subject: The Basics of a Political Campaign [print this page] Campaigning for a political position or running for office is a very hectic and busy time for a politician. After all, it is the most crucial time of his or her career. Also, it is also one of the most frantic and exciting times in any public relations officer's career. Many an aspiring politician would have to work as a public relations officer or a speech writer or do whatever he can to help his party win in a campaign in order to know what it is really like and discover what goes on behind the glamour of the speeches and rallies and the flashing lights.
Most of the work and considerably the most difficult part involved in campaigning fall under the task of obtaining funds for the candidate. This involves calling up key players in industry, culture and politics; generally anyone who has clout in whatever field or industry he or she is involved in and also has money (although the two requirements are rarely separate, if ever). The most common tactic used by campaigners is organizing lavish dinners and parties that the patrons could attend to and mingle with the other elites of the city. Seats for tables usually amount to tens of thousands of dollars and the patron knowingly contributes to the campaign with the understanding that the candidate will be supporting his or her views on the political spectrum.
With the funds secured for the campaign, other tasks are then put into motion like press releases, promotional events, printing of campaign materials and the actual campaign tour itself.
While in the road, custom novelties can be used and distributed for campaigning like promotional keychains, custom fridge magnets, personalized buttons, printed tee shirts, grocery bags, caps and hats, basically anything that may be useful to other people while still having the space to bear the candidate's name and picture would work. For example, customized keychains and fridge magnets would depict the candidate and the party he is running with, as well as the party slogan or motto.
In the run up to the election itself, the entire team will be holding their breath as the votes are tallied showing the culmination of all their hard work. Not much left can be done at this stage of the campaign as votes are already in and are being counted but barely anyone can relax as the tension of watching the counting of votes can be nerve wracking.
In the end, win or loss, the experience of being able to participate in a political campaign will bolster the chances of an aspiring politician as through the course of the campaign, he or she will be able to meet and make connections with the key players of the political game and can then use these connections in the future when the time comes for him to run for office if it ever arrives at all.
