Raise as much money as possible as early as possible.

White House staff and get your fundraising mechanism in place. Don’t be complacent because of high polling numbers, a legislative victory or uncertainty about seeking a second term. Rather than deciding whether to run, just assume you will and count on confronting a messy primary challenge. In other words, expect the worst. Remember, while ratings may be high in that third year, twelve to eighteen months is more than a lifetime in politics and a lot can change. Just ask George Bush.