Are you ready for the 2016 presidential race? The frontrunner’s got your vote, right? Well… yes and no. Hillary Clinton is going all-in on her presidential bid, but other candidates have their own ideas about what it takes to become president. You can expect a lot of different perspectives on how to go about running for office and even worse, who should run for office. Here are five key takeaways from the third season of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” that will help you get ready for the campaign:
Get to know your voters
In the third season of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” Will (Will Yun-Fat) and James (Kevin Spacey) are best friends who, together, became nationally famous for their hilarious YouTube videos. In this season, Will, who is 31, became the first openly gay former totally disabled athlete to run for office. In addition, Will won the first-ever Cyber Award for his efforts in computer security. This year, in the third season, Will returns to “Curb Your Enthusiasm” as Will, who is also 33, the first openly gay former Totally Disabled athlete to run for office.
Hold debates
In the days before the Internet, the presidential race was something you only dreamed of. In fact, until the Second Amendment was added to the Constitution in 18the very concept of presidential debate was in vogue. During the Second Amendment, people opposed presidents Clinton and Republican John McCain hosting town-hall-style events to discuss the future of the country. In fact, the idea of adjourning the presidet and discussing current events instead sent the country tumbling into madness. However, with the advent of the Internet and social media, the debate has become more like a walk in the park.
Don’t be afraid to ask tough questions
This may seem obvious, but it’s also what keeps so many people from running for office. People don’t have the right answers to tough questions. You have to ask, for example, what is the best way to fund health care for all, and you’ll get nowhere with an answer that’s too complex or nuanced. People are naturally going to ask, “Why is there a national debt?” “Is it necessary to protect your investments?” “Is it wrong to call someone a derogatory name?” “Why is there such a difference between a Democrat and a Republican?” Tackling these types of questions takes a much more confrontational approach, and you won’t have as much success running for office unless you handle questions like these the right way.
Go big or go home
In terms of political opportunity, the presidential race is definitely a three-horse race between Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, and Bernie Sanders. However, there is one race that has the potential to actually be a three-horse race and much of the remaining presidential races are fighting or waiting for the result. This may sound like a bold statement, but remember, this is the same country that saw the “Purge” and “Salvation by the Grep” and “Inauguration Day” as they saw possible futures for the country. This is what happens when you allow a minority of your country to live so close to the surface that they are immediately recognizable as the other two candidates? That’s what’s happening in the race for the White House this year.
Stay in touch with your base
If you want to campaign for president, you’re going to have to stay in touch with your base. Not only does it take a small group of people to impact the national conversation, but it also takes the folks you’re trying to get involved with your side of the conversation. You can’t just walk into a room and say, “I’m the next President of the United States.” You have to do it the way that you would a family or a club that you’re a part of. This means finding the right people in your social network to start sending out the right messages. You can’t just send out an email and hope that someone opens it up to the entire world. You have to use the right social media platforms to reach your intended audience.
Keep fighting the battle for millennials
Millennials are going to be the deciding vote in the race for the White House. They are going to decide if Donald Trump is the next president or if Hillary Clinton is. It’s impossible to know for sure, but we do know that one of the things that millennials care about the most is change. They want a more open and accessible government, more jobs, and more opportunities for themselves than ever before. It’s also easy for millennials to forget about the mistakes of their parents, who are almost always front-and-center in their minds. If your job is to get these millennials to wake up and realize how much better things could be, you’re in trouble. Get them involved in the campaign and they will be yours for the leadership role until the next generation.
Final thoughts
In order to run for president, you first have to become the next president of the United States. You can’t just sit down and look at the numbers and assume that you will do very well in the general election. You have to actively work to get in contact with the people that are going to cast their votes for you in the election and help shape the conversation in their own way.
