It's a fun game with nice retro graphics, but it's very easy to get re-elected and make everyone love you.
Step 1: Start with Mild Punishments, No Food at All, Normal Control. Mild Laws.
Step 2: Put your entire budget into Infrastructure until it's 100%.
Step 3: Maintain your 100% Infrastructure and put any remaining budget into Happiness.
Step 4: Once your Happiness passes your Popularity, you will slowly gain Popularity as long as your Happiness stays above your Popularity.
Step 5: Once both Happiness and Popularity are at 100%, start putting points into Security, along with maintaining your Infrastructure, Happiness, and Popularity.
Step 6: Once everything is at 100%, start slowly bumping up your food amounts each turn until you reach A Lot of Food. You'll have less budget, but there's no need for it at this point.
Step 7: Maintain your 100%'s until you're tired of playing.