It is incredibly amazing how out of date the Trent & Friedenberg book already is, considering its publication date is 2008. This presidential election is a first on many fronts for communication strategies. The advent of the Internet as a primary source of advertising really skews the old ways of political ads. The book mentions in Chapter 10, Section entitled Television that television ads are the only ads that appeal to both sight and sound. We know that is incredibly true of Internet ads as well. In fact, several ads this year were made exclusively for the Internet. This allowed the candidates to take up more than just 30 seconds or 60 seconds, but sometimes up to 3 minutes. It can arguably be too long for an ad, but what is a 30 minute ad called? Is it still a "commercial", or something else?
Coming October 29th is a 30-minute ad of Senator Barak Obama during primetime television. He claims it will be "closing argument" of what we have heard so far in the debates. He bought the same 8 PM timeslot on both NBC and CBS. The commercial will air during Nightrider and The New Adventures of Old Christine on each network, respectively. No official price has been released for these ads; however, each ad has been estimated at $1.5 million, totalling $3 million for the Obama campaign. There is also negotiations with FOX, but the ad would air during the World Series, so the possibility is low. In just two ads, Obama has already far exceeded the estimates given by our book for regular 30 and 60-second spots during primetime television. The only other person to do this in history was Ross Perot in 1992.
Interestingly enough, McCain will be offered the same opportunity by each network, according to federal law. However, because Obama did whip up this plan early and picked the times first, McCain may be too late to have a solid effect. Obama, realizing how close this race may be and anticipating that each state carries equal worth in spending money for ads, decided to knock it all out at once with a big media ad. This, of course, was the book's second point at noting the difficulties of television advertising.
Mark your TV Guides.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Biden and Clintons team up for Obama
On October 12th, Joe Biden continued the Obama campaign in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Bill and Hilary Clinton joined Biden at the rally for their support of Obama. Bill and Hilary focused their persuasion on the middle class stating Obama's Democratic ticket is the best choice for their financial future. Bill told voters that Biden knows "the most about the economic, political, and security challenges of America." After the rally, Bill was continuing the Obama Democratic campaign in Virginia.
The Obama campaigning by Bill and Hilary Clinton is a perfect example of unifying the Democratic party. Bill and Hilary are attempting to rally all Democratic supporters to vote for Obama. Hilary won the Pennsylvania primary by 10% over Obama; therefore their is potential for Hilary supporters to not vote for Obama. Hilary is attempting to counter this potential risk by rallying her supporters to think Democrat. This is an obvious attempt by Bill and Hilary to build up resources for Hilary's future campaigning. If Obama is elected president, Hilary can run in 2012 or 2016 and have the support of the incumbent. The Clinton's are providing much support for Obama; therefore Obama will repay the debt when his term is over assuming he is elected into office.
The Obama campaigning by Bill and Hilary Clinton is a perfect example of unifying the Democratic party. Bill and Hilary are attempting to rally all Democratic supporters to vote for Obama. Hilary won the Pennsylvania primary by 10% over Obama; therefore their is potential for Hilary supporters to not vote for Obama. Hilary is attempting to counter this potential risk by rallying her supporters to think Democrat. This is an obvious attempt by Bill and Hilary to build up resources for Hilary's future campaigning. If Obama is elected president, Hilary can run in 2012 or 2016 and have the support of the incumbent. The Clinton's are providing much support for Obama; therefore Obama will repay the debt when his term is over assuming he is elected into office.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Obama goes door-to-door
Barack Obama spent Sunday going door to door in a small Ohio town. He spent 50 minutes walking from house to house trying to get Democrats and Independents excited about the upcoming election. Obama encouraged everyone to vote now, and take advantage of Ohio's early voting system. Obama plans to spend the next three days in Ohio, where it is a close race between him and senator McCain.
I think this type of publicity is exactly what Obama needs in the swing states. With the hard economic times, people will be looking for someone who they feel cares for them and is willing to reach out and help meet their needs. By meeting people face to face (and making sure Americans know he is doing it) it paints him as concerned for the average person. If he can continue his success in states like Ohio, he will be very hard to beat come November 4th.
I think this type of publicity is exactly what Obama needs in the swing states. With the hard economic times, people will be looking for someone who they feel cares for them and is willing to reach out and help meet their needs. By meeting people face to face (and making sure Americans know he is doing it) it paints him as concerned for the average person. If he can continue his success in states like Ohio, he will be very hard to beat come November 4th.
The Debate Game
According to many top national debate coaches, John McCain needs to start making improvements in his debate capability. The coaches seem to believe that McCain is just not debating as well as Democratic presidential nominee, Barack Obama. This is according to reaction polls which say that respondents in general and undecided voters in particular are favoring Obama. Many seem to point to McCain’s age, saying that they don’t believe “the old dog is willing to learn any new tricks.”
Even though it seems McCain is not receiving any coaching, this is not the case. He is actually being coached by one of the best debate coaches in the nation, former Liberty University debate coach Brett O’Donnell. But this hasn’t kept McCain from “meanders through the substance of his arguments and “getting lost and having to revert back to simple themes”. Obama, already the well known better speaker of the two, is believed to be looking much better then McCain even though Obama seemed very wobbly during his primary debates. Even when Obama is being attacked it is said he is smiling and nodding making him “more agreeable…and more reasonable”
All this discussion leads me to ponder the question, how important are the debates? From a personal stand point, I flat out do not find them very important at all. It is painfully obvious that Obama is the better speaker, but I can’t believe that being a great speaker makes you a great leader. I am not saying that I don’t think Obama could be a good leader by any means. I am just saying that being does not undeniably make you the other. I think they are completely different from each other. Being able to verbally give your ideas can help you get them across, but it doesn’t make you any better at implementing these ideas.
I know that the debates will have a sway on voters in who they decide to vote for the next president of the United States, but it shouldn’t. Too many people look at the candidates based on personal image rather than leadership ability.
Even though it seems McCain is not receiving any coaching, this is not the case. He is actually being coached by one of the best debate coaches in the nation, former Liberty University debate coach Brett O’Donnell. But this hasn’t kept McCain from “meanders through the substance of his arguments and “getting lost and having to revert back to simple themes”. Obama, already the well known better speaker of the two, is believed to be looking much better then McCain even though Obama seemed very wobbly during his primary debates. Even when Obama is being attacked it is said he is smiling and nodding making him “more agreeable…and more reasonable”
All this discussion leads me to ponder the question, how important are the debates? From a personal stand point, I flat out do not find them very important at all. It is painfully obvious that Obama is the better speaker, but I can’t believe that being a great speaker makes you a great leader. I am not saying that I don’t think Obama could be a good leader by any means. I am just saying that being does not undeniably make you the other. I think they are completely different from each other. Being able to verbally give your ideas can help you get them across, but it doesn’t make you any better at implementing these ideas.
I know that the debates will have a sway on voters in who they decide to vote for the next president of the United States, but it shouldn’t. Too many people look at the candidates based on personal image rather than leadership ability.
Palin Abused Her Authority
We are drawing closer and closer to the election every day, and one thing neither one of the candidates can have is bad news about their running mate. The reason is that both candidates are so closely matched in the polls that one mistake could cost them both dearly. An example would be what Palin did with her authority as a Governor of Alaska. Palin "abused her authority and broke state ethics law by trying to remove her former brother-in-law from his job as a state trooper." The McCain campaign says that the Obama supporters are the reason that this investigation even happened. The reason they say this is that the investigation lacks any real evidence and does not contain enough facts to prove that Palin is guilty. As of right now the penalties for what Governor Palin has done are not yet known. The big issue right now is if this news will hurt the campaign for the Republicans. I say most certainly yes. The big thing they have been pushing these past few weeks is that Obama and his campaign have ethical issues. Well, I hate to say it, but the Obama campaign might not be the only ones with ethical problems. Only time will tell in what happens to the McCain campaign due to Palin and her mistakes.
You can find the article at this website:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122364495587222887.html?mod=djemalertNEWS
You can find the article at this website:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122364495587222887.html?mod=djemalertNEWS
Where does McCain Stand in this Horse Race?
Stephen J. Wayne states in his book Road to the White House, journalists find that it is important to cover the events of the presidential “race” as sporting events because it is much more entertaining to focus on why the candidate said what he said as opposed to what did the candidate say and how does it affect us. Today the focus is on the strategy of each candidate’s campaign rather than the substance. So, what is McCain’s strategy? Wayne states that negative news is more entertaining than positive news. That could explain why in McCain’s TV ads you can hear words and phrases such as “dangerous” “he lied” “dishonorable” as well as other negative words to associate with Obama.
Wayne also states that incumbents usually receive more critical comments. It is obvious that when Obama pointed out McCain stating that he has voted the same as President Bush 90 percent of the time, he was trying to tell the public that McCain is just like the incumbent. McCain attempts to separate himself by labeling himself as a Maverick. In the “Why John McCain” section of McCain’s website it is mentioned that “He spoke out against his own party's out-of-control spending, against the Administration to change a failing strategy in Iraq, and against an energy bill that was full of giveaways to Big Oil companies.” This is a strategy that John McCain uses to battle the claim that he would be a President much like the incumbent President Bush. McCain also preaches of having a change but the right change. Currently Obama is leading in the polls, however, it will be interesting to see if McCain’s strategy will bring him success or defeat come November 4, 2208.
Wayne also states that incumbents usually receive more critical comments. It is obvious that when Obama pointed out McCain stating that he has voted the same as President Bush 90 percent of the time, he was trying to tell the public that McCain is just like the incumbent. McCain attempts to separate himself by labeling himself as a Maverick. In the “Why John McCain” section of McCain’s website it is mentioned that “He spoke out against his own party's out-of-control spending, against the Administration to change a failing strategy in Iraq, and against an energy bill that was full of giveaways to Big Oil companies.” This is a strategy that John McCain uses to battle the claim that he would be a President much like the incumbent President Bush. McCain also preaches of having a change but the right change. Currently Obama is leading in the polls, however, it will be interesting to see if McCain’s strategy will bring him success or defeat come November 4, 2208.
Risky in Pennsylvania
With only 21 days left until November 4th, John McCain is continuing to campaign in Pennsylvania, a state that has not voted Republican in a presidential election since 1988. Obviously, this can seem a little risky because of the states voting history. However, with it's 21 electoral votes, campaigning in Pennsylvania is a "high-risk, high-return endeavor," as stated in an article on politico.com by Kenneth P. Vogel and Amie Parnes.
McCain's campaign will be focused in the historically Republican Philadelphia suburbs, as well as the rural and industrial reaches of the state. According to Vogel and Parnes, "The McCain campaign believes it can sway voters in those areas by emphasizing a socially conservative message and branding Obama an elitist liberal with shady past associates."
Barack Obama plans to combat McCain's last minutes sweep for Pennsylvania by labeling the Arizona senator as "out of touch" with PA citizens' economic hardships and by encouraging an overwhelming turnout in the state's most populated city, Philadelphia.
McCain's campaign will be focused in the historically Republican Philadelphia suburbs, as well as the rural and industrial reaches of the state. According to Vogel and Parnes, "The McCain campaign believes it can sway voters in those areas by emphasizing a socially conservative message and branding Obama an elitist liberal with shady past associates."
Barack Obama plans to combat McCain's last minutes sweep for Pennsylvania by labeling the Arizona senator as "out of touch" with PA citizens' economic hardships and by encouraging an overwhelming turnout in the state's most populated city, Philadelphia.
My thoughts...
This actually sounds very familiar to what Barack Obama is doing in Indiana. (In class on Friday we discussed the Indianapolis Star article that laid out the number of times visiting IN for both Obama and McCain.) Indiana is a state that has historically voted Republican. In a way, in makes sense that Obama would campaign here more than McCain. I think the Obama campaign sees the Indiana electoral votes as still 'in the air,' while the McCain campaign views Indiana as more of a sure thing. Even though Pennsylvania has voted Democrat many times in the past, McCain still thinks he has a chance to win the state, and will certainly try to do so before election day.
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