Do you think you have what it takes to be the next President of the United States? Have you been planning your Keynote Address for years? Here you will find the precise instructions to facilitate your way to the White House.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Requirements
Step 1. You must be at least 35 years old and born in the United States
You must also have lived in the country for at least 14 years to be a candidate for President. (If you're not 35 yet, you can start planning ahead.)
There are no exceptions here. No, Barack Obama was not born in Kenya. You must be a true native-born American. And being an American with no criminal record will also help
Step 2. You must have the proper appearance
Okay, we can argue about materialism and American vanity later, but the point is, generally the best-looking (and tallest) candidates win. So go and work on your appearance. You have the best of excuses to do it.
- You will need a good quality suit or two and ties (red or blue) for the most important meetings and conventions. Then when you meet up with the townspeople, you'll need to turn to those classic well-pressed khaki pants and a white button-up shirt. You can save the collars; you'll have to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty anyway.
- Work on your smile. Your smile should mean "I am doing all this for YOU, because I CARE YOU". Do you think your smile currently reflects that? And, if so, the rest of your body as well?
Step 3. Perfect your body language
From this point on, you are already a politician. Whether or not you believe what you say, you must say it in a reasonable and convincing way. You can use notes to avoid being wrong in what you say, but it is important that the body does not betray you.
- Look for situations outside of your comfort zone. After all, you will find yourself in uncomfortable situations, and it is important that you know how to deal with them. You don't want to be a second-rate version of James Clapper, nervously rubbing your forehead while telling everyone that the National Security Agency does not monitor citizens. This way you will lose the credibility that it will have taken you years to build.
- Reason consistently. Do you know a politician who says "I am sincerely open to dialogue with young people" while waving his forefinger or fist at the audience? It is important to know how to combine speech with body language. So stand in front of the mirror and control not only the movements of your face, but also those of your entire body.
Step 4. Start working on your resume
In the last 70 years, all the candidates of the main political parties have been former members of the Senate, governors, vice presidents or five-star generals. If you work preparing hamburgers, it is better that you start looking for a job more related to administration.
Another option is to seek ways to attract favorable attention from the media, political party officials, potential campaign strategists, and sponsors. How to do it is up to you, but a good starting point is the following:
Step 5. Make friends
Many, many friends. Especially friends with money. It is true that strength is in numbers, but you should also look for people who can help you travel the country when campaigning.
Don't be disappointed if you can't get a lot of attention right away. These things take time. Many others have managed to get their names on the ballot with the support of a few people. Bradford Lyttle was a candidate in 2008 and received 111 votes. Jonathan E. Allen reached the sum of 482 votes. The more support you get the better, of course, but the number of people will not prevent you from applying
Method 2 of 4: Comply with the red tape
Step 1. Register as an official candidate
If you spend or manage to raise over $ 5,000 dollars for your cause, you are automatically considered a candidate by the Federal Elections Commission (or FEC, for the English Federal Elections Commission). You can go to their website and start the registration process.
You must send updates to the FEC on your financial income, personal expenses and agreements for debt payments throughout the campaign. If you can, hire someone to do this for you. You will be too busy at dinners, meetings, conventions and banquets to keep score
Step 2. Enter your name on the ballot
Do it in all 50 states of the country. This can be difficult and expensive, but think that this may be the only time you are running for President, so it is best to do it big. Think of it as a way to invest in yourself.
Every state is different. You must contact the Secretary of State in each of the states to fill out the respective applications to register. Another goal is to get signatures and support in every state. You can find all the information on the Federal Elections Commission website
Step 3. Create a presidential scouting committee
Typically, this is a non-profit organization that will investigate whether your campaign is effective. Choose a vice president to delegate the respective tasks. Create a website explaining what you plan to do, your views, and your reasons for applying. Make sure it's honest and compelling. Enter your name in opinion polls. In other words, start getting the word out.
Build a team of field workers. They will go door to door spreading the word about your candidacy and testing ground. Form a team in as many metropolitan areas as you can to test out the competition and measure the areas you should focus on during your campaign
Method 3 of 4: Get to work
Step 1. Establish your work rate
Now that you are an official candidate, and your committee has concluded that "Yes, believe it or not, 'we can' do this", it is time to spread the word. And it's also time to make friends at print and graphic design shops (if you don't already have them) and start fawning over your friends and family to help spread your logo for the next 2 years.
- Design t-shirts, magnets, chalkboards, signs, and stickers with your name or slogan. Ask local merchants to put your campaign flyers in their windows (or name one of their products after you, at least temporarily). Send these products to your friends in other cities to help you distribute them there.
- Establish a presence on the Internet. Open a channel on YouTube and create a website or blog. Create an account of your campaign on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. How else do you intend to capture the vote of the new generation of voters?
Step 2. Keep a very clear perspective on current affairs
When people start to hear your name, they will ask "Who is he / she? What are their proposals? Are they serious?" Yes, your candidacy is "serious" and you have the skills to prove it.
- If there is something that you do not like or that you think should be changed (for example, humanitarian aid to other countries) you should include it in your plans) With which party will you identify? Do you agree with their principles and perspectives on various topics? How far on the liberal / conservative scale are you?
- Clearly express these beliefs on your blog, your social media accounts, and let your family and friends know. The more people who can explain what you represent, the better.
Step 3. Create a campaign platform
What are your goals? Reduce taxes? Reduce poverty? Create jobs? Better quality of education? Think about all the important issues that dominated past elections and ask yourself what changes can you promise?
It is a good idea to truly believe in what you are promising. It will be much easier to be consistent and not be criticized for switching sides on the important issues. If you believe something that the public is not interested in at all, honestly, you will need a lot of luck
Method 4 of 4: Work to Win
Step 1. Start your campaign
With the help of your communications team, find a way to start spreading your name. Some options are advertisements in the press, on television, on the Internet, etc. Write speeches and organize fundraising events. Be creative.
- You want to start with the "white" states like Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. These states can give you an early advantage that is harder to beat down the road. You can also help yourself to be nominated as an official candidate of a party.
- You must be ready to travel. If you were still not clear about it, you should quit your job. You will travel many kilometers daily, so stock up on Dramamine, deodorant and sign up for a premium membership card from a hotel chain.
- Campaigns require a lot of money. You should find an easy way to accept donations and keep in touch with your initial sponsors. They will be the ones to accompany you along the way.
Step 2. Exercise your debating skills
Hopefully, you have been speaking in public for several months now, so you will surely know the basics. But when it's your turn to stand under the lights and in front of the cameras, the kindness ends. Start practicing as soon as possible, I assure you that you will need it.
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Know your beliefs and what you stand for. But more importantly, know the beliefs of others. You should not only know yourself, but also people and especially your opponents. Study the background, current affairs, and all your competitors, so you know what to expect from them when debating. If you do not arrive well prepared, the whole country will see you faltering.
Research debating techniques. You must have presence without being bossy, be sensitive without seeming weak, and develop a lot of charisma
Step 3. Prepare for anything
You have spent a lot of time and money on your campaign, and you are on the home stretch. If you are disputing with someone from the Republican or Democratic party, prepare for anything. Failure may be inevitable.
- Surround yourself with supportive people before you dive too deep. They will be the ones to help you when you fall. Running for President of the United States is an incredibly stressful undertaking, and should not be taken lightly as it will have repercussions on your health.
- Americans typically prefer candidates in whom they reflect themselves, at least a little. Being realistic and smart will benefit you, whether you win or lose.
Advice
- If you think you have what it takes and that you can truly do something good for the country, don't give up.
- Don't be rude or attack other candidates. It doesn't look good to the public.
- Practice your signature. Ugly autographs don't look good either.
- Create a slogan that grabs people's attention. Something that reflects your motivations in a nutshell.
- It will help you A LOT to have a college degree in political science or law. People will be more confident that you know what you are talking about.