Politics and Branding
6 of the most interesting political ads of the 2018 midterm elections
As we approach midterm elections, I thought I would share some of the most interesting political ads that are currently running across America. Now, to be clear, this is not an endorsement of any political campaign, candidate or political party. Rather it is a closer look at a few of the more successful, non-successful, and unique attempts to persuade, educate, and inspire.
1. To begin, let’s have a look at the hip hop-inspired spot for Yatish Joshi, who is hoping to become Indiana’s next U.S. Congressman.
I would be lying if I said this spot wasn’t catchy, but if you watch the video through to the end, you might find a slight disconnect between the candidate and, well, pretty much everything you are seeing and hearing.
2. Next up is a spot for Dr. David Brill, a candidate for Congress in Arizona. At first glance, this spot sounds like a typical attack ad, but again, if you watch through the very end, it might just surprise you.
Yep, that was Paul Gosar’s entire family telling the world not to vote for him. You would think this is a comedy skit of some kind, but unfortunately, it’s all too real.
3. It’s unfortunate that some politicians are judged by their on-camera persona and because they may appear lifeless on TV, it’s assumed wouldn’t make a great elected official. Pretty sure this is not one of those times.
Yes, you heard him right. He did in fact say, “china people”. I will leave it at that and move on.
4. Ok, everything in me wants to hate this, and part of me does. It’s so cheesy and uncomfortable to watch. But just like any train wreck or office-made lip-sync video, you simply can’t look away. Warning: you are about to enter the Helmer Zone.
I warned you, but seriously, how can you go wrong with anything related to the epic and timeless movie, Top Gun? That being said, this might be an exception.
5. If your political leanings fall on the more conservative side, I do not recommend you watch this next spot. If you do, chances are your head will explode 24 seconds in.
Regardless of whether you’re red or blue, the spot itself is well done, and clearly knows what audience they are trying to reach and inspire. A spot like this will drive away many that don’t share their beliefs, but sometimes, it pays off to speak directly to your base. That being said, you lost me at – “Vagenda”.
6. As the father of three daughters, this ad for Brian Kemp might just be my favorite.
Again, what makes this spot so effective is a clear understanding of who exactly they are trying to reach. Clearly, not everyone will be on board with such a strong conservative message like this. Those that do, though, it will be an easy way to view this candidate as one of their own.
While the political environment we live in today can be a bit tricky, the one thing that remains consistent is the creativity, or lack thereof, surrounding political advertising. Whether campaign spots are overly dramatic, mean spirited, misleading, or simply in poor taste, we can always rely on them invading our airwaves whether we like it or not.
Unfortunately, most corporate brands can be and are trusted way more than political ones. Perhaps one day we will hold our political leaders to the same standard. Until then, I hope everyone makes an effort to exercise his or her right to vote, because in the end, it still matters.
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