PitBull Politics

Howard Belk, Chief Creative Officer at Siegel and Gale  

Howard Belk

criticised John McCain for going ‘off brand’ by switching from his “Straight Talk Express” campaign bus to “attack politics” when his campaign started to fall behind. Alan Siegel said that his shift in tactics was “a display of desperation”.

In Marketing (11 Nov 08), Steve Harty, Chairman of BBH New York wrote that “US citizens are much more sophisticated consumers of politics now”.

In the final Presidential televised debate, Senator Obama accused his opponent of running a wholly negative campaign. According to the University of Wisconsin’s Advertising Project, McCain did use a higher proportion of attack adverts. In the four months to 4 October, 47% of Republican ads were negative (focusing on Obama), 26% were positive, and 27% were mixed, the Wisconsin study says.

The analyisis from the marketing gurus is that US voters are getting more ’savvy’ and are rebelling against “attack politics”. But how will the UK political parties react? The updated Labour Party website criticises the ‘do nothing Tories’. And the Conservatives similarly criticise Labour’s approach to apprenticeships. Will voters here be put off by attacks, or do they see it all as part of the political circus?

Small Fry

 

Interim Marketplace

So …how is the current market for interims? Especially for corporate communications specialists like me?

I am currently working part-time: 2 or 3 days a week. January was busier than February in terms of calls from agencies about possible roles. This month has been quiet in terms of agency contact so far.

One public sector agency said that a lot of government departments and NDPBs would wait now until the start of the new budget year in April before recruiting. May be some validity.

Any thoughts out there?

‘Party’ Politics – Obama-style

The ‘Obama for America’ campaign is continuing to support President Obama by exhorting individuals who registered to support Barack Obama’s presidential campaign to keep involved.

Obama

E-mails from President Obama were sent to all registered users of the website on Monday 2 February. Individuals were invited to organise Economic Recovery House Meetings this weekend and to use the website to download material, to ask questions, and to promote their event. USA Today reported the use of campaign-style techniques.

The e-mail also invited questions to be sent about economic issues with the aim of addressing the issues and concerns in a video to be prepared by Governor Tim Kaine. Over 30,000 questions were received.

The e-mail continued some of the key themes from his campaign: working across political parties, citizen participation, and transparent government. The email has the following quotes:

“The stakes are too high to allow partisan politics to get in the way.”  And: “…unprecedented transparency and accountability…you will be able to see how every penny in this plan is being spent”.

A follow-up e-mail was sent by Obama for America Campaign Manager David Plouffe on 4 February. This e-mail had the embedded video of interviews by Barack Obama about the need for the economic recovery plan. “The President is leading. Help is on the way”.

According to the Obama for America website today, 3,200 House Parties have been registered for this weekend. Participants are encouraged to share their experiences through photographs and their accounts on the blog. A further e-mail containing videos from President Obama and Governor Kaine alerted supporters that an Inspector Genral will be set up to oversee the spending of the Stimulus Funds and that a website www.recovery.gov would be set up to demonstrate where the money has been spent and what the outcomes will be.

Mainstream media have been covering the events.

It will be interesting to see how this experiment in active participation works – and how the mainstream and new media report it!