Key Steps for Progressive Candidates to Begin a Successful Campaign

"Politics the Wellstone Way" is a handbook for activists and candidates by Wellstone Action, who have trained many in the progressive movement. It honors the work of Paul and Sheila Wellstone, known for their progressive work in the U.S. Senate.

The book offers some simple yet crucial steps for starting a political campaign:

1. Look Within: A candidate needs to think about why they're running, their skills, the sacrifices they're ready to make, their public profile, their community relationships, and where they'll get their money. This tough but vital first step helps them figure out what they're bringing to the campaign and what hurdles they might face.

2. Study Up: A good campaigner needs to understand the political world. This means getting to grips with who the voters are, what issues matter, how voting has gone before, and the strengths and weaknesses of their rivals. Knowing these details can help shape a strategy for winning.

3. Get the Right People: Having the right team can make a world of difference. A top-notch campaign squad could include a manager, someone handling communication, a person organizing the fieldwork, and someone dealing with finance. It's crucial to have a team with a mix of skills, from planning strategies, communicating, raising funds, and managing volunteers.

4. Plan It Out: A campaign plan needs to be clear on its message, how to reach voters, what the timeline is, how much money is needed, and how to handle the press. This plan acts like a roadmap from the start to Election Day.

5. Craft the Message: A campaign needs a strong, clear message to connect with voters and share the candidate's vision. They need to show what they stand for, what they plan to do, and why they're a better choice than their opponent.

6. Fundraise: Campaigns cost money. A clear fundraising strategy is needed to pay for things like reaching out, advertising, and hiring staff. The fundraising plan needs to be clear on its budget, goals, funding sources, and schedule.

7. Make a Splash: Launching the campaign is about making a strong first impression. It needs careful planning to get the media's attention, involve potential supporters, and share the campaign's message.

The Wellstone Way is all about people and grassroots action, valuing the power of individuals to make change happen. So, at every step, a candidate should be engaging with the people, volunteers, and allies, and standing strong on their progressive values.