Abraham Lincoln, Jesse Jackson, Barry Goldwater, Mario Cuomo, and George Bush all delivered powerful speeches during their political careers. Their examples show how a speech can be funny or inspiring, tell a story or make a point, and even coin a phrase that defines a winning campaign. A stump speech is a speech outlining a candidate's main ideas and plans. A Presidential candidate will deliver a version of his or her stump speech at most campaign stops as he or she travels across the country. In a stump speech, you need to state your ideas clearly, in a way that will not only capture voters' attention, but will convince them that your ideas are right for the country.
Candidates often use humor to get their points across.
So have fun with your speeches, and use your imagination. You've just been named your party's nominee for President. Now the whole country is watching you, waiting to hear your vision for the future. It's an incredible opportunity.