My favorite posts to write are the ones that answer real questions from real readers of my blog! Here’s one I received via GOP Campaigner’s Facebook page:
” I would like to run for office in the foreseeable future. I have always been very passionate about politics and serving others…but I have an unusual name that people usually find very uncommon. In your experience, how important is your name? I know this question is little weird but I can foresee it being an issue especially in conservative states, I am republican, however. I even thought about changing my name to something little more Anglican.”
My dear reader, don’t change your name! At least, not if you like it, anyway.
There was a time when boring names like John, George, James, Thomas, etc. were the rule in politics, but that’s probably also reflective of the make up of the country at the time. America is becoming more ‘ethnic’ by the day, and you need only take a look at the names of some of our current congressmen to see that. Oh, and our current president is names Barack Hussein Obama. Having a unique name doesn’t mean you have to abandon any hopes of running in a successful political campaign.
A funny name can actually be a good thing. It’s different, so it stands out in a radio ad or on a yard sign. Things that are ‘different’ are easier to remember, giving your name identification a boost. There are a lot of ways to leverage an interesting name in your favor in your run for office. Here are just a few:
- Use word play to tie your name to your district, your platform, or the elected office you’re running for. A little cleverness will not only help voters remember your name, but also a little about your campaign.
- Use your nickname. You can use any variation of your name that you choose on the ballot, including some nicknames. If your state doesn’t allow using the nickname alone (“Smiley Smith”), they may at least allow you to include your nickname in the complete name on the ballot (“John ‘Smiley’ Smith”). Not only are nicknames more memorable, they help to make you seem more relatable.
- Shorten your name. If your name is difficult to pronounce, consider finding a way to make it shorter or easier without changing the ‘essence’ of your full name.
- Emphasize paid media that boosts name ID, like radio ads, billboards and yard signs, in your campaign planning and budgeting.
Whatever you decide to do, the most important thing is that you own your name. You can be proud of your heritage and be a patriotic and dedicated public servant at the same time. In fact, nowhere is that more true than in our great country.
The 2012 elections made it pretty clear that the Republican party knows it needs to embrace cultural and ethnic diversity within its own ranks in order to garner much needed ‘minority’ votes in national elections. They just haven’t quite figured out how yet. We desperately need brave Republican candidates from Latino, Asian, African American, Native American, Arabic, Jewish, and many other backgrounds to step up and plunk their funny sounding names on the ballot with a big fat (R) next to it. Without them, the GOP will be going out of style along with names like Albert and Eugene.
And hey, just for fun, check out some of these funny political candidates’ names.
