Introduction

The book begins by sharing the author’s personal account of how she came to run for state representative. It describes her journey from a school teacher and farm wife to a state representative sharing how she received the call to run for public office and how God gave her the tools she needed from God’s Word and the advice of others to successfully campaign. It lays the groundwork for the remainder of the book and provides hope that God will be faithful to them, as well.

Chapter 1 - The First Politician

Absalom was motivated, dedicated, and shrewd. He utilized time-tested campaign strategies to unseat an incumbent and was successful, for a time. Candidates can learn from both the proven strategies and the reasons his efforts ultimately failed. The time-tested campaign strategies he used include ten vital steps: make a plan; look the part; surround yourself with volunteer partners; go meet the people; target voters; have a group with you in parades; ask questions, affirm concerns, then present your message; define the message by presenting the problem then sharing your solution; connecting with voters, and having a humble attitude. Today’s candidates can do the same. A campaign plan questionnaire and a campaign plan outline help them get started.

Chapter 2 – Look the Part

First impressions count. Image specialists tell us that people size us up in the first three seconds of contact. As Christians we want to be ourselves, but our best selves. Practical tips are provided for men and women on how to successfully dress for campaigning. Attention should be given to polishing the inside as well as the outside. Since the eyes are the lamp of the body, candidates need to ensure their eyes reflect the Father’s love because there’s no greater image than that.

Chapter 3 – Putting Together Your Team

Volunteers are the basic foundation of all initiatives whether you are David fighting armies, Absalom campaigning, Noah building an ark, or Jesus changing the world through his disciples. This chapter discusses the benefits of, jobs for, and ways to secure volunteers. The genius of Nehemiah is used as well as personal accounts to show how this can be done. Organizational models are outlined along with tips for working with volunteers to keep them motivated and embraced as true partners in this cause.

Chapter 4 – Developing Your Message

Campaigns entail defining a message and finding a way to communicate it. Absalom developed his campaign message after seeing injustice under David’s rule and listening to the people. Today’s candidates should develop their campaign message the same way: through observing issues of importance in their local community and by visiting with the people. A sample phone script provides a way to survey area voters to determine the ‘hot’ issues. Examples are given for primary and secondary issues and action items for various races. Fill-in-the-blank boxes are provided to allow readers the opportunity to record the issues important to them along with a one-sentence statement of why they are running for office.

Chapter 5 – Sharing Your Message

The model for a basic campaign speech that was given by Absalom is still used today: know your audience, affirm their concerns, state the problem, and provide solutions to the problem. Guidelines for giving an effective speech are shared along with promises from Scripture which give speaking guidance and hope. After applying the practical principles found in this chapter readers will be able to echo the words of David, “My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the utterance from my heart will give understanding.” (Psalm 49:3—NIV)

Chapter 7 – Presenting your Message through Printed Materials

Campaigns can be destroyed for lack of knowledge. It is vital that voters be given accurate, timely information. This can be done through printed materials such as campaign push cards, brochures, and direct mail pieces. Quality pictures are essential to all printed materials and must be secured first. Suggestions are provided on how to design these campaign pieces and examples are provided in the Appendix.

Chapter 8 – Presenting Your Message through Earned and Paid Media

Another common way to convey campaign messages is through newspaper and broadcast media. Mark Twain advised, “Never argue with someone who buys ink by the barrel.” Developing good relations with the media is wise and should be a part of a candidate’s strategy. A sample press release, tips for successfully navigating newspaper and television interviews, and practical information on newspaper, radio, television, and cable advertising give candidates the tools they need to communicate a powerful campaign message.

Chapter 9 – Presenting Your Message through the Internet

Today’s candidates enjoy both the challenges and the unlimited potential of a new avenue to convey their message and to garner support: the Internet. Many voters expect to get information by visiting a web site, reading a blog, receiving an e-mail, watching an on-line video, text messaging their friends, or listening to a podcast. This chapter helps candidates enter the cyber world by providing the steps necessary to establish and utilize these cutting edge mediums for conveying campaign messages.

Chapter 10 – Targeting your voters

Absalom targeted the voters as they came into the city. He determined if they were from Israel before presenting his campaign message. Today’s candidates wisely do the same by determining who the registered voters are in their district and targeting them with campaign messages. Targeting strategies and how-to examples are given for reaching the most voters. Through utilizing the list development tactics and phone bank script provided, candidates will be able to hit the mark and secure the prize on Election Day.

Chapter 11 – Go Meet the People—Door to Door

For people to vote for you, they have to know you. Absalom went to the people, shared his message, and won over their hearts. Meeting the people remains one of the most vital parts of any campaign. Going door-to-door is the predominate method of connecting with voters. This chapter takes the mystery out of the effort by providing practical tips so candidates can make the most of this opportunity. Personal stories from the author’s campaign experience bring the points to life.

Chapter 12 – Go Meet the People—Events and Parades

Another beneficial way to meet the voters is through attending events and parades. Through the various barbeques, fish fries, business expos, and community parades candidates have a chance to get to know the community. There are right ways and wrong ways to navigate these opportunities. This chapter highlights the right ways by giving tips and sharing personal stories.

Chapter 13 – Fundraising

Fundraising is an essential part of any political campaign. Securing contributions provides an opportunity to invite others to partner with an important endeavor and to see God work. God will supply all our needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). Whom He calls, He enables. Various sources of financial support, fundraising methods, and insights from God’s Word fill this chapter with practical guidance on how to raise funds effectively and ethically. Printed examples of contribution envelopes, closing statements for letters, and personal stories provide candidates with winning methods to fund their campaigns.

Chapter 14 –In the Trenches Part 1 –Offensive and Defensive Strategies

Battles involve offensive and defensive plans. Candidates must get in the trenches and embrace wise strategies in order to win. God uses these times to test us, mold us, and grow us. Offensive strategies differ depending upon the type of race a candidate is in: open seat, incumbent, or challenger. Steps and concrete examples are given for various scenarios including how to inoculate oneself from attack and how to respond to offensive strikes. Biblical truths are shared along with real-world examples so, when the smoke clears on Election Day, the candidate will be found standing victorious.

Chapter 15 –In the Trenches Part 2 –Forums and Debates

Candidate forums and political debates offer candidates the opportunity to contrast themselves from their opponent. Preparation, practice, and prayer enable candidates to look professional and to win voters. The words used and the way they are delivered make a difference. With the tips provided, candidates will be able to avoid the potential pitfalls and make the most of this important campaign opportunity.

Chapter 16 – Get out the Vote

It does not matter how many people a candidate meets. What matters is getting them out to cast a vote on their behalf on Election Day. Strategies for getting out the vote during the final weeks of the campaign are outlined in detail including distributing yard signs, reaching out to absentee voters, recruiting supporters to send reminder postcards, advertising in newspapers, radio, and television, sending direct mail, utilizing the Internet, and mounting a phone campaign to identify voters and get them out to vote. By employing these vital tactics, candidates can reap a harvest if they do not give up.

Chapter 17 –Election Day

The race is almost done, but Election Day is not the time to relax. It is the final opportunity to convey the campaign message and get supporters out to vote through signage at the polls, personal contact with voters, providing rides to the polls, phone calls, and Election Day literature drops. Sample phone scripts and door reminders are provided to help bring out the most voters. After the polls close, candidates should remember to thank God and their family, win or lose. God has a plan for everyone’s lives and will use us for His glory if we “Face the Worst, Expect the Best, Do the Most, and Leave the Rest”—Clarence Forsberg.