Was the Clinton Campaign Technologically Challenged?

The well-known spin off of the Apple/1984 pro-Obama/anti-Hillary ad probably sticks the mind of voters.  It is unlikely that the ad changed the vote of pro-Clintonites,  however, undecided voters searching for their candidate absolutely could have been swayed.  And the 1984 ad came from a voter; it didn’t come from Obama’s campaign.  Yet another innovation in the world of politics allowing anyone to post electronic information that actually has an impact on a presidential election.  And what demographic posts the majority of information on YouTube?  The younger generation – a.k.a. the generation who is more likely to vote for Obama. 

 

Where many thought Obama’s newness would be a detriment to his campaign, it only helped him.  Clinton’s seniority seemed to be the detriment.  Hillary already had a history with voters and the public, so it was harder for her to reinvent herself to be a hip, up-to-date, new-media Web presence.  The history of the Clintons in the White House, another four years of Bill (essentially) in office, 3 am phone calls, sniper fire in Bosnia and Bill’s constant gaffes that made him seem like a grumpy old curmudgeon didn’t help the Clinton cause. 

 

 

 

 

Even Hillary’s crying didn’t come across as genuine, and voters were turned off. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hillary’s speeches were excellently prepared and written, but it was hard for me to believe that she believed what she was saying.  Maybe Obama is a better actor, which definitely fares better when clips are played to infinity on the Web. 

 

 

Gens-X & Y might not search the internet for political information as readily as they would celebrity gossip, but it’s a little different when Barack Obama is your friend on Facebook.  It’s cool.  You’re involved in what’s going on in your country.  You can hold an intelligent political conversation (with your friends, at least).  So the younger generations can still heart America without being that guy. 

 

A new age of politics has definitely been ushered in with the 2008 election.  A Web presence was felt in 2000 and 2004, but those elections don’t compare with 2008’s Web involvement.  McCain should look to hire a team of Web experts (or upgrade the one he currently has) to keep up with Team Obama until November.  A tremendous amount of votes is up for grabs by taking advantage of this new electronic medium.  Obviously, Hillary’s lack of new-media involvement didn’t solely sink her campaign.  But it is unfortunate for her and her supporters that, of all the stellar advisors surrounding the Clintons, this was missed.