Home | Careers & Education | Career Skills | How to Run for Office: Pressures Candidates Face

What are the highs and lows of running for election?

Currently 4.0/5 Stars.
1
2
3
4
5

To properly view this site, javascript must be enabled and Flash version 9 or higher must be installed.
Get the latest Flash player

View All Videos In This Series

Transcripts

Host: What are the highs and lows of running for election?

Ron Faucheux: I don't think there is almost anything else you can do as an occupation that has higher highs and lower lows than being a political candidate. One minute somebody you are expecting to get a $500 campaign contribution from, gives you a $1000 contribution then you feel like you're master of the universe and the couple of hours later, you will find out that your cousin is passing out literature for your opponent and you are looking for Dr. Kawoki's phone number. So the highs and the lows are very wide and political candidates have to get used to that. There are often times things look like they are really going great, no way you can lose and then one thing will happen to change the dynamics, so political candidates have to be prepared for that rollercoaster.

Expert: Ron Faucheux

Ron Faucheux is one of America's top political and public affairs analysts. Contributor-at-Large for Campaigns & Elections magazine - a nonpartisan publication he previously published and edited - he writes a column on politics and public opinion. Currently head of government affairs for the American Institute of Architects, Dr. Faucheux is a former state legislator and cabinet secretary. He's the author More »