Winning Edge

Commonwealth Partners

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GOVERNMENT
UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Giving you the tools to lead and influence in the policy arena.

6D AGO

#71 Practice Without Pressure

The Problem: Every interview is high-stakes for candidatesEvery question could be recorded and go viralCan't afford to mess up, but nobody is born great at answering tough questionsLike expecting NFL players to learn plays during the Super BowlThe Solution: Low-Stakes Practice Introducing The Briefing Room - an app for practicing tough questions without pressureBuild skills at home, in car, or during 5-minute breaksHow The Briefing Room Works: Practice answering tough questions you'll face on campaign trailAdd custom questions you expect to getTest different answer tactics without camera pressureBuild muscle memory until answers feel naturalHardcore Mode: Records your answers for playbackFastest way to improve by hearing yourselfCatch "ums" and "you knows," notice when you rambleThree Answer Tactics to Practice (from Winning Edge #24): 1. Two Points Pause, say "That's a great question. It comes down to two things."State first point while thinking of second2. Story + Insight Start with "That reminds me of..."Share relevant story, wrap with one-sentence insightStories are more memorable than facts3. Thinking Then and Now (Advanced) Validate their view: "I used to think the same thing..."Explain what changed your perspectiveHelp people reconsider without admitting they were wrongBottom Line: Practice in low-stakes environment so you can perform when stakes are high. Just 5-10 minutes daily for a few weeks improves your ability to answer tough questions. For more tips on answering tough questions, refer to the accompanying one-page PDF. Link to The Briefing Room app. Winning Edge gives you the tools you need to lead and influence in the political and policy arenas. Every other week, Winning Edge releases short (approximately 5-minute) spots—or “snacks”—focused on one of four areas: fundraising, media, policy, or persuasion. For more, visit our website: www.thecommonwealthpartners.com.

6 min
MAR 4

#70 One-minute Reps

The Wax Museum Lesson: Fourth graders memorized 90-second speeches about historical figuresKids rushed, focused on exact wording rather than audienceSounded like recordings, not natural communicationSimilar to how many adults approach public speakingThe Problem with Traditional Advice: Memorizing scripts makes speeches sound roboticMost real speaking happens off the cuff: town halls, Q&A, conversationsNeed to speak naturally from bullet points, not scriptsFour Key Principles: 1. Stop Thinking of Speech as "Right Words" Confidence, tone, and clarity matter as much as wordsKnow what you're trying to say, not perfect phrasing2. Think of It as a Conversation Best presentations feel like talking with audience, not delivering memorized lines3. Talk to Audience, Not at Them Lead audience somewhere, don't create distancePick friendly faces and explain like you're across a table4. Try the One-Minute Rep Practice first minute without notesPick one thing to improve and run again (4 times, 5 minutes total)Next day: work on next minuteBy end of week: connect sections for full repsMore comfortable than memorizing everythingAction Steps: Treat every speech like a conversationPractice one minute at a time with no notesDon't worry about saying it the same way twiceFocus on finding your most natural deliveryFor more tips on natural speaking techniques, refer to the accompanying one-page PDF. Winning Edge gives you the tools you need to lead and influence in the political and policy arenas. Every other week, Winning Edge releases short (approximately 5-minute) spots—or “snacks”—focused on one of four areas: fundraising, media, policy, or persuasion. For more, visit our website: www.thecommonwealthpartners.com.

4 min
FEB 18

#69 Breaking a Wave

In 1950, two French engineers faced a problem they couldn’t solve the old way. They didn’t have the resources to build bigger seawalls, so instead of trying to stop the wave, they asked how to break it apart. The result was the tetrapod, a simple design that disperses force from any direction. It doesn’t fight the wave head-on. It absorbs and breaks it. Campaigns face storms, too. Negative adsOutside moneySagging turnoutTough interviewsA fight for voter attentionWhen pressure hits, many candidates default to what they are most comfortable with. They knock more doors. They attend more events. They try to outwork the storm in one area. But resilience in a campaign comes from strength across four areas. Build Your Campaign Tetrapod: A clear stump speech that explains why you are running. Learn more with the links to other episodes below#68- The Gas Station Pitch#57 - Say It Until It Sticks#48 - 5-Part Persuasive Speech#31 - The Lego Man Stump SpeechAnswering tough questions with confidence#24 - Answering Tough Questions#25 - Mastering Unscripted AnswersA consistent, disciplined fundraising system#20 - Overcoming Fundraising Fear#66 - Create a Fundraising System, Not a Goal#46 - 10 Call Rule#18 - Start Your Campaign FundraisingShort, memorable stories voters repeat to others#64 - Start a Story People Want to Hear#50 - Tell the Second Story#22 - Creating Your Character StoryYou don’t need to improve all four at once. Just pick one arm this week. Because when the next wave hits, preparation is what breaks its force. Click here for a one-pager handout. Winning Edge gives you the tools you need to lead and influence in the political and policy arenas. Every other week, Winning Edge releases short (approximately 5-minute) spots—or “snacks”—focused on one of four areas: fundraising, media, policy, or persuasion. For more, visit our website: www.thecommonwealthpartners.com.

4 min
FEB 4

#68 The Gas Station Pitch

Every candidate needs a short gas station pitch: the 60–90 second version of why you’re running. It’s the answer you give at a gas station, a coffee shop, or the church lobby when someone asks, “So why are you running?” The challenge is there’s not much time. Do you talk about issues? Yourself? Them? Do you ask a question? Here’s a simple formula that keeps your pitch friendly and conversational. The Gas Station Pitch Say your name and the office you’re running for.Name one problem you’re running to fix.Ask an open-ended question.For example: “Hi, I’m John Smith, running for State Representative. I’m running to fix the roads here, they’ve become a real problem the last couple of years. What’s the one issue you’d like to see fixed at the Capitol?” The goal here is to be remembered. Most people make a quick gut decision about whether they like you. Being friendly helps, but it’s not enough. When they talk about you later, they don’t want to say, “I just liked him.” They want to say: “He seemed nice and I liked what he said about fixing the roads.” By naming one specific problem you want to fix, you give people a reason for why they liked you. The pitch worked if someone remembers you an hour later. If they can’t finish the sentence, “He’s the candidate who wants to fix ___” your pitch isn’t ready. As you’re running for office, spend time on your Gas Station Pitch. Pick one issue with broad appeal. Practice saying it clearly, and end with a question. Checkout our one page PDF Winning Edge gives you the tools you need to lead and influence in the political and policy arenas. Every other week, Winning Edge releases short (approximately 5-minute) spots—or “snacks”—focused on one of four areas: fundraising, media, policy, or persuasion. For more, visit our website: www.thecommonwealthpartners.com.

3 min
JAN 21

#67 Workout Your Stump Speech

After ending Seinfeld, Jerry Seinfeld threw out his old material and rebuilt a stand-up act from scratch. In the documentary Comedian, you see even a legend bomb, forget punchlines, and get heckled—then keep going. That’s the lesson for candidates: speeches don’t get good by thinking. They get good by reps. Your stump speech needs a gym. Over the next few months, every event—Lincoln Day dinners, Rotary clubs, community meetings—is a chance to test what works. The Hand Approach (from Winning Edge #48) Hook – Story, statistic, or questionHold – 3 things, 2 contrasts, or 1 big ideaHurdle – Address the objection people won’t say out loudHandoff – Clear call to actionWhat to practice Hook: why you’re running, character stories, questions, statsHold: 3 priorities, 2 reasons, 1 defining issueHurdle: name and answer the concern in their headHandoff: sign up, give, volunteerTreat every speaking opportunity as an experiment. Keep what lands. Cut what doesn’t. By spring, you’ll have a clear, tested stump speech that works. Check out our free one page [Free PDF Here] Winning Edge gives you the tools you need to lead and influence in the political and policy arenas. Every other week, Winning Edge releases short (approximately 5-minute) spots—or “snacks”—focused on one of four areas: fundraising, media, policy, or persuasion. For more, visit our website: www.thecommonwealthpartners.com.

4 min
JAN 7

#66 Create a Fundraising System, Not a Goal

Most candidates don’t fail at fundraising because they can’t do it. They fail because they never get started. In this episode, we break down why systems beat goals when it comes to raising money—and how a small, repeatable fundraising system compounds fast over a campaign cycle. Key takeaways: Why 50–100 focused fundraising hours is usually enough to winThe hidden flaw in “goal-first” fundraising plansHow a systems-first approach removes friction and procrastinationTwo simple fundraising systems that work:Time-based: 1–2 hours per week (or per day for statewide races)Activity-based: 10 calls per week (or 20 calls per day)How systems shift your identity—from “someone who needs to fundraise” to a good fundraiserRelated episodes: The 10-Call Rule – Winning Edge #464 Steps to Start Your Fundraising – Winning Edge #18Download the one-page summary: [PDF Link Here] Winning Edge gives you the tools you need to lead and influence in the political and policy arenas. Every other week, Winning Edge releases short (approximately 5-minute) spots—or “snacks”—focused on one of four areas: fundraising, media, policy, or persuasion. For more, visit our website: www.thecommonwealthpartners.com.

4 min
12/17/2025

#65 The Middle of a Good Story

Most people know how to start a story. But few know how to keep people listening once they’re in it. In this episode, we break down what actually makes the middle of a story work, using a Nate Bargatze clip (played in the episode) as the case study. Key ideas: Why great storytellers rely heavily on dialogueHow two or three details can paint an entire sceneWhy stories move through action and reaction, not timelinesThe difference between a story and a Wikipedia entryHow cause-and-effect keeps listeners engagedA simple framework to use immediately: Open strongAdd dialogueAdd a few detailsShow action then reactionGood stories are never great the first time. You need to test it, revise it, and tell it again. [Free PDF Here for Making a Story Using the Tools Discussed Here] Winning Edge gives you the tools you need to lead and influence in the political and policy arenas. Every other week, Winning Edge releases short (approximately 5-minute) spots—or “snacks”—focused on one of four areas: fundraising, media, policy, or persuasion. For more, visit our website: www.thecommonwealthpartners.com.

4 min
12/03/2025

#64 How to Start a Story People Want to Hear

The hardest part of storytelling is knowing where to begin.Most people start with way too much setup… or none at all.Use one simple formula to fix it:“So…” + Specific Time + Person + Action + Place + Goal/TensionWhy it works: your listener instantly knows what’s happening and why it matters.A good opening line buys you attention for the next 90 seconds.Keep stories tight: 90–120 seconds is enough to land a point.Script your first line, test it, tweak it, and use it everywhere.Download the one-page summary: [PDF Link Here] Winning Edge gives you the tools you need to lead and influence in the political and policy arenas. Every other week, Winning Edge releases short (approximately 5-minute) spots—or “snacks”—focused on one of four areas: fundraising, media, policy, or persuasion. For more, visit our website: www.thecommonwealthpartners.com.

4 min

Giving you the tools to lead and influence in the policy arena.

Creator

Commonwealth Partners
Years Active

2024 - 2026
Episodes

71
Rating

Clean
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