Expert: Dennis - 10/22/2007

Question
I have a very open mind, a very great heart, and maybe even a bit of luck on my side. I'm 27 years old. I'd like to run for President of The United States. I Have 8 years to get prepared and don't know the first thing about politics. I just know 99.9% of our Presidents Do Not make decisions based on the best interest of the Majority (in Numbers) of the people. I Figure Atleast If My Heart's In The Right Direction I Can Make Some Sort Of A Positive Difference For America. I Would Like To Know What Long Ball Steps Are Required To Run For President And atleast Have my name on the voters Ballot. Do I Create my own party. What does that consist of? Do I get a bunch of people to sign a petition that they'd nominate me and my party for presidency? I Know I Have A Lot Of Reading to do...

Answer
Become a multi-millionaire. The McCain - Feingold act pretty much eliminates anyone else from running for that office. Then you have a chance of getting on some ballots.

Each state has different requirements. You would have to check with each of the 50 states. Here in Illinois, Electors to the Electoral College are nominated by political parties. The guy who gets the most votes in Illinois in the general election gets his group of electors to go to the Electoral College to vote for him. Again, it is different in each state.

Starting a new party is next to impossible. Try to be nominated by an existing party. Ross Perot, that billionaire from Texas started the reform party when he wanted to run, and he was at least successful enough to get his name on most of the 50 state ballots, but he was a billionaire. Ralph Nader ran for President on the Green Party ticket, and he got on something like 46 state ballots when he ran in 2000.

Other than that, get elected to smaller offices and work your way up (still keeping in mind that you need to be a multi-millionaire). Do something great, be smart, or have some good ideas, and who knows. Look at the new 36 year-old Governor from Louisiana. He raised several million dollars to become Governor, and if he does a good job, the Republicans may look at him in a few years.