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Step 1
Begin campaigning in a meaningful place. John Edwards announced his 2008 Presidential bid in a section of New Orleans badly damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Edwards did this to highlight the fact he would try to remember the unfortunate and forgotten.
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Step 2
Campaign as a Washington outsider. John Edwards often speaks of his small-town North Carolina roots. He appeals to the masses by claiming Washington politicians are to blame for many of the nation's problems and the political system in Washington no longer works for the benefit of the people.
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Step 3
Build a campaign from the ground up. Reach out to people through grassroots organizing and Internet media instead of television ads. Make use of social-networking tools such as YouTube, Facebook and MySpace.
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Step 4
Go after big corporations. Part of John Edwards populist message included a promise to "take away the power" of special interests and large corporations.
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Step 5
Promise to fight poverty. In his 2008 campaign, he proposed a goal of ending poverty by 2036.
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Step 6
Propose policies to help the middle class. A populist message must appeal to the masses, and in the United States, most people belong to the middle class. John Edwards proposed to help the middle class with a universal health care plan, programs to make college more affordable and middle class tax cuts.
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Step 7
Talk about your meager roots. John Edwards brought his populist campaign together by often referring to growing up in a small house in a small town as the son of a mill worker.
