly appreciate this series from Ed. Should be required reading for any one hoping to run, recruit, or grow candidates.
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Rec This Diary folks. Thanks.
One of the pitfalls of childhood is that one doesn't have to understand something to feel it. - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
oops ...
ok, Rec'd!
Thanks for the reminder Robert.
Hi Ed...I am a Candidate and I do agree with your assesment, but
I would like to add that there are intangilbe elements very connected to a desire to run. A desire and drive to serve is and should be critical to one's motivation.
There are many politicians who have survived on attributes not related to service or love of country. For example, Wealth, Celebrity, Family name, tradition etc., the results of which are evident and manifest today in our government. Not always good. (My goodness, just look at our two NC US Senators. How dida that happen?)
It is and rightly so, an honor and sacred privledge to serve as an elected official. The simple business approach to this is exatly what has gotten us to the place we are today in our US Congress; politization of virtually everything and polorization to a degree of causing gridlock and the inaffect by our representatives.
To simply find a person and say "Hey, you are qualified so you should run, is sustaining the status quo. Servants are driven to serve. Encourageing the selflessness of service and the potential of doing good and governing well on behalf of our country should be the motive.
I understand the "Facts of Life" in the Political world. FUnd raising, getting support and seeing the process through are essential to political survival, but what assures the greatest potential is the heart of the candidate.
Nice weather we're having ain't it.
Call to Serve
Agreed - the "call to serve" may be motivated by all those other interests you mention. The challenge to the voters and to our system of democracy is to help promote those with real interest in serving the people through effective government.
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Ed Ridpath
www.EdRidpath.com