The Way to Campaign (First of Two Parts)

May 6, 2019 Opinion Sideglance

With a couple of days left in the campaign trail before the voters
trudge to the polling centers to cast their vote and elect a new set of leaders for the City of Baguio the political candidates and their supporters are scrambling left and right to scrounge for more voters to solicit their vote as a last ditch effort.

One wonders whether some candidates still have enough gas left in their tanks to accomplish their campaign task of reaching out to the
maximum number of voters and attempt to sway their minds and
emotions in their favor given that only about a week is left before campaigning will end and the voting begins.

Some would say that those who were able to campaign early, say two years before the elections albeit surreptitiously, would enjoy a distinct advantage and edge over their rivals.

This is because the presumption is that since they started earlier they were able to cover a lot more ground and were thus able to meet with more people than those who would begin to campaign only during the period provided by law.

There might be some truth to that kind of campaign strategy and in fact this is actually the advantage enjoyed by those who won in the
elections because they would have to regularly interact with the public whom they serve.

But for those who have yet to taste the victory of an electoral win and be voted into office by voters at large for the first time a much more refined campaign strategy should be pursued to exponentially
increase their chances of winning in the elections.

For those desiring to run for public office for the first time here are some unsolicited tips that might be worth considering in the overall strategy to win in the elections.

Let us adopt the campaign strategy that the early bird will get the worm. This means starting your campaign to be voted into office at least two and a half years before the next elections.

Remember that most electoral positions have a three year term.
By adopting an early campaign strategy the following sub-strategies can be implemented, especially for those first timers.

One, establish a computerized database of all voters in the entire City identified by name, age, sex, address, landline or mobile
numbers.

Next is to come up with a computerized list of the voters, this time in each of the barangays in the City. Afterwards study the list and start looking up those whom you personally or closely know either because they are your blood or filial relatives, close or intimate friends, subordinates or co-employees, close and distant acquaintances, and/or partners in business or some other activity or venture.

When you have all this sorted out the next step is to select the barangay where you reside and identify all those residents who you personally know and those who you are familiar with and reach out to them.

Tell them you are entertaining the possibility of running in public office and you need their honest opinion whether this is possible. (end of part I)