Thursday, August 8, 2013

What all Voters Want to Know

The number one question all candidates must be able to answer is: "What will you do for me?"

This not likely to be the question the candidate is asked. And not the one most consultants tell you to be prepared for. You will hear "why are you running?" And you will be told not to say "Because it's a good time for me" or "because I want to move on to a new level of participation" or even (and most common), "because I want to give back to the community."

No, anyone who asks why you are running wants to know what your election is going to mean for him, that particular voter, how will voting for you make her life better, her taxes lower, her job prospects improved, her safety enhanced. 

And that's what you should be able to answer in thirty second or less.  

Some call it an "elevator speech" - how you can explain your campaign in the time you would spend riding in an elevator with a complete stranger.


So, why are you running?  And how will your election improve the lives of your constituents? Get ready with those elevator speeches early, practice them often, and make them sound, and be, sincere. The voters can spot a phony, and these days, they are ever more vigilant.

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