Campaign Trail

Google Starting to Believe Its Own Political Hype?

Company Claims Victory in Va. Gubernatorial Primary

Posted by Michael Learmonth on 06.10.09 @ 04:12 PM

No one gave little-known state legislator R. Creigh Deeds much of a chance in the Democratic primary for Virginia governor. He was up against well-known Democratic operative and former DNC chairman Terry McAulliffe and Brian Moran, a well-known legislator and brother of Virginia Congressman Jim Moran.

Liberal Bloggers to Dems: Advertise With Us. Or Else

They Drop Journalism Guise, Start Acting Like Media Owners

Posted by Ken Wheaton on 04.09.09 @ 03:20 PM

Hoooo Boy! It doesn't get much more brazen than this. According to Greg Sargent:

Some of the leading liberal bloggers are privately furious with the major progressive groups -- and in some cases, the Democratic Party committees -- for failing to spend money advertising on their sites, even as these groups constantly ask the bloggers for free assistance in driving their message.

Or, as Gawker put it, Left-Wing Blogs Try on Extortion as Business Model.

Is President Obama Putting Too Much Too Soon on the Brand?

With Responsibility Comes Risk, but Also Greater Rewards (and Re-Election)

Posted by Evan Tracey on 02.25.09 @ 11:09 AM

It's been an interesting month in our nation's capitol, and the Obama administration is hard at work addressing the country's problems. As with every first-term administration, its primary challenges are to engage lawmakers on Capitol Hill with its new policy agenda and assemble a team that will instill confidence in the American people. If they succeed, in four years they will be rehired. In essence, this process is the political equivalent of establishing the brand.

Obama Can't Sell Stimulus Without TV Ads

Campaign's Biggest Spender Is No Longer Using His Most Effective Weapon

Posted by Evan Tracey on 02.09.09 @ 12:14 PM

As President Barack Obama prepares to give his first prime-time news conference tonight to sell his economic stimulus package to the public, he finds himself fighting this political battle without one of his most powerful weapons: TV advertising.

Political Advertising: The Gift that Keeps On Giving

$47 Million Spent Since Nov. 4

Posted by Evan Tracey on 12.17.08 @ 11:05 AM

With the 2008 elections now in the rearview mirror, one would expect political and issue ad spending to take a break. Well, it has done anything but. Issue ad spending on federal and state policies has topped $42 million since Nov. 4. This, combined with the additional $5 million in runoff ad spending, makes the 2008 election the gift that keeps on giving.

I Also Want to Write About Barack Obama!

Lessons Learned in Learning Lessons From the Most Spherical Campaign Around

Posted by Mythili Chandrasekar on 11.14.08 @ 10:26 AM

Mythili Chandrasekar

The marketing fraternity gets excited when there are lessons to learn, especially when these lessons come from outside the corporate world. So of course, when someone like Barack Obama becomes president, we can pick up many new instructions in management and marketing, mainly from the marketing gurus who love to rush and write about them in the papers. The faster you can figure out the lessons, the better. Now don't get me wrong, they are really good articles. It's just that being somewhat connected to marketing, and also an occasional writer of articles ... I also want to write about Barack Obama.

Buckets of Barack Post-Election Coverage

Posted by Ken Wheaton on 11.10.08 @ 11:53 AM

If there is anyone still dropping by Campaign Trail to see what's left to say, I point you to this page, where you'll find all the post-election coverage from this week's print issue of Advertising Age. Lots of good stuff.

OK, We Get It: Obama Won Because of You

Now Stop Sending Us Press Releases

Posted by Ken Wheaton on 11.05.08 @ 05:38 PM

There are a number of companies, pundits and so-called marketing gurus who are lucky we've been flooded by a wave of press releases in which they each claim their share of responsibility for Barack Obama's win. The massive flood of self-aggrandizing garbage makes it impossible to call each one of you out by name and heap scorn upon your companies. But, hey, we get it. Barack Obama won primarly because of texting/mobile/social networking/youth vote/web/blogging/micro-blogging/nano-blogging/in-game advertising/outdoor advertising/barn-side advertising/cornfield advertising/podcasting/fly casting/typecasting and you are just the expert we need to talk to and/or have just the service we need to buy and/or write about. In fact if it weren't for you, John McCain would be president-elect.

Obama Wins AdAge.com Vote in Landslide

(And Other Election Coverage)

Posted by Ken Wheaton on 11.05.08 @ 10:36 AM

Barack Obama became president-elect last night. He also won the AdAge.com poll, garnering 73% of the vote to 25% for John McCain. Bob Barr and Ralph Nader each snagged 1%. In other AdAge.com coverage:

• Ira Teinowitz: Obama, Democrat Win Could Cause Industry Pain
• Michael Learmonth: Media Outlets Say Goodbye to Their Best Story
• Pete Snyder: How Obama Killed Election Day and Became President
• Al Ries: What Marketers Can Learn from Obama's Campaign

How Obama Killed 'Election Day' and Became President

Axelrod & Co. Understood Time Shifting and Consumer Control

Posted by Pete Snyder on 11.05.08

Pete Snyder

There is no doubt that this year presented the toughest political climate for Republicans since Watergate; indeed, this campaign has been an uphill fight for John McCain or any GOP nominee. That said, Barack Obama, David Axelrod and their team deserve a huge amount of respect and credit for running a nearly flawless campaign.