Obama's Savvy
No matter what happens in the election, Obama has run one of the best campaigns I've ever seen. From not budging from his initial strategic goals--including a 50-state approach--to the individual tactics to support his strategy, he and his staff have done a brilliant job.Let's look just at the last week. He announces this 30-minute ad on the major networks. Creates a news story from that, which serves to take time away from McCain's "socialist message". Pundits debate the wisdom of the 30-minute ad, suggesting it might be a mistake. Thereby confirming the wisdom of having done the 30-minute ad, as every minute they talk about the ad, in any context, McCain gets less free air time for his attacks.Then the ad airs, and it turns out that it's as much about documenting the plight of individual Americans as it is about showcasing Obama. This deflects the potential criticism from the pundits, who are hardly going to attack those individual Americans in the ad. Further, the ad itself makes McCain's socialist claims for Obama, and his claims about Obama not being ready for the job, seem ridiculous. The live feed in the ad in which Obama speaks directly to the American people comes off seamlessly, and the whole event lives and breathes the idea of efficiency, calm, and competence.McCain then makes his position seem even more untenable by rising to the bait and calling the ad "built on broken promises". One can almost sense him holding back from saying "built on tears and broken promises". And suddenly McCain sounds like an angry old whiner.But Obama's not done. On the same day, he appears on The Daily Show and, more importantly, does a live fund-raiser with Bill Clinton, who I really believe was saved until now as a tactical move to support the strategy of building a series of ever-more important climaxes close to election day. It also gives Obama teflon with regard to the economic issue.And, guess what? The next day has two positive Obama talking points--30-minute ad and live event with Bill Clinton--and just grumbling from the McCain campaign. Thus another day wiped out as a possible way for McCain to gain some ground through free coverage.Meanwhile, Obama apparently says "take the gloves off" and his advisors appearing on Fox News suddenly sound like pitbulls, talking over the reporters interviewing them, accusing Fox of having an agenda and trying to score political points for McCain. It's a there's-nothing-to-lose strategy, and one that has some possible benefits. I know that when I walk into a post office or go to the gym, if there's a TV chances are Fox News is the channel it's turned to. So it's not just core rightwingers watching Fox. Some of us unwillingly have to watch it. So why not be aggressive, score points, and try to make casual observers understand what's going on in the propaganda battle?I'm writing this on Thursday, so I have no idea what's happened Friday and part of Saturday, but it was, from this perspective, a masterful week. A display of thought with regard to strategy and tactics that, if Obama wins, will be studied in great detail. In fact, there will probably be books written about it. And what's interesting is that because of Obama's use of new technologies to spread his message, there are lessons to be learned here for people working in areas other than politics.