Hi Ac, For mine the thinking is simple. Most people don't know or don't want to know because of the constant bombardment of politics. So simply take the politics out. (not so simple really).
Why is the candidate running? Has he an axe to grind about one or two personal issues? Is he/she really interested in represnting the constituents thoughts or only their own? If truely representing the constituents thoughts then find out what they are first and campaign on them as the primary. Means plenty of door knocking and presing the flesh.