A great political candidate is only as good as the campaign staff they can cobble together to win an election.
Running for office is a group effort. The public sees only the tip of the iceberg when considering who to vote for -- it's usually the person at the top of the ticket. However, political races are won or lost not by the candidate alone but by “the campaign." That means a variety of people playing numerous roles.
The most important role is that of a campaign manager. This person will handle myriad tasks while the person running for office concentrates on what he or she does best -- giving speeches, meeting and greeting voters, doing TV and radio interviews, and brushing up on their debating skills.
The campaign manager (CM) spends the bulk of his or her time managing the candidate's schedule. The CM may book a hotel conference room for a public forum or town hall meeting. They coordinate with TV news producers to schedule interviews. They supervise volunteers operating telephones as they seek campaign donations or call people to ask for their vote.
The CM buys plane tickets or otherwise arranges transportation to crucial events. That’s to name just a few functions of the CM. A campaign manager will often have an assistant CM.
Another vital campaign role is that of the communications director. This person is the PR person of the effort. They issue press releases, interact with the media, and do their best to get their candidate all the free exposure they can. A tight budget campaign may not have the money to purchase TV ads or printed materials sent via the U.S. mail. If the communications director has a small budget, they try to “bootstrap” the effort by scoring free media coverage.
Speaking of money, every campaign needs a treasurer. This person may double as an accountant and compliance officer. Political campaigns are regulated in terms of what they can and cannot do in fundraising. Managing expenditures and cash flow have often been the “make or break” nexus point for many a campaign.
Finally, all campaigns of significant size need grunt workers -- that means volunteers. They do things like knock on doors, man phone banks, put up signs, and help with fundraising.