How to Appeal to the Electorate

by Tal-Anna Szlenski

Today’s Guardian offers some interesting comments and campaign suggestions for the two main parties from a line of advertising wizards.

Obvious from the proposed ad strategies is the fact that there is very little differentiation between the parties. Hence, as Richard Exxon, Chief Executive of RKCR, notes:

we may all need a shower after this election, but in the absence of any vision from either party, negative campaigning it is. By their sins shall we know them.

Somehow, I doubt the negative campaigning will reach US levels. But it should be interesting to see what is in store, and which scandals are yet to appear.

At the same time, as the parties seek to outdo each other in sleek PR performances (which have of course not always gone according to plan), I have to admit that it is ‘SamCam’s’ novice approach to the cameras which has caught my eye today.

I actually find it refreshing and endearing to observe her small hesitations and insecurity in front of the camera. To a great extent, her less than perfect performance underlines the irony in both Brown and Cameron seeking to appear ‘real’ and ‘in-touch’ with the electorate by hiding their imperfections through a documented usage of make-up and heavy air-brushing.