Campaign Slogans

Some people are just born with natural political abilities. I know. I am one of them. Since I came up with my first student council campaign slogans, I have had success after success. Some of my friends seem to wonder how I do it, but I do not know what to tell them. It has always been effortless to me, and I suppose that is what makes me such a natural leader. Still, I thought that I would write this little article in order to give some practical advice on how to write political slogans.

If you do not believe that campaign slogans have a powerful effect, you have a short memory. I have had many informal talks with people about politics, and more folks seem to remember “read my lips, no new taxes” than remember that the first Bush plunged us into debt and raised taxes on the working class. It is not just the Republicans who use these tactics effectively either. When FDR coined the phrase “The New Deal”, the entire country listened. People still remember his programs by the name he came up with. Now that is powerful advertising!

Like any other type of advertising, campaign slogans focus on powerful and internal human needs and desires. The new deal, for example, was a great wording. Everyone wants a “deal”, and with the economy in the pits, it was a sure thing that only a “new” deal could do. He could have been using the term to refer to a much different program, and it would not have mattered all that much. The words themselves would still be powerful.

Of course, coming up with the perfect campaign slogans is only part of the drill. Getting them out there and putting them on everyone's lips is the really tricky part. One of the best places for politicians to introduce their campaign slogans is during a debate. If they can do it wisely, particularly as a response to some comment an opponent made, it will be much more effective. There are other things that they can do to spread it faster.

Printing t shirts is a great way to promote campaign promises. Campaign buttons are another handy tool. Basically, the more exposure that you get, the better. A good slogan can do more than an entire speech sometimes. It is just a matter of getting people to really believe in what you are saying.