During the afternoon of my second debate, I had gone around campus for three hours, talking with real students about the nature of student government and if elected, what I could do to make the campus better. These students gave me real ideas, and I felt as if I needed to serve them. Thus, in my speech that night, I told about my afternoon and of specific ideas, and people told me that I spoke with passion. In this way, I feel as if I related to students in the audience better than if I was just some other ASWC insider, trying to move up the ladder of power. So, I believe that passion, if you ve got it, can really send the message that you ve got purpose and commitment and will be looked favorably upon by your voting audience.
Likeable people have fun personalities.
Let s face it, we like these people because they can make us laugh. Similarly, a candidate who exhibits a light-hearted side is certainly going to be more likeable than someone who is stiff and rigid. When I ran for Speaker of the House and won, I used the element of humor in my speech. As I recall, I made jokes about Newt Gingrich, as well as Democratic Fundraising in an attempt to show that I could poke fun at situations and be entertaining. I feel as if this is what distinguished me from all the other candidates and their seriousness.