How to Create a Political Image

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee shows that he's a true conservative by hunting.

As a candidate for elected office, your political image is the only thing voters have to make an informed decision. Creating your political image is just as important as your campaign promises are to your chances of being elected. The way you project your political image is crucial to getting your party base to turn out, but it is even more important in helping you secure fringe voters from the opposing parties. Any viable candidate for political office must have a well-polished image to present to voters as well as campaign supporters.

Instructions

1. Research opinion polls from the last few elections to see what personality traits and characteristics most appealed to voters. This information will give you helpful hints on how to bring your political image together. You don't want to portray yourself as an everyman, unless you want to appear indecisive as well. With the help of your political team, decide which traits will make up your political image.

2. Look to standouts within your political party to help you create your political image. The characteristics that are most noteworthy about them are the ones you should try to mesh with your own image. Be sure to observe these individuals with constituents, in news conferences and with their colleagues. Notice how at ease each person seems to be with their image and adapt that ease.

3. Wear the right clothes. As a politician you will be videotaped and photographed everywhere you go, and for many voters this is the only way they get to see the real you. For this reason, it is important that your wardrobe matches the political image you're trying to create. Always go with dark colored suits and bold ties (or shirts for female politicians). Allow your patriotism to shine through by always donning a U.S. flag pin on your lapel.

4. Plan photo opportunities to make your image more believable. Whatever political image you create, you should create several opportunities to be photographed or videotaped engaging in an activity that's true to your political image. A great example of this is the many photo ops of Presidents and presidential candidates toting a rifle as they hit the hunting trail. Follow their lead and make sure voters see you living out the political image you've created.

5. Live and breathe this image in public. Make sure that you always use the same type of speech when you're in public so you won't be accused of being inconsistent. As far as you're concerned the image you have created is you and you will portray that image at every opportunity. Any time you appear in public, you will be wearing an outfit consistent with your political image or engaging in an activity that is true to your image.

Tips & Warnings

• Be seen with politicians with a similar political image.

• Add traits to your political image that mirror traits of voters you need.

• Don't make your political image a caricature of a politician; keep it true to life.

• Always maintain your image in the presence of the media and potential voters.