McCain Shoutout ... AND Engagement

As the Wall Street Journal reports, there's a noticeable difference at Camp McCain since Steve Schmidt took the reins.  

I think some of the recent initiatives, what some might call gimmicks, out of the RNC and Team McCain are results of the campaign power shift, and they mark a positive difference. Although it's possible that I'm being overly optimistic, or too engaged in the day-to-day war games of the presidential race.  (I'd love to hear your thoughts)

 1. Just yesterday, the McCain campaign launched a video, make that two nearly identical videos, highlighting the media's love affair with Barack Obama.  Using real media footage of the media expressing their profound love and adoration of Obama, the campaign video(s) send a strong message.  

They could have stopped there, and the videos would likely have received average media coverage.  However, what makes the effort standout is the reason for the two videos -- two distinct audio tracks with a request for folks to vote on their favorite (after they provide their email address of course).

What makes this more than a gimmick is that by prompting a vote on the favorite audio track, folks are motivated to watch the video not once, but twice.  Two impressions of a message are always better than one.  Schmidt's reputation for hammering a message home through repetition is well-earned. 

2. Compare this to the weekly radio address initiative McCain launched last week.  This was a also smart effort because unlike a mere gimmick, it actually frames McCain as the President.

Yet, I must acknowledge that many of us were disappointed that the address is limited to audio -- the way it's always been done.  

Why not offer a weekly video address and showcase how a McCain White House would step communication up a notch?  How tough is it to film the candidate while he's speaking the address of the week?  

With video, there's a more compelling opportunity to ask for input on the address, questions, comments, suggestions for next week's address.  Also, if the candidate films the address where he happens to be campaigning that day, it helps connect the viewer to the candidate.  

Remember show & tell?  Much more exciting than story time.  Nonetheless, the perfect can be the enemy of the good, and I appreciate this accessible weekly update from the candidate. 

3. Rounding out the recent bright efforts from the GOP, let's not forget the call for input into the GOP Convention Platform launched by the RNC on July 11. (Though I'd like to see them step up the marketing of this again, but maybe they will as we get closer to the convention) 

It remains to be proven if tactics will make a difference in the 2008 presidential election -- ultimately, only votes count.  However, in a close race, nobody wants to be left saying, "If only we had ..."