1. Prepare your message. You need to clarify everything you stand for. The public usually gets really interested in the political process after the conventions are over. Now people are really paying attention and you have to get your message out.
2. Avoid errors. This is critical. Your staff must be sure that no big errors occur. The press loves to concentrate on mistakes. Get your facts straight. When you meet important people, be sure to say their names correctly. Avoid misspeaking and exaggerating. You now live in a fishbowl! Everyone is watching from all sides!
3. Fundraise, fundraise, fundraise! The total cost to win will be over $100 million. You need to keep raising cash for advertising, traveling, salaries and polls.
4. You will have to debate your opponent. The National Commission on Presidential Debates will talk to you about setting up some rules.

Activity 1: Planning the Schedule
The staff has decided your Campaign Schedule for the next few weeks. You need to decide which issues to discuss, sound bites to speak and where best to raise funds while you are touring around. After looking at the Campaign Schedule, decide where you should go next and what types of groups you should talk to.

Activity 2: The Debates
The National Commission on Presidential Debates is calling. You have to debate; it has become part of the process. You have to decide a few things:

• What dates will you choose? Do you want them close to the election? (Yes, if you are a confident debater). If they are early and you feel you did not do well, you have time to make up for your mistakes.
• What format do you prefer- two people at podiums? sitting at a table with a moderator? questions from a live audience? another format?
• Who will be the moderator?
• How many debates should there be?
• Should the two vice presidential candidates debate?

Activity 3: Creating a Political Commercial
You need to create a great political commercial for your campaign. Using a multimedia program (e.g., PowerPoint, HyperStudio, MovieWorks), create a commercial for your campaign. First, decide what the issue should be. Next decide what you want to say. Make a storyboard of the commercial first by drawing eight boxes on a blank piece of paper. Next, fill in each box with text or an image that highlights your candidate. Once you have completed the storyboard, use the computer to create your commercial.

Look at the Debate Questionnaire provided by the Commission to your staff. Make the decisions best suited to your campaign.

Make sure you study up on STEP 6: THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE