People say you're a dreamer. But you're not the only one. You and your motley crew of staff and volunteers belong to the few, the proud, the true believers who haven't given up on the political system. Your boss has big plans to change this country for the better. Now all you have to do is get him elected.

Electioneering has been around since the earliest days of America, when Jefferson got into a mud-slinging match with Adams. For a long time, though, nobody really cared about what went on behind the scenes. Even when polling technology popped up in the 1950s, most of the buzz focused on the candidates and campaigns themselves. 

Any information of the dark inner workings of the campaign management profession came in memoir form, until political consulting firm Baus And Ross (one of the first of its kind) literally wrote the book on it: "The winning strategy is to convince the voters that the issue is what the winner says it is, not what his opponents say it is." Why, B&R, you sly little foxes.

The 1970s brought something more than Star Wars and fab facial hair. Campaign managers gained more exposure with the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974, which snooped into election finances. Our unsung heroes got a new professional organization, The American Association of Political Consultants, or AAPC. (Okay, okay, the AAPC technically got started in 1969, but Burt's mustache said it was okay to include it in the "me decade.") 

It wasn't until the 1990s that campaign managers stepped out of the shadows to write bestsellers, voice opinions on current events, and influence pop culture. 

So what kind of person makes a good campaign manager? Chances are, you're a confident go-getter, with excellent social and organizational skills. You keep your promises, have a good eye for detail, and you know lots of people who can help you get the word out. Best of all, your candidate trusts you to bring him a win. 

That brings us to the next logical question—erm, how does one win an election? To start off, you'll need to keep clear lines of communication with staff and volunteers, and be on hand to back up your candidate at press junkets, schmoozing events, or if he or she runs out of toilet paper. Other duties include recruiting staff, organizing fundraising efforts, researching the opposition, promoting voter registration, and composing and administering surveys. 

Oh, and making sure you're following election law down to the fine print. Essentially, you are a Jack or Jill of all trades. Depending on the size of the campaign, you may control a horde of folks who specialize in these areas. Or, you might be wearing these hats yourself. But hey, you always could pull off a nice top hat.

Most campaign managers are organized hard-workers with a sense of loyalty. You also must look the part, so think twice before getting that face tattoo. As an effective campaign manager, you should be a take-charge sort, but not a bull in a china shop. If you stray too far from the candidate's vision, you'll find yourself on unemployment. 

You're also obligated to tell your candidate the ugly truth. Not about that embarrassing rabbit attack, but about any cold hard fact which may affect the election, be it a pair of unflattering sideburns or a habit of ending every sentence in a question—? Don't be too harsh, though, nobody likes a crying politician.

Do you feel awkward shaking homeowners down for treats on Halloween? Hope not, because asking for stuff is going to be a big part of your life in the political arena. Going for a senate seat? These days you can expect to spend over $10 million on your election. If this is too rich for your blood, aim for the House of Representatives, which will only set you back $1 million or so. (What a bargain.) 

You'll likely be tasked with finding and scheduling worthwhile fundraising opportunities for your candidate to attend, and you may have to trim the fat to make the most of your time. Hollywood charity ball? Yes. Meeting of the local Cheapskate Society? No. But don't worry, you won't be doing all the heavy lifting. 

Your candidate is a product you're selling, and they must make themselves constantly available (and charming) to earn their fistful of donations. Both of you, however, must be aware of exactly where your cash flow is coming from, and going towards. Be prepared to live under a microscope. Legal counsel can help you steer clear of rough waters.

Political campaigns are carefully orchestrated efforts, particularly in terms of budgeting. How much money are you going to need for your "Get Out the Vote" (GOTV) effort? Most experts will tell you to think ahead to Election Day, and budget backwards from there to determine what kind of cash you'll need. 

For example, if your district has a population of 20,000, and 60% of these folks (12,000 concerned citizens) usually turn out at the polls, you'll be shooting for a minimum of 7,000 votes (a little higher than the 6,001 you really need) to help you bag a comfortable victory. Assuming advertising efforts shake out to .50 a voter, you'll be spending $3,500 on voter outreach alone. 

Now you need to determine how to reach those upstanding sixty-percenters, lure an extra 8.3% or so out of hiding, and get the extra moolah you need to cover salaries, information-gathering, and travel expenses.

Money is well and good, but the message (the reason why people should vote for your candidate) is really the backbone of any campaign effort. Most candidates go into the biz with strong opinions on things, so their personal beliefs are an important starting place. 

It's also essential to find out what issues the public cares about, so your fearless leader isn't caught in the headlights during their first interview. Are fuel prices and immigration hot topics? What about the moral implications of forcing babies to wear decorative hats? Usually the best way to track this information down is with a benchmark phone poll, which uncovers important voter issues and shines a light on public awareness of your candidate. 

This is considerably more difficult nowadays, when landlines are increasingly rare and cell phone lines are hard (or expensive) to access. But luckily, many political organizations can slip past that pesky "Do Not Call Registry." Things get even trickier when most voters are unwilling to make it all the way through a survey which lasts for thirty minutes.

Image counts, too. Your ideal candidate will have a George Washington-esque love of the truth, and a handkerchief to dab away a sensitive tear or two. If these qualities are wrapped up in a good-looking package with great hair, so much the better. Some election campaign managers have a business or marketing background, and use their awe-inspiring powers to make their candidate look good. 

Just as a business might remarket a flawed item, a good manager should be able to tweak their boss' public image when necessary. Remember that time when Organix Breakfast Foods cranked out a ton of cereal nuggets shaped like the symbol for biohazardous waste? The CEO was ready to quit until you pitched him your idea, and now "Zombie-Os" are a top seller. (The green-tinged milk tie-in was pure genius.) Much like marketing a product, "selling" a politician takes a skilled hand. 

Was your candidate's company forced to pay for removal of toxic waste spilling into a local stream? Translation: Your client has spent thousands to help clean up the environment. Did he kick his twenty-five year old out of the house? Hey, sounds like this guy is a strong supporter of post-graduate job training. And hey, would you like a campaign button?

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