 Mike Huckabee Ad: “Chuck Norris Approved” |
 Barack Obama “Yes We Can” |
 Hillary4U&Me |
 John McCain – Yes we can music video response |
It all started with Chuck Norris. Shortly after recording the coveted Norris endorsement, the Mike Huckabee campaign posted it to YouTube, where it got a mention in the New York Times and spread through cyberspace like wildfire – almost 1.8 million views as of this writing.
Then, nearly three months later, came the “Yes We Can” video. Created by Barack Obama supporter Will.i.am of the band The Black Eyed Peas (with the help of celebrity friends like Kareem Abdul Jabar and Scarlett Johanssen), the video began making the e-mail rounds at the office the Monday morning before Super Tuesday.
Michelle Obama must’ve been slow to check her e-mail that day – she did not circulate the video until late that same evening, encouraging recipients to forward it on.
From her e-mail:
“Sharing this video… is one more way to help start a conversation with your friends, family, coworkers, and anyone else who will be voting soon about the issues important to them in this election.”
Clearly Mrs. Obama understands why social media is such an ideal campaign tool for the candidates. Obama’s video has garnered 4.4 million views so far. That translates to 4.4 million chances to influence users’ votes. And it all started with an e-mail.
Of course, not all the candidates are lucky enough to have hip pop stars producing music videos on their behalf – a fact made painfully evident by the release of “Hillary 4 U and Me” [Warning: YNT can not be held responsible for this relentless tune getting stuck in your head].
And there are the inevitable rip-offs. See John McCain’s “‘Yes We Can’ Campaign Video Response,” for example.
But the message is clear: the candidate – or, more likely their staff – are starting to “get” social media. And these campaign videos will keep coming. But whether any will top the success (or production quality) of the “Yes We Can” video remains to be seen.