Over the past three years, Duke political science chairman Michael Munger has driven tens of thousands of miles criss-crossing the state of North Carolina.
Initially, he went in search of volunteers, campaign funds and the requisite 100,000 signatures that would enable him to be on this November's ballot as the Libertarian candidate for governor. Once that hurdle was cleared in the spring, Munger began to campaign in earnest, but by then his campaign funds had been mostly spent on the signature effort.
"It was as if in the Olympics, the Democratic candidate, the Republican candidate, they get up, they're going to run the 100-yard dash. They have a nice breakfast, because that's the most important meal, they stretch, they're ready to go.
"The Libertarian candidate or the Green candidate has to run a marathon and then run the 100-yard dash."
One of Munger's goals was to get at least 2 percent of the vote. By doing that, Libertarian candidates are guaranteed positions on the 2010 and 2012 ballots in North Carolina without having to collect another 100,000 signatures. Mission accomplished: Munger finished a distant third to Governor-elect Beverly Perdue and Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, but he did receive 3 percent of the vote.
He also got a valuable lesson in what it takes to run an effective campaign. These insights will come in handy, both in the classroom and as he mounts a new campaign for the state Senate in 2010.
"The main thing that I've learned that I didn't really expect is the importance of organization. Parties are absolutely crucial and the reason that Barack Obama won is partly his charisma and his ability to speak, but more than that it was the ground game that they played."
Munger says he experienced many highs and lows over the past three years. One disappointment was not being included in some of the early candidate debates, and he expressed his displeasure with the media outlets that sponsored those debates by jumping into the ocean with his clothes on.
Overall, he says, "This was one of the greatest experiences that I've ever been so glad is finished."