Presidential Campaigning 2.0

By: Kendall | in: General, Technology |

As 2007 quickly begins drawing to a close, the 2008 United States Presidential election is drawing nearer and nearer. The bid for both Democratic and Republican nominations are as up in the air and as uncertain as could be. There are a few leaders, but none seem to be any further ahead than any of their rivals. Funds are being raised into the tens of millions, as up and comers, and veterans both vie for the place at the top. Compared to previous elections, this one might be the turning point for candidates and their embracing of new technologies and the web. In fact, we are seeing things show up on the net that would never make it on traditional medium. It’s not just the candidates in the fray, it’s also their supporters. It’s exciting to watch this unfold, and see how each candidate reaches for an audience, as the audience steps up to reach for them in return. Social websites like YouTube and MySpace will become a tool like none used before.

Normal people are logging on to campaign sites and having open correspondence with the candidates themselves, as well as other supporters. Democrats Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama include consumer generated media on their sites. Across the nation political followers on both sides plan their own events and rallies to gather like minded political aficionados and watch debates, hand out fliers, and mobilize miniature political armies. Both Obama, and Republican John McCain have turned their websites into their own social networking sites. This allows candidates to locate each and become more intimate with followers across the country. Compared to the 2000 election, this is a huge swing. The internet is no longer a way to simply raise funds. Young supporters and the net-savvy, are clawing to get in touch, and web 2.0 seems to be a huge part of the battle. Both Republican and Democratic candidates, now have to be more worried than ever before, about what the public thinks. Imaginative followers can be a blessing for one candidate, and a giant thorn to another. If a follower, or maybe, consumer would be the right word, can generate their own material and if it is clever enough, can go viral on sites like YouTube.

Obama Girl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKsoXHYICqU

On May 25th, 2007 Ben Relles (a 32 year old account exec.) along with filmmakers Kevin Arbouet and Larry Strong produced the “Obama Girl” with the help of Singer Leah Kauffman and actress/model Amber Lee Ettinger. The video was released to YouTube on June 13th and within 2 days media agencies around the globe caught on. In answer to the Obama girl, “Hot for Hill” showed up about two weeks letter written and starring Taryn Southern from the 2004 American Idol season. Within two weeks of that the Obamagirl came back arguing with her friend in a Giuliani/Obama debate of sexy. This is the political equivalent of booth girls at car shows and gamer conventions. In a less sexual, and probably more questionable video, as far as copyright is concerned One Obama fan created a spoof of a 1984 Macintosh computer ad located her. This is an incredibly powerful piece of propaganda, and has received more than 2 million hits alone.

Hot for Hill

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Sudw4ghVe8

Twitter, YouTube, MyBlogLog, and many others can all play a part in new ways to get messages out, but one site, has even become a part of the process of voting! Digg, has been named as a novel replacement for the cumbersome act of standing in lines to vote. A great article can be found here.

Vote Different

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h3G-lMZxjo

This election it will be interesting to see if the candidates focus more on the issues, or if they let the public guide their way to issues that should concern them. It’s a hot topic between candidates, news, and computer uses around the country. Has the public finally found a way to speak, and force candidates to speak FOR them instead of TO them?

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Posted on July 19, 2007

Comments

8 Responses to “Presidential Campaigning 2.0”

HMTKSteve on July 19th, 2007 3:48 am

Anyone else notice that these videos are not being made by the campaign? I’d much rather see an election based on issues and ideas than buzz words and “coolness”.

The last President we elected based on his “coolness” gave us the scoundrel with his hand in the cookie jar.

I want a president I can trust to do the right thing for the country, not just for himself.

Kendall on July 19th, 2007 4:02 am

That’s was so interesting about this! These ads are all being made my “fans”! The candidates don’t have any choice but to deal with what people throw at them! What’s more is that people can easily create these ads and put whatever they want into them, because they don’t have to pay to put these ads on tv. They can can just throw them up onto something like youtube for free.

Charbarred on July 19th, 2007 4:08 am

Dunno Steve, I don’t live in the US, but it seems that the way things work nowadays, the person with the best PR campaign will win it.
The sad thing is that it affects us all over the world as well, only we can’t do anything about it.

Ryan of the RSL Music Blog on July 19th, 2007 4:30 am

This is what one of my favorite blogs - Bostonist had to add about Mitt Romney: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Bostonist/~3/134975619/mitt_romney_doe.php

He’s a snake in Mormon’s clothes. He looks great though!

DThompson on July 19th, 2007 11:07 am

The increased ability of the public to participate in the electoral process can only be considered a good thing. Despite the fact that much of this participation could be deemed shallow, it merely reflects upon politics as it has become and is not defining how the election is to be conducted. There have been numerous televised debates which I found lacking in substance, perhaps someone on YouTube could start posting relevant questions for the candidates to answer. Or even interviewing them and getting their answers.

arthur on July 26th, 2007 11:04 am

Could you make Hillary’s face any larger compared to the rest of the candidates? Why not just give her her own photo?

Kendall on July 26th, 2007 11:22 am

Without trying to drag my own politics into this, I am not a fan of Hilary Clinton. The picture was just pasted there and in no way meant to glorify Mrs. Clinton.

Paul Levinson on July 28th, 2007 2:35 pm

There’s some evidence that Mitt Romney may be a Cylon … http://paullevinson.blogspot.com/2007/06/is-mitt-romney-cylon.html