PR Lessons from the 2012 presidential race
Whether or not your candidate won, it’s time to rejoice—the seemingly never-ending campaign is over!—and learn from the historic event.
And no wonder: A barrage of advertising messages, direct mail, telemarketing from pollsters interrupting dinner, and constant IMs and emails finally concluded last night.
Hindsight is 20-20
Both campaigns made PR mistakes. There was, for example, Romney’s ill-timed press conference after the tragedy in Libya, and Obama’s inaccurate economic stats in his first debate. Both errors resulted in “needle movement” in the polls, and in keeping the undecided, well, undecided, until they went into the booth yesterday to punch in their decision.
Lesson learned: Know your facts. And know your place. Sometimes it’s OK to seize the limelight, other times it’s not. You have to know—or to be able to advise your clients—on the difference.
Can’t buy me love, err, votes
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