Watching the contest of candidates attempting to win the hearts and votes of a country as big as the USA is a show of public relations at its best. No public figure is more closely monitored and ruthlessly scrutinised as is the person who is adamant that they can run the country better than any one else who dares to rise to the challenge.
Attempting to appeal to such a diverse range of people across all classes, races, background and political attitudes allows no room for mistakes so when Michelle Obama stated, in a clearly planned speech in February this year, that for the first time in her adult life she felt truly proud of her country, the media unsurprisingly portrayed this comment as bitter, anti-American and lacking in the patriotism that is imperative to any presidential campaign.
The question of how did this happen is preceded only by ‘team Obama’ asking how do we rectify this blunder? As the first ever black candidate for the White House, Mr Obama has been subject to a torrent of people questioning his religion, values and loyalty to America therefore this kind of slip up can be fatal if it is not successfully harnessed.
So, Obama’s hundreds of aides and advisors set out to tackle the complex problem. They look for the values that define American pride, add a spoonful of political theatre, a couple of cute kids and a broadcasted audience of millions and suddenly America can relate to the Obama family once again.
The potential president’s wife gave an inspirational and uplifting speech that proved her to be of prime first lady material, concentrating on issues surrounding the American dream including heart wrenching stories of the disadvantaged , the family unit, and of the inextinguishable flame of hope that is responded to so well by the American mentality.
In a matter of minutes Obama’s relationship with the American public began to significantly mend.
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