2008 Primaries, Branding Politix, Events, Speeches, Strategic Blueprints, Views on News • August 29th, 2008

DNC: A wrap-up

by Chris Lato

History was made this week, and that alone is worthy of acknowledgement. Barack Obama is America’s first black major-party nominee for President. Respect and praise are due. Congratulations to Senator Obama.

As for Obama’s speech last night, was there ever any doubt that Obama could deliver the goods? The words were a combination of bromides, some substance, and a surprising number of shots across the bow directed at John McCain. The pressure to start hitting back at McCain has clearly rattled Team Obama. Politics is politics, after all – despite the claims by some that they are above political gamesmanship. At some point, Obama had to engage, and he chose to do so before an audience of 30 million. It will be interesting to watch the response, particularly in terms of the size of the poll bump Obama will enjoy.

If anything, it could be said that Obama was a victim of his handlers’ hubris. The stage from which Obama spoke, a sort of Parthenon-meets-West-Wing thing that, amazingly, erupts in fireworks at the end of speeches, was a glitzy and perhaps overreaching touch. The spectacle, with 80,000-plus in a big stadium, could be seen as a continuation of the ‘celebrity’ positioning that Obama enjoys, and McCain has criticized as being shallow.

Increasingly, the race is centering on a Big Theme: Change vs. Experience. By any reasonable measure, Obama has enjoyed a meteoric rise with a fairly thin resume but far less baggage as ‘just another politician’ (although a major party candidate, by definition, is a politician no matter how you try to spin it). Meanwhile, McCain has decades of experience as a legislator, but could be broadly painted with the ‘Washington insider’ brush.

Next up – the GOP gets its turn, starting today with McCain’s choice for VP. (CNBC says it’s Sarah Palin, governor of Alaska.) It will either be a brilliant choice or a huge disappointment. I don’t see much room for in-between on this one.

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2008 Primaries, Events, Leadership, Messaging, Speeches • August 28th, 2008

DNC: Days three and four (and a little bit more)

by Chris Lato

Day three of DNC went by without any apparent hitches in Denver Wednesday. Joe Biden and Bill Clinton delivered what they had to in their speeches, with Clinton offering a persuasive address that offered stronger words of support for Barack Obama than Hillary C. was able to muster.

Obama is seeing the expected bump in the tracking polls. His address tonight is being billed as The Speech of a Lifetime, one that has to seal the deal with disaffected Hillary Democrats, independents and Republicans who believe that change would do America good.

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2008 Primaries, Leadership, Messaging • August 27th, 2008

DNC: Day two

by Chris Lato

It needed to be a home run. It fell short.

As the world already knows, Hillary Clinton expected to be delivering a very different speech at the DNC. And with Barack Obama the all-but-confirmed nominee, Clinton needed to be unabashed in her support of Obama, to convince her 18 million voters that they needed to get behind Obama with the same level of passion they felt when supporting her historic run.

But something felt off last night. Perhaps the energy was different in the convention hall (and her line about ‘the sisterhood of the traveling pantsuits’ was a classic). Clinton said most of the right words, but the hollow, at times passionless delivery said a lot more. Clinton praised the idea of a Democrat President, but didn’t go too far in praising Obama, the candidate.

For once, Hillary Clinton was the puppet, not the puppetmaster. And it clearly doesn’t suit her.

(A side note: NBC kept cutting away to Michelle Obama, who appeared alternately tense and perturbed.)

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2008 Primaries, Branding Politix, Leadership, Messaging, Views on News • August 26th, 2008

DNC: Day one

by Chris Lato

(A note of thanks to Joy Cardin and the folks at Wisconsin Public Radio for having me on this morning from 7-8 AM to discuss John McCain’s chances in Wisconsin, and to offer some thoughts on the Democratic convention. You can listen to the full hour here.)

The big prime-time reinvention of Michelle Obama went off without a hitch from Denver Monday night, with Mrs. Obama taking great pains to point out she loves America, and that the Obama family is just regular folks.

For what it was, the speech was accomplished. Anyone looking for substance would be advised to look elsewhere. Mrs. Obama’s job was not to talk policy or attack John McCain, but to gain ground with those who don’t trust, or don’t feel like they ‘know’ Barack Obama. Mrs. Obama also has image problems going back to her comments about being ‘proud’ of her country for the first time in her adult life with the ascension of her husband during primary season.

Her speech was simple and feel-good. She is a solid speaker and the address delivered effective positioning.

Mrs. Obama was then joined by their adorable daughters onstage for an unscripted moment, talking to their dad via satellite. It was both touching and a little awkward, thanks to pauses (probably due to delays in the satellite linkup). It seemed that Barack Obama kept wanting to speak but his kids kept interrupting.

As the convention rolls on, the question being asked by some: when does the Obama campaign go on the offensive and start hitting John McCain? The smart money suggests it needs to start happening very soon. The McCain campaign is landing some strong body blows, as even some Democrats are starting to admit. The Britney Spears/Paris Hilton ‘celebrity’ ad gained traction. Now, the McCain team is using negative remarks about Obama from Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden. Also, that whole flap with the Democratic pro-Hillary delegate from Wisconsin who flipped and is now on McCain’s side continues to haunt and frustrate the Democrats.

In large part, this race is about Barack Obama – his level of experience, his star power, the historic nature of his campaign. McCain’s team knows that and went on the attack accordingly. Once the convention is over, how will the Democrats capitalize on any post-convention momentum? This is a fork in the road, a crucial time in the campaign. The decisions made at that point could well decide the race.

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2008 Primaries, Events, Leadership, Speeches • April 15th, 2008

Random campaign trail notes…

by Chris Lato

I see no exciting theme from today’s news feeds, but here are a few fun items of note:

• Union members picket DNC in Michigan and Florida. How low will Hillary go to sew up the nomination???? Actually, it’s just an educated guess that the Clinton team is behind it. Have fun working that little snafu out, DNC! Having said that, those states made their bed and now they have to lie in it, as my mama used to say.
• From the ‘Worst Kept Secrets’ File: McCain prefers to run against Clinton. No s**t, Sherlock, what was your first clue?…as an old buddy used to say.
• The “We’ll Pass, But Thanks for Playing” Award goes to Bob Barr, who is striving to become the Ralph Nader of 2008. Always aim higher, as my teacher used to say.
• The Idiot of the Week Award goes to this guy. Geez, racist much? Keep it up and I’ll wash your mouth out with soap, as my grandma used to say.
• Barack Obama is a liberal elitist who looks down his nose at Middle America. Paging John Kerry! He knows a thing or two about answering to this charge (belatedly). This line of attack pretty much writes itself and rest assured, you have not heard the last of it. As for Obama’s awfully misguided comments, never forget your audience, as some former bosses used to say.

Now get your butt outside and clean up the yard, as my daddy used to say.

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