Someone messed up over at John McCain’s campaign headquarters. It appears the campaign actually quick-turned a user-generated video contest that will create authentic stories to engage the base and resonate with undecided voters.
What? Really?!? You mean the same campaign that built a disappointing donation tool called McCainSpace, and the same John McCain who said he “never felt the particular need to e-mail” is stepping up?
Congrats, McCain! Although you may not know how to type – let alone understand the societal and political implications of net neutrality – you’ve managed to create a social media campaign that has the potential to create some truly great content that could have quantifiable impact on your quest to become King of the Series of Tubes.
From the contest page: “…make an ad telling us why you are “Joe the Plumber” in 30 seconds and your video could end up on the air as a TV ad. Share your story of living the American Dream, working hard, or owning a small business to tell America why you’re standing with John McCain and Sarah Palin.”
And this campaign not only creates authentic content from real people sharing their real reasons for checking the red box on November 4, it also inoculates much of the negative Joe the Plumber videos that already permeate YouTube and search engine results. That’s the beauty of social media.
Speaking of McCain’s newfound love for technology, did you know McCain also has a mobile SMS alert program, a customizable campaign sign generator, and an interactive phone-from-home system that allows supporters access to a callbank database for use in calling constituents?
If McCain started this strategy six months ago, the millennial generation may have thought twice about voting for Grandpa McTypewriter.
(Full Disclosure: Despite their social media prowess, I’m not voting for either major party candidate this year)