Candidates get a view from inside the fishbowl

by J Scott Christianson, Columbia Daily Tribune Columnist

Being a candidate for elected office is like being a fish in a fishbowl. Everyone is looking at you from all sides, and danger lurks in the deep. As one candidate recently told me, “It is a heck of a lot different being inside the fishbowl looking out than being outside looking in.”

As a biologist by trade, I have been carefully observing the natural history of candidates and campaigns, and I want to share what I have learned about how some of them make it from small-fry candidate to big-fish officeholder.

One of the first things a fingerling candidate must do is figure out who the kingmakers are in the community and their party. The candidate must try to woo as many of these people as possible. Acting behind the scenes, these folks work tirelessly to get their candidates elected. Getting their endorsement and help is a great asset. You can swim on without them, but others will be more eager to help you if they see one or more of these folks are on your campaign committee, are acting as your treasurer or are cooking hot dogs at your fundraiser.

Next, a candidate must make a choice about hiring a campaign consultant. In the age of mass media, most candidates simply can’t get by without professional help. You can tell which candidates have not hired a consultant — their campaign materials look like children made them, which is often the case.