Trending Topic in Politics / Elections / Campaigning

The Power of Viral Political Ads

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In September 2011, a campaign advertisement for Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain became an internet phenomenon. The ad, which prominently featured Cain's campaign manager smoking a cigarette, received attention for its unusual subject matter and has accumulated more than one million views online. The ad was discussed by various media outlets, and even inspired parodies on television shows like "The Colbert Report" as well as on websites like YouTube.

This is not the first time that an online political ad has received this much attention. Previous campaign ads by politicians like Barack Obama and Christine O'Donnell have also gone viral. In the past few years, political campaigns have spent more focus on online advertising instead of traditional television ads. What influence can these online ads have on political campaigns?

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New Cain Internet ad shines focus on viral videos
Article by Associated Press
Source: Wall Street Journal

This article suggests that Herman Cain's "Smoking Man" ad is just the latest in the recent trend of viral political campaign ads. The author believes that viral ads can create "buzz" around candidates as equally as traditional televised campaign ads. These ads are cheaper to produce and do...

 
  • The End of TV Campaign Ads
    Article by John Avlon
    Source: MSNBC

    The author highlights the power of viral political campaign ads and suggests that the rise in these ads could eventually lower the effectiveness of televised ads. According to the owner of a prominent national media firm, viral ads can "help introduce a candidate, raise money, raise awareness...

  • Smoking ad for Cain was a stroke of genius
    Article by Kathleen Parker
    Source: Houston Chronicle

    The author believes that Herman Cain's smoking ad was a smart campaign move because the absurdity of the ad made it the topic of a large amount of recent political discussion. The ad gave Cain more media attention than any other Republican presidential candidate when it was released. The...

  • Cain smoking ad brings flood of donations
    Article by Justin Sink
    Source: The Hill

    Representatives for presidential candidate Herman Cain state that his "Smoking Man" ad has had a positive impact on campaign donations. In the week following the ad, the campaign received nearly $2 million in donations. His campaign manager suggests that the popularity of the ad can be...

  • Christine O'Donnell campaign ad: 'I'm not a witch' (video)
    Article by Randall Chase
    Source: The Christian Science Monitor

    The article focuses on former Republican senate candidate Christine O'Donnell's first campaign ad in which she famously proclaimed: "I'm not a witch." This statement was in response to comments she made years before suggesting that she dabbled in witchcraft when she was a teenager. The ad...

  • YouTube Creates New Site for Political Viral Video
    Article by Judson Berger
    Source: Fox News

    The article focuses on a new section of the leading video website YouTube, which is devoted solely to political campaign ads. The author suggests that this tool could be an opportunity and also a threat to political campaigns. Online campaign ads can help politicians gain new audiences;...

  • What makes a viral ad?
    Article by Colvyn Harris
    Source: CNN

    The article highlights several components that create an effective viral ad. The author suggests that the ads need to appeal to viewers to prompt them to share them with others, and that factors like shock value and controversy can help ads gain attention. He also believes that ads should be...

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Enelda Butler
Enelda Butler has studied at UNC-Chapel Hill and the University of Alabama. She's interested in public relations, especially in the nonprofi

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