Letters to the Editor
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One key is consistency and clarity
I am a southern, white, male, heterosexual, property owning, stock holding Catholic, who's been married to the same woman for - it'll be thirty years next summer, and I'm a father of a wonderful young lady now at FSU (GO 'Noles!). And I call myself a Liberal. Those who want to call me "Progressive", ok, I'll take that too. But I tell my acquaintances down here in East Central Florida - who are roughly 2:1 Republican and often Bible Bangers - that I'm a Liberal, and I can quote Scripture (often Matthew Chapter 25 "Whatsoever you do unto the Least of my Brothers, That you do unto ME") to tell them why.
Now I doubt that they would vote for me if I were to run for office. In fact, I can't point to a single individual whose political choices I've changed. So maybe I'd be a pretty lousy campaign consultant too. But I'll assure you of this - they respect me and know that I'm authentic and honest.
That's all you can ask from an office seeker. Show me your hand, no aces up the sleeve. No triangulation, no contradictory messages in front of different audiences, no pandering. That's the way to approach Floridians, and as well I think Pennsylvanians and Montanans, and all the rest.