Is anyone familiar with running for office? Does anyone know about the process and what is involved in securing a political career?
Also, in terms of general requirements, what characteristics do you think a politician needs to have? What would be your ideal candidate? What kind of skills, what kind of knowledge, what educational background and special skills? Are there extraneous details that you find unnecessary or do you think things like “A guy I could drink a beer with.” are legitimate appealing character traits?
Yes be a sellout shill that takes bribes from the plutocrats and tell the people you care what they have to say while lining your own pockets 
Seriously though, I don’t know the specific processes involved in running for office, though i imagine there’s some form of application to fill out.
Well they should be competant in affairs of state and of society and should dedicate time to study them both.
One should also go about making acquantances and friends with people in important community positions whether they be civic or business etc.
Though never incincererly, one should not become a plastic politician who sells out the peopl, who is just trying to be veryones friend, you will have enemies, people will hate you if you are actually doing anything.
A man of action, of good health and character, Confidence.
People are fed up with politicians who talk, they want a leader that takes action
Of Course people should admire you as a man of the people, but they also want a leader and therefore someone they think is at least superior to them when it comes to politics and being a leader.
But this is more of suggestion for someone aiming at an executive role. Other politcal roles don’t neccessitate the role of a leader.
What kind of competency would impress you though? So Obama was a professor of constitutional law, Elizabeth Warren was a bankruptcy law professor, Bill Clinton was a law student, Hillary is just some lady who people want to vote for. I’m not super familiar with Republicans. I know Romney studied business, and McCain was in the military. Somehow all these things make someone fit to be a Congress person or a President. If I was to set up a list of criteria for someone to run for office, it would probably include some economics, or science. But it is pretty consistently business, military, and law. These are arguably the major parts of a federal government, but are they the most important competencies to you?