By Scott Sobel
The two presidential/VP teams have been set and are settling into to the final lap of the presidential race. Everyone has been fielding attacks, questions about experience and campaign planks for the respective platforms – Sarah Palin is just beginning her punditry and positioning. We believe the vast majority of US voters from the largest centrist demographic to the media will certainly make decisions on individual candidate positions but will make the salient decisions based on how the Republican or the Democrat presidential “Team” is presented and perceived.
How do Obama and Biden and Mc Cain and Palin work together? Do the teams stay on message or do they contradict one another? Who defers to whom on what topics? Do they look relaxed in each other’s company? Do they finish each other’s sentences? What is the body language? Is there a sense of real respect and admiration between them?
Our firm, Media & Communications Strategies is in the reality and perception business. As a PR/government relations/media relations expert and former journalist myself, I am looking for cues from each team that will or won’t resonate with various audiences. I have advised several politicians and continue to advise them. My best counsel now to both teams would be to take a breath whenever possible (no matter how hard that is) and just talk through issues and presentations – teammates should spend some quality time so there are no surprises and the media and public see two leader’s comfortable in each other’s company. If the team doesn’t mesh and work well together how can the media and voters believe the individuals can lead a nation?
We are interested in hearing your thoughts on how important this kind of “teamwork” is to the presidential campaign of 2008.
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