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Sarah Palin Earned More Votes Than Biden
By Robert Skrob | September 4, 2008
Watching the Republican National Convention, I had a lot of thoughts. On this world stage, it’s interesting to watch the top speechwriters and great orators on display. It’s helpful because we can watch and learn how to create marketing copy for our campaigns.
One of my favorite comments came from Mike Huckabee, who said that Sarah Palin earned more votes in her election to mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, than Joe Biden won in his race for president of the United States. Huckabee followed up this comment with a powerful story about veterans whose service to our country provided the freedoms we enjoy.
For the last several weeks, I’ve been extremely disappointed with the presidential candidates. I was faced with voting against Barack Obama rather than voting for a candidate I was excited to see lead our country. While I enjoy hearing Obama speak, I abhor his policies. His solution to every problem is to create a government program or to spend more tax money. Unfortunately, government programs and tax money are the source of many of the problems he’s proposing to solve. While his platform is “change,” his policy recommendations are for more of the same. Governor Palin’s nomination for vice president introduced someone I can relate to.
Before I get to Palin’s comments, I want to make two observations about the Democratic National Convention. First, party leaders did a terrific job of having almost everyone who stepped on stage give their personal stories. So far this election has been decided on how relatable a candidate is. People are voting for candidates with whom they identify, without giving much consideration to policies. In Barack Obama they see an outsider breaking the strongholds of the established powerbrokers. So, personal back stories helped voters to identify with the DNC’s speakers and the Democratic candidates. The second thing I was impressed with is that the Democrats didn’t take familiarity for granted. No matter how familiar viewers were with a particular speaker, that speaker always retold his or her story. This isn’t redundant, it’s smart. You can’t take familiarity for granted, and your supporters will be happy to listen to your story again.
Rudy Giuliani’s speech had some great criticisms of Barack Obama. Even though most viewers tuned in to see Sarah Palin, Giuliani gave terrific reasons to support John McCain. My favorite Giuliani comment was, “Change is not a destination … just as hope is not a strategy.” However, Rudy didn’t tell his personal story. Assuming everyone in the nation already knows you is a mistake. Always weave your background and some personal stories about yourself into every presentation, speech, interview or article.
For the last several days, key stories have been repeated about or by Sarah Palin; they include:
• Her refusal to accept a luxury private jet as governor of Alaska, instead auctioning it off on eBay and driving herself to work.
• Eliminating the personal chef for the governor. She quips, “Some nights, my kids really miss her.”
• Introducing her family and ending with a message to parents of special needs children: “You will have a friend and advocate in the White House.”
She didn’t take it for granted that you’ve seen television in the last several days. Instead, she repeated her introduction to ensure viewers could identify with her in some way. She even threw in a self-depreciating joke: “What’s the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick.”
After Sarah introduced herself, she went into the traditional role of the vice presidential candidate to attack the opposing party’s candidate for president:
• “… listening to him speak, it’s easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform …”
• “This is a man who can give an entire speech about the wars our nation is fighting, and never mention the word ‘victory’ except when it comes to his own campaign.”
• “… what exactly is our opponent’s plan? What does he actually seek to accomplish after he’s done turning back the waters and healing the planet? The answer is to make our government bigger …, give you more orders from Washington … and to reduce the strength of America in a dangerous world.”
Sarah Palin’s speech was everything it could be. She gave a terrific speech, with barbs against her opponent and clever illustrations of John McCain’s appropriateness for the office of president. It’ll be interesting to watch how she follows this performance over the next few days. She will have to address her critics from the past. She set that up in her speech by mentioning the special interests and powerbrokers that hate change when it means losing their power. I’ve circled October 2nd on my calendar for the vice presidential debate. It’s a must-see event.
What do you think? Feel free to comment. I read every comment and respond when I can.
Topics: Skrob Family | 17 Comments »
September 4th, 2008 at 3:25 PM
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and her Republican supporters held back little Wednesday as they issued dismissive attacks on Barack Obama and flattering praise on her credentials to be vice president. In some cases, the reproach and the praise stretched the truth.
Some examples:
PALIN: “I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending … and championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. I told the Congress ‘thanks but no thanks’ for that Bridge to Nowhere.”
THE FACTS: As mayor of Wasilla, Palin hired a lobbyist and traveled to Washington annually to support earmarks for the town totaling $27 million. In her two years as governor, Alaska has requested nearly $750 million in special federal spending, by far the largest per-capita request in the nation. While Palin notes she rejected plans to build a $398 million bridge from Ketchikan to an island with 50 residents and an airport, that opposition came only after the plan was ridiculed nationally as a “bridge to nowhere.”
PALIN: “There is much to like and admire about our opponent. But listening to him speak, it’s easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform — not even in the state senate.”
THE FACTS: Compared to McCain and his two decades in the Senate, Obama does have a more meager record. But he has worked with Republicans to pass legislation that expanded efforts to intercept illegal shipments of weapons of mass destruction and to help destroy conventional weapons stockpiles. The legislation became law last year. To demean that accomplishment would be to also demean the work of Republican Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, a respected foreign policy voice in the Senate. In Illinois, he was the leader on two big, contentious measures in Illinois: studying racial profiling by police and requiring recordings of interrogations in potential death penalty cases. He also successfully co-sponsored major ethics reform legislation.
PALIN: “The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes, raise payroll taxes, raise investment income taxes, raise the death tax, raise business taxes, and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars.”
THE FACTS: The Tax Policy Center, a think tank run jointly by the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute, concluded that Obama’s plan would increase after-tax income for middle-income taxpayers by about 5 percent by 2012, or nearly $2,200 annually. McCain’s plan, which cuts taxes across all income levels, would raise after tax-income for middle-income taxpayers by 3 percent, the center concluded.
Obama would provide $80 billion in tax breaks, mainly for poor workers and the elderly, including tripling the Earned Income Tax Credit for minimum-wage workers and higher credits for larger families.
He also would raise income taxes, capital gains and dividend taxes on the wealthiest. He would raise payroll taxes on taxpayers with incomes above $250,000, and he would raise corporate taxes. Small businesses that make more than $250,000 a year would see taxes rise.
MCCAIN: “She’s been governor of our largest state, in charge of 20 percent of America’s energy supply … She’s responsible for 20 percent of the nation’s energy supply. I’m entertained by the comparison and I hope we can keep making that comparison that running a political campaign is somehow comparable to being the executive of the largest state in America,” he said in an interview with ABC News’ Charles Gibson.
THE FACTS: McCain’s phrasing exaggerates both claims. Palin is governor of a state that ranks second nationally in crude oil production, but she’s no more “responsible” for that resource than President Bush was when he was governor of Texas, another oil-producing state. In fact, her primary power is the ability to tax oil, which she did in concert with the Alaska Legislature. And where Alaska is the largest state in America, McCain could as easily have called it the 47th largest state — by population.
MCCAIN: “She’s the commander of the Alaska National Guard. … She has been in charge, and she has had national security as one of her primary responsibilities,” he said on ABC.
THE FACTS: While governors are in charge of their state guard units, that authority ends whenever those units are called to actual military service. When guard units are deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, for example, they assume those duties under “federal status,” which means they report to the Defense Department, not their governors. Alaska’s national guard units have a total of about 4,200 personnel, among the smallest of state guard organizations.
FORMER ARKANSAS GOV. MIKE HUCKABEE: Palin “got more votes running for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska than Joe Biden got running for president of the United States.”
THE FACTS: A whopper. Palin got 616 votes in the 1996 mayor’s election, and got 909 in her 1999 re-election race, for a total of 1,525. Biden dropped out of the race after the Iowa caucuses, but he still got 76,165 votes in 23 states and the District of Columbia where he was on the ballot during the 2008 presidential primaries.
FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOV. MITT ROMNEY: “We need change, all right — change from a liberal Washington to a conservative Washington! We have a prescription for every American who wants change in Washington — throw out the big-government liberals, and elect John McCain and Sarah Palin.”
THE FACTS: A Back-to-the-Future moment. George W. Bush, a conservative Republican, has been president for nearly eight years. And until last year, Republicans controlled Congress. Only since January 2007 have Democrats have been in charge of the House and Senate.
With that said… You should stop lying, tell the truth and take responsibility for your failures!
September 4th, 2008 at 3:39 PM
Interesting way of looking at things and it’s obvious you are convinced of your position.
My point was the marketing lesson.
Even though Palin was relatively unknown and had a lot of “introducing” of herself to do, she did that and was able to fulfill the traditional role of the VP candidate, attack your opponent.
September 4th, 2008 at 4:04 PM
With all due respect… if a person is going to use fictional character to make a point… their is still the responsibility of the writer to be truthful and factual.
When dealing in Politics and Religion it is always better to check the facts for yourself and not trust the aimless, thoughtless, lies and misconceptions of anyone at a rally.
I have not made up my mind as to who I will cast my ballot for. I am weeding through the information to make an informed selection. This election is to critical not to make a selection on anything other than the facts.
September 4th, 2008 at 4:10 PM
I respect your decision to make your selection based on facts.
However, it should be obvious to you that the majority is making their selection based on who they relate to the best. They are asking themselves, “is this person like me?”
Since that is how voters are making their decision that’s how candidates are presenting their arguments.
You are free to base your decision as you wish. However, when you are selling; whether it’s in a business or in an election, you make your presentation based on the criteria your customer uses, not the criteria you’d use in a similar situation.
We can never confuse the “reality of perception” with the “way things should be.” Sure, in a perfect world, decisions would be based on facts. In this world, decisions are based on emotion.
September 4th, 2008 at 4:33 PM
Interesting you made the point that you did in the last post. I agree with you. I was having breakfast with a friend this morning. Our conversation turned to the convention and I said to her;
“You know if Satan put on a suit and stood before the crowd and everyone knowing without a doubt who he was, what he represented and knew where he is going to end up… do you know there are millions of people who will follow him because he charmed them! whispered sweet nothings in their ears, said all the right things they longed to hear? People trust their emotions more than they do facts or the truth and they will eventually pay for it… and the cost is going to be a lot more than they ever dreamed.”
I thought I would share because it was right in the follow. Enjoy your evening.
September 5th, 2008 at 12:49 PM
Great post and observations. It is also amazing when I talk to all my customers/clients and I see a huge number of Hilary supporters are now preparing to vote for Sarah… why, because women in general can relate to women. We have NEVER been able to relate to our candidates at this level before.
September 5th, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Barack Obama’s popularity is primarily because people can identify with him even though they normally wouldn’t support his policy ideas.
It makes sense that people support Sarah for the same reason. In fact, they are doing what they can to emphasize her strengths in that regard. The McCain campaign said she’ll begin campaigning by herself on Sunday. It’ll be interesting to see her messages on those Monday speeches. Does she talk about health care or does she talk about being a hockey mom and PTA member?
September 5th, 2008 at 1:48 PM
I find it very interesting, and appalling, that women who would have voted for Hillary would even consider voting for McCain because of Sarah Palin. In many cases their political views are completely opposite of each other. As a woman, I would like to think that our sex has more common sense than to fall for this. If McCain should become president, I will pray daily for him to stay healthy..LOL
September 5th, 2008 at 3:04 PM
Funny,
I don’t see this as any different than Barack Obama. When challenged about Barack’s lack of experience his supporters say we should elect Barack because of his integrity and ability to lead. However, he’s never demonstrated that ability.
With Palin, we’re asked to support her because of her integrity and ability to lead. At least she’s demonstrated experience in those attributes. At least with Palin there’s John McCain to help her learn as Vice President before she’d have to assume the Presidency. With Barack, he gets his first experience “on the job.”
How do you feel about this?
September 5th, 2008 at 5:34 PM
I bet if Palin and Hilary were in a room together all alone–they would agree more than they would disagree.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:29 PM
Although Barack Obama is a great speaker and has fired up the nation with hope that change is possible, I also was uncomfortable with his lack of experience. At least he had the good sense to pick a VP who knows his way around Washington quite well. I do not however think, just because Palin is a female, that all the Hilary voters should be jumping on her band wagon. As a woman, it frightens me that another woman is so adamant against my reprodructive rights. As a mother, it terrifies me that she will not even cop up to the fact that our enviromental issues are man made. As the wife of a highly decorated special forces soldier, I can only cringe to think how she would deal with the issues that are on the world stage right now. IF a person was considering voting for Hilary, I can’t imagine them changing their vote to McCain because of Palin. But then I guess Hilary can’t claim to have run a marathon or win a beauty pageant.
September 15th, 2008 at 8:04 AM
Much of your post is quite embarrassing given the facts as was pointed out in other comments here. You could benefits from spending a few minutes at http://www.factcheck.org
September 15th, 2008 at 8:11 AM
Except, the point is the facts don’t matter. Today’s voters aren’t using facts to make their decision.
The point is people are choosing their president based on who they feel identity with. Barack Obama spent 16 months of his campaign being the star. Hillary tried to talk about issues, he never would engage her. Now that Sarah has taken the “star” power Barack is trying to talk about issues. That’s the same loosing strategy Hillary and Mit used.
This election cycle proves facts are irrelevant. Perception and identity are whats driving this election on both sides.
September 16th, 2008 at 6:11 PM
You know I think this is all so sad.
There’s so much to be said here, but mainly I’m just disappointed. We are all entitled to our own opinions, but Robert you have admitted that the facts are not important in this election, but then you put forth facts in your blog posts and comments that are so untrue it’s not even funny.
You are a business man so think about this…
If the CEO of any of your companies had run your company into the ground for the past 8 years to the point that you are now in so much debt that you couldn’t climb out and all you had left to do was to go bankrupt, would you rehire him again, or would you hire the guy who believes the CEO was right and plans to follow in your previous CEO’s footsteps? No, you would fire that CEO, his management team and everyone who worked with him. You would clean house.
This is election is an opportunity to get rid of the party that has put this country in serious debt in the past 8 years, involved us in a war that we can never truly win, and stood by while the infrastructure of this country has deteriorated, but now what? Things are suppose to be different because Sarah Palin is on the ticket.
WE ARE NOT VOTING SARAH PAIN FOR PRESIDENT!!!! WAKE UP PEOPLE.
This woman is so under qualified and she would have to read the cliff notes version of US foreign policy and economics to even be brought up to speed just a little bit on what this country is really facing. She doesn’t even comprehend the Bush Doctrine, which is a legacy she and McCain would be continuing. Don’t get it twisted.
It has become blatantly clear that on the ISSUES she cannot battle Obama or Biden, but still folks want to hold her up as the 2nd coming. All of the women who were following Hilary Clinton and have now turned to Palin, are either ignorant of who this woman really is or they are racist bigots (that’s right I said it). There is a black man poised to be the next president and because of it every white person in American who felt at one point that they were so PROGRESSIVE has suddenly started to take a second look at the other guy, because deep down, the mere though of having a black man run this country keeps them up at night.
How dare you say Obama gets his first experience on the JOB? Ludicrous! Again we are not voting Sarah Palin for President, but since you brought it up. She’s been a governor for 20 months and mayor before that. She has lied about supporting the bridge to no were. Where is the integrity in that?
Amazing! I’m a fan of the Info-Marketing Association and I can’t really see what pumping up Sarah Palin on your blog does (besides get folks excited and drive traffic), but whatever floats the boat.
Obama’s plan would put this country back in the black. We would win our international respect back and have an actual plan for bringing home our men and women and McCain’s plan would be more of the same. Why anyone (Democrat or Republican, White, Black, Brown or Red) would vote for 4 more years of the same nonsense we’ve had for the last 8 is beyond my comprehension. Open up your eyes just because she’s a soccer mom and his a veteran doesn’t mean they are right for the country.
September 22nd, 2008 at 5:18 PM
I think it’s important to study what’s working in marketing.
It’s even more enlightening when you see how the fact checking the news media does has no impact on Obama or McCain.
If a business person ran an ad with such false claims we’d be thrown in jail, they’d seize our assets and force us to refund every customer regardless of whether they were satisfied or not.
However, both Obama and McCain can run false commercials and it only helps them.
My blog is complete separate from the Information Marketing Association. I’d never talk about this stuff in that forum. All this is are ramblings about what’s happening in our world.
Pretty amazing how people are so accepting of a person they identify with and the volume of facts don’t matter.
Just shows you that stacking up facts in your marketing isn’t useful. In fact it could be harmful. Instead, be a person people can relate to.
Thank you for your comment Nisha. Good to hear form you.
September 30th, 2008 at 11:06 AM
Palin offers a lot of lessons for marketers. It is essential in marketing to remain credible as the customer gets to know you. Her initial convention speech was a hit, but in subsequent interviews (when she can’t rely on a script or a friendly crowd) it is obvious that she is not fully informed on the issues, and even people in her own party are publicly doubting that she is qualified for the position. In essence, the packaging looked good at first glance, but as time goes on people are realizing the content is less than advertised. A good first impression is not enough, in politics or business. If Thursday’s debate does not go well, McCain and the party have a major problem on their hands.
September 30th, 2008 at 11:20 AM
I agree with you. As a marketer you cannot depend on one anything.
That one speech was terrific. However, she’s been locked away ever since. She MUST appear on evening news shows, Today Show, Good Morning America and the Sunday morning interview shows.
A lot of potential customers sit on the fence after seeing a terrific marketing piece. They want the marketer to prove the are legitimate with longevity. Thank goodness not all customers do it. However, you have to use follow-up marketing to go get the customers that are reluctant at first.
I think the Republicans are in trouble either way. I’ll be watching the debate but they were in trouble a year ago. Voters want a change. It’s just up to Obama to keep from making a big mistake between now and the election.
What’s worse, is the economic news is tough for McCain.
No question that Sarah Palin was a bit of a “Hail Mary” pass. It worked, but Obama may return the kick-off for another score as time expires.