If you are not in a position to hire or appoint someone depending on the outcome of an election, then the law doesn’t apply to you. It only applies to individuals running for elected office.
Lets say Trump as an example.
He does not have to come out and say it. He can simply use the media to see for example, Palin, and he talking a lot about the DOE and getting her expertise on Oil.
Then Talking with lets say Duncan Hunter on Border walls. Do the same with all your picks. Keep talking to them exclusively. The public will associate the two.
The media will do all the legwork. They will right article after article linking the two. Trust me, I was in the Biz. And that violates nothing legal I am aware of.