The Most Consequential Ads of the Year? They're Not at Cannes.
Plus, an exclusive interview with top Democratic pollster Lindsay Vermeyan 🗳️📊
Picture this: it's mid-June, and your social media feeds are filled to the brim with dispatches from the Cannes Lions festival. Ad industry folks schmoozing on yachts, toasting with rosé, and generally living it up on the French Riviera. 🌴🥂 It's all very glam, very FOMO-inducing.
But while the advertising world's elite gather in Cannes to celebrate creativity, the real game-changers are hitting screens across America. 📺🇺🇸 This week, we're diving into three political ads that may not win any Lions, but could shape the future of our democracy.
From Biden's hard-hitting $50M ad blitz painting Trump as a "convicted criminal" to the former president's surprisingly low-fi, Wisconsin-focused spot on Truth Social, these ads showcase the diverse strategies campaigns are deploying to sway voters in key battlegrounds. And let's not forget RFK Jr.'s latest head-scratcher - a spot that defies both conventional wisdom and, well, logic. 🤔
We'll be breaking down these ads' messaging, production choices, and potential impact on the electorate. Trust us, they may lack the glitz and glamor of Cannes, but they pack a punch that resonates far beyond the French Riviera.
But that's not all!
We're thrilled to bring you an exclusive, in-depth interview with Lindsay Vermeyen, a partner at leading Democratic polling shop Benenson Strategy Group (BSG). 🗳️📊 Lindsay and her team are the real deal when it comes to understanding the issues and attitudes that will shape the 2024 election, and she shared a treasure trove of insights from BSG's recent swing state survey with The Cook Political Report.
So grab a croissant (or a slice of avocado toast, if that's more your speed), settle in, and get ready for a master class in political insight. While the Cannes crowd may be dominating the hashtags and humble-brags this week, we've got the inside scoop that will help you make sense of the political landscape heading into this historic campaign season.
Inside the Numbers: Lindsay Vermeyen Decodes the Latest Polling for Election 2024
While the ad world's elite were clinking glasses in Cannes, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Lindsey Vermeyen, an LA-based partner at leading Democratic polling shop Benenson Strategy Group (BSG). In our wide-ranging conversation, Lindsey shared a treasure trove of insights from the Cook Political Report’s 2024 Swing State Project, shedding light on the issues that will shape the 2024 election.
Some of the juiciest tidbits from our chat:
💸 It's the economy, stupid: Pocketbook issues like the cost of living are top of mind for voters, potentially trumping other concerns
🗳️ Conventional wisdom, upended: Lower engagement voters are leaning towards Trump, challenging the notion that high turnout always helps Dems
🏛️ Democracy in the balance: Some voters are willing to overlook threats to democracy if they feel the system isn't working for them
📈 Silver linings: Down-ballot Democrats are outperforming Biden in key swing states, escaping some of the economic backlash
Lindsey's takeaway? While the economy is the 800-pound gorilla in the room, issues like abortion rights and immigration are still major motivators for key slices of the electorate. Her advice to Dems: Acknowledge the economic pain while still touting wins and sowing doubts about Trump's ability to deliver for working folks.
Her incisive analysis was a reminder of the critical work pollsters do in taking the pulse of the nation – work that may not be as glamorous as the creative celebrated in Cannes, but is every bit as consequential. 🗳️📊
If you want to spend a few minutes to get smarter about Election ‘24 you need to watch this one from beginning to end!! 👀 Make sure to leave a comment below as well.
While Cannes Lions Toasts Creativity, Political Ads Shape Democracy's Future
While the work being honored at Cannes is impressive (as are the parties) it's worth taking a moment to consider where the real action in advertising is happening this year: over on the TV’s 📺 and screens 🖥️ of U.S. voters.
Sure, the Cannes Lions winners will take home some shiny trophies🥇and maybe even score a few new clients. But will their work change the course of history like the ads that sway swing-state voters and determine the leader of the free world?
So, as we tip our hat to the creatives being honored at Cannes, let's turn our attention to the ads that are truly moving the needle - the ones being beamed into the living rooms and social media feeds of voters in key battleground states.
From big-budget blitzes to homegrown appeals, these ads showcase the diverse strategies campaigns are deploying to sway the electorate in 2024. 📺🗳️
The Unconventional, the Hard-Hitting, and the Bizarre: Deconstructing 2024's Game-Changing Political Ads 🇺🇸📺
This week, we're diving into three political ads that may not win any Lions, but could shape the future of our democracy. From Biden's hard-hitting attack to Trump's grassroots approach and RFK Jr.'s... well, you'll see.
These ads might lack the glitz of Cannes, but they pack a punch that resonates far beyond the French Riviera.
Biden's $50M Gambit: Painting Trump as a "Convicted Criminal"
Biden's team launches a massive ad blitz in swing states, directly calling Trump a "convicted criminal." We break down the ad's strategy, tone, and potential impact on key voter groups.
Trump's DIY Approach: A Wisconsin-Focused Economy Pitch
Trump takes a surprisingly low-fi approach with a Wisconsin-centric ad on Truth Social. We analyze the unconventional production and messaging strategy of this grassroots-style spot.
RFK Jr.'s Head-Scratcher: When Political Ads Go Off the Rails
RFK Jr.'s latest ad defies conventional wisdom - and logic. We attempt to make sense of this bewildering spot and discuss what it means for his campaign's credibility.
What’s Next?
The presidential debate is scheduled next Thursday at 9 PM ET, 6PM PT on CNN. Will it even happen? If it does it’s sure to be must-see TV. 🍿
In the meantime, I hope you can do me a favor!! If you like what you are reading on ctrl+alt+persuade please send and share with your friends and colleagues.
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It’s only the cost of a cup of coffee ☕️(inflation!) and hopefully you are using all this great information to dazzle your friends and family with your inside knowledge of the political world.
Last…if you made it all the way to the end of the newsletter, and didn’t take the survey, please do! Here is the link one more time. 👍 😊
Thanks for your support,
Steve
PS - Share any ads or content (good, bad, or awful) here.
Also on the lookout for contributors. If you have something to share about the ad world and Election ‘24 reach out.
Interesting read. Do you think political ads move people who are already committed to one candidate or are they mainly for those in-between?