Behind the Headlines

Casting a spell on you: you will vote for my candidate

By Stephanie Ariganello; stephaniea@monroenews.com

Babs is ready for change - just like me.

“I’m like you — I’m ready for change,” she writes.

I’ve been trying to keep up with all this political hullabaloo, and as such, have signed up for multiple email newsletters from presidential hopefuls. Ms. Streisand, as the email indicates, is ready to support Hillary Clinton in her presidential bid. And apparently wanting it more than she has ever wanted anything before in her life.

Last month, I received an email from former president Bill Clinton, inviting me to have a sandwich. When I pronounced this to my coworkers, one suggested that he mistook me for an intern.

Mitt Romney - he’s all over the clever campaign tie-ins using his name. Like making it the “Ulti-MITT Holiday” this season or making the full ComMITTment to his campaign.

Ron Paul, it would seem, doesn’t need to send out invites from fancy people or come up with clever things since his supporters do it for him. It’s very man-behind-the-curtain-esque.

What I’m wondering is - do these things work? It’s like a commercial for classic advertising techniques: celebrity endorsements, plain folk testimonials, authoritative stance, etc. Does Barbra identifying with you make you want to vote for her candidate or does it just appear forced? Maybe they should try a more yentle approach. (I think I meant gentle.)

Obviously I’m not the target audience for email newsletters aimed at supporters, but what say you? What do you like to know or hear about from your candidates?