I read your site. My current state rep just won his first term at age 22 so it can be done. He knocked on 15,000 doors(even 1/4 mile driveways) and even used painted plywood for his big signs since the campaign could not afford big standardized campaign signs. His community got behind him(the small signs were everywhere) though and he won since they outvoted the other areas of the district. Right to Life stayed neutral, as did the NRA and Chamber of Commerce so they were not major factors.
The best advice I can give is to knock on as many doors as you can and go to all the community events.