Predictable and appropriate questions
- Why are you running for office?
- Why don’t you run as a Republican? Democrat?
- What will happen if your proposal is enacted?
- How would it work?
- Why is this your primary issue?
- Where are you campaigning?
- What groups are you speaking to?
- How much money will your campaign raise?
- How much have you raised?
- Will you be doing any advertising?
- Has your campaign done any polling?
- Where do you expect to get support?
- Who will vote for you?
- Are any groups actively supporting you?
- Has anyone endorsed you? Do you expect more/any endorsements?
- Have you run for office before?
- How will you get anything passed if you’re the only Libertarian?
- Are Ron Paul supporters supporting you?
Introductory distractions
- Why are you a Libertarian?
- How did you become a Libertarian?
- What do Libertarians believe about (fill in the blank with something unrelated to proposed Libertarian Solution)?
- What do you do for a living?
- What’s your view on (fill in the blank with an issue the media or your opponent is talking about)?
- What do you think about (Ron Paul, Rand Paul, some other politician)? Do you support him?
- Where did you go to college?
Credibility challenges and distractions
- No Libertarian has ever received more than 2% of the vote for this office. Is that what you expect you’ll get?
- Since you’re not going to win, isn’t voting for you a wasted a vote?
- Isn’t there a danger that your running will spoil the election for the [Republican/Democrat]?
- If you had to vote for the D or R, which one would you vote for?
- Do you think you have any chance of winning?
- Why is your opponent endorsed by every newspaper in the state – while none have endorsed you?
- Why are you running if you have no chance of winning?
- Do you have any experience in government?
- Do you think voters are ready for a Libertarian? Are you too radical for most people?
- Doesn’t your proposal go too far?
- Your opponents say this will (allegation of damage). How do you respond?
- How will you get Democrats and Republicans to go along with your agenda? How will you build bi-partisan support and get this passed?
- Isn’t it better for the district to keep our influential incumbent than to elect a junior (senator/rep/delegate) who will have far less influence?
Big Government assertions
- The government is already looking at a budget shortfall. Wouldn’t your proposal to cut taxes / spending just make things worse? How would we plug the gap?
- What can we do about unfunded government pension liabilities- the dark cloud hanging over our heads?
- This would reduce the state’s bond rating to junk bond status. Wouldn’t that be a disaster? Wouldn’t it raise our interest rates forcing taxpayers to pay more?
- There’s very little discretionary spending in the budget.
- This would force us to cut emergency services like police and fire – or to close schools.
- We need more funds to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure, make our roads safe and stimulate the economy.
- Every person or group that spends money – including private businesses and households – waste money, not just government. This is normal and unavoidable.
Ridiculous and completely unrelated distractions
- How ‘bout them Ravens?
- Was your neighborhood damaged by the storm last week?
- What’s your view on Ron Paul’s tweet about veteran Kyle who was killed by a sniper? Did he go over the line?
Note: Many more examples can be gleaned by watching or reading just about any news coverage of government in any form of media – TV, radio, print, and the Internet.
