1 What does an individual have to do to win the highest office in our country? The campaign for the presidency begins long before we know who the candidates are.
2 The process involves four stages – deciding to run, gaining the nomination, the party conventions, and the general election.
3 Before a person declares they will run for president, they first weigh the cost. A presidential campaign not only requires large sums of money, but a high personal cost. Candidates must decide if it is worth the toll it will take on their assets, their family, their mental well-being, and their time. Most potential candidates invest a large sum of money in research before deciding to run. They hire experts to conduct polls and determine the odds of winning. If an individual receives a favorable response, they announce their candidacy. This requires placing their name on ballots across the nation. It also requires the support of their political party. In the history of our nation, no candidate has won the presidency without the support from one of the two major political parties – today known as Republican and Democratic.
