Perfect Pitch

On the eve of Super Tuesday, I thought I'd share a video that is novel in this media age of election politics. Barack Obama's Web site posted the following video, combining a speech given during the New Hampshire primaries with celebrity voice-overs set to music. It's inspiring, sure, and no doubt mobilizing. It's also novel.

Although I have yet to use this space to endorse a candidate, I enjoy following the campaigns if only to reconcile the difference between effective campaigning and effective governing. As a marketer by trade, I understand the difference between the product and the pitch, or the steak, if you will, and the sizzle. I firmly believe that process is more important than product, if for no other reason than a good product is rendered meaningless without relevant process. In other words, in electing the best candidate we're effectively identifying the best campaigner.

Obama has proven his relevance by striking a chord (literally in this context) with this content-driven generation through simple, relevant messaging. The relevant "content" in this case, is both the medium and the message, and- with a little help from Hollywood- it sounds pretty good. Granted the Web is a critical part of every candidate's campaign, but I couldn't see Mitt Romney's camp inspiring an effort like this, nor McCain's, Hillary's or Huckabee's for that matter. Does this suggest Obama is the most relevant candidate? The best leader? The most qualified to lead America through change? Who knows, but where there's sizzle, we can assume there's steak. For now, I'm enjoying the heck out of the campaign, as well as the novelty and the beauty of this thoroughly modern message.