Underline freedom of people to both join and leave the campaign.
The most deleterious example of cultic behavior is the unwillingness to allow for "defections".
+
Finally some caveats of interest to those who take the problem of "cult charges" seriously:
Absolutism of any sort is not a good idea.
Likewise anything that would engender a "suspension of disbelief".
Balance universal regard with the need to discriminate carefully based on the values and behavior of those you are dealing with.
Have an honest understanding of accomplishments. Both in terms of scope and import.
Maintain reverence for and reference to texts such as the Constitution, Scripture, great literature -- all sources we depend on because we are finite and limited and no one is able to encompass or manifest truth save partially and imperfectly.
Take pride in ownnership. It is a sign of normality to be happy with things one has. Cult leaders like Father Divine and Jim Jones made a lot of not owning anything.
Share power. At all levels this is something to both acknowledge and celebrate. Stress the actual and yet limited powers of office.
Much of the above may seem like "a bit much", but if the Obama campaign sees charges of being a cult of personality as a problem, the considerations here, taken as a group, are a powerful antidote based on a careful analysis of cult and messianic behavior that has engaged me for more than 30 years.
Important further reading: On J. Krishnamurti, Jesus, Barack Obama and The Coming Assault
