Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain represent very different political brands and communicate very different brand messages.  July 4th is a day to celebrate partriotism and democracy.  With that in mind, who would you rather spend July 4th with? 

Cast your vote and leave a comment below to tell Brandcurve readers why!

Post from: EveryJoe

Obama or McCain – Who Would You Rather Spend July 4th With?

DEMOCRATS:

New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton: A 1963 Oldsmobile Cutlass with a battery she kept in her law-school dorm on cold nights so the car would start when she needed it. (Now: A Ford hybrid, and Secret Service vehicles as former first lady)

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards: Plymouth Duster. (Now: Ford Escape hybrid, 2004 Chrysler Pacifica midsize SUV, 1994 GMC truck.)

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama: Grandfather’s Ford Granada was the first car he used extensively. (Now: Chrysler 300C, a full-size sport-luxury sedan.)

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson: Secondhand Ford Mustang. (Now: Official state vehicles and “Jeep Wrangler, although my security doesn’t like me to drive.”

REPUBLICANS:

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani: A used Dodge. (Now: “I don’t drive, I navigate.”)

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee: Mercury Montego. (Now: 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe and 1995 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck)

Arizona Sen. John McCain: 1958 Corvette. (Now: Cadillac CTS, a midsize luxury sedan)

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney: A used 1963 Rambler Classic, which he got in 1965 when he went to college. (His father, then Michigan governor, had helped develop the Rambler as American Motors chief) (Now: 2005 Ford Mustang convertible and 1962 Rambler American.)

Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson: Red pickup. Now: Unknown.

So what do you think?  Do any of the brands or models stand out?  What do these cars say about each Presidential candidate?

Well, I won’t say much about each candidate’s first car, because most people’s first car is not actually the car they want.  However, I do think it’s interesting that each candidate currently drives an American-made car (as they should), and I think it’s interesting that a few have chosen hybrids showing they support the environment.  On the other hand, a few candidates aren’t afraid to drive gas guzzlers (hello, Mike Huckabee and his Tahoe).  And check out the picture above of Mitt Romney in his Rambler American. 

What do you think? 

Photo courtesy of Associated Press and Romney for President, Inc.

Post from: EveryJoe

What Do Their Cars Tell Us about Presidential Candidates?

The most recent example is the online video that’s been circulating around the internet where Hillary asks viewers to visit her website to vote for her campaign song.  Over 200,000 votes were cast and her website received over 500,000 visits on June 19th when the winning song was announced.  In total, the three videos related to the song contest were viewed over 1 million times on YouTube and the campaign’s website. 

In case you haven’t seen the final video it features Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton in a scene similar to the series finale of the “Sopranos.”  It’s amusing and you can watch it below (click here if the video below doesn’t work).

In the end, I’m not sure if this song choice delivers an effective campaign message.  Who is “You and I”?  Is it Hillary and me?  Is it Hillary and Bill?  Either way, I don’t think I buy it.  Will the song support the brand image and message Hillary is trying to deliver in her campaign?  The lyrics are posted below from AZlyrics.com.  What do you think?

“You And I

High above the mountains, far across the sea
I can hear your voice calling out to me
Brighter than the sun and darker than the night
I can see your love shining like a light
And on and on this earth spins like a carousel
If I could travel across the world
The secrets I would tell

[Chorus:]
You and I
Were meant to fly
Higher than the clouds
We’ll sail across the sky
So come with me
And you will feel
That we’re soaring
That we’re floating up so high
‘Cause you and I were meant to fly

Sailing like a bird high on the wings of love
Take me higher than all the stars above
I’m burning, yearning
Gently turning round and round
I’m always rising up I never
Want to come back down

[Chorus]

Fly

You and I
Were meant to fly
Higher than the clouds
We’ll sail across the sky
So come with me
And you will feel
That you and I were meant to fly

You and I were meant to fly”

Here’s what other bloggers are saying about Hillary Clinton’s video campaign:

Hillary Goes Hollywood

Post from: EveryJoe

Hillary Clinton Embraces the Web