Politics

Defining the Republican Brand

6 May 2021  

It is rare to see a brand face a clear positioning decision. In most situations, brands change gradually over time, with the brand leaders working to nudge perceptions one way or the other. A brand might want to seem a bit more inclusive or innovative or young. The Republican party is in a unique situation; […]

Politics

The Problems with Student Debt Forgiveness

24 Mar 2021  

One of the most intriguing ideas floating around Washington these days is student debt forgiveness. Some politicians are arguing that the U.S. should forgive $50,000 of student debt per person. Other people think it would be better to forgive all the debt. It might be possible for Joe Biden to make such a move because […]

Politics

Joe Biden Embraces the Power of Marketing

12 Mar 2021  

Joe Biden last night delivered a sober, thoughtful address looking back on a difficult year and promising hope for the future. The speech was remarkable for its tone. There was no boasting, no declarations of victory, no personal attacks on his opponents. It was simply a credible review of where we are now in the […]

Politics

Three Learnings from Election 2020

23 Nov 2020  

Donald Trump seems reluctant to believe it, but we are now well past the election. It is a good time to consider what we learned. I think three things stand out. The Democrats Need Better Marketing If you’ve been following this blog, you know that I’ve been unimpressed with the marketing efforts coming from Joe […]

Politics

Political Ad Review: The Final Spots

29 Oct 2020  

We are heading to the finish – people are voting, Trump and Biden are crossing the country to rally support, and the final ads of the season are coming out. Today I want to look at two of these spots, ads that could not be more different in tone and style and effectiveness. Trump’s Law […]

Politics

Political Ad Review: Biden and Dogs – The Election’s Defining Ad

17 Oct 2020  

Every once in a while you come across a piece of advertising that somehow perfectly fits the moment. These usually aren’t the most rational ads, or the most entertaining. For George Bush, it was Ashley’s Story, a simple yet remarkable spot that somehow made sense of an entire election. Why vote for George Bush? Because […]

Politics

Political Ad Review: Ford’s Built for America

7 Oct 2020  

It is a chaotic time in the presidential race, so in this ad review I will shift my focus from the candidates to Ford’s new patriotic spot, Built for America. You can watch it here. A Lot to Like There is a lot to like in this new spot and campaign. It is beautiful. It […]

Politics

Ad Review: Biden Ups His Game

10 Sep 2020  

Joe Biden is out with a new spot, and if it is any indication, he might make this a competitive election after all. The Biden Struggle Those of you that have been following these political ad reviews know that I think Joe Biden has been struggling to find a strategic focus. He has run ads […]

Politics

Ad Review: Trump Embraces the Police

31 Aug 2020  

There is nothing like a crisp strategy. I love seeing great marketing, and effective campaigns are grounded in strategic thinking. Donald Trump has a tight strategy heading into the election, and he is executing on it in a new ad out this week. Like the last Trump spot I reviewed, this one works pretty well. […]

Politics

Ad Review: A Weak Effort from Joe Biden

17 Aug 2020  

Last week I reviewed one of Donald Trump’s recent ads. I thought it was a pretty effective attack on Joe Biden with a clear message and benefit. You can read my review here. This week, I am looking at a recent spot from Joe Biden. A COVID-19 Plan This new spot, called Real Plans, is […]

Politics

Trump’s Powerful Attack Ad

13 Aug 2020  

We are heading into election season! This means there will be a lot of political advertising to look at. Over the next several months I will be reviewing the spots. My focus will be effectiveness: will the ad actually work? Will it sway voters? I will keep my political views out of the analysis. I […]

Politics

How Biden Can Win: Learn from Reagan

21 Jul 2020  

I recently posted an article explaining how Trump might win in November. The key move would be to portray Joe Biden as sympathetic to rioters and looters and hostile to the police. A law and order campaign would likely resonate with voters and give Trump critical momentum. Joe Biden needs to take a different approach. […]