Public Speaking | US Presidential Campaign Marketing & PR | Newsjacking | Fanocracy
We travel to 2020 Presidential town hall events in New Hampshire to ask a simple question of each candidate: “Outside of your work and your family, what are you a fan of, what are you passionate about?” Today we share what Jay Inslee, the Governor of Washington state, told us.
Inslee is running for President to build a national movement to defeat climate change. When we ask him what he is passionate about, we already know he’s passionate about defeating climate change. But since we specifically frame the question as “Outside of your work and your family” his answer is particularly revealing.
My daughter and co-author Reiko and I thought it would be fun to learn from the Presidential candidates and as of this writing we’ve asked 16 candidates and have all the answers on video. It’s a question they’ve never been asked on the campaign trail, until now!
Here is last week’s candidate Q &A: What is Elizabeth Warren a Passionate Fan of?
Here is more about this project What Are The U.S. Presidential Candidates Passionate Fans Of?
The first democratic debates are tonight and tomorrow
We are excited for the debates tonight and tomorrow because we're eager to learn how the candidates answer questions.
We’re assuming that most questions will be predictable. Candidates are asked about the issues of the day such as climate change, income inequality, taxes, healthcare, the opioid crisis, and so on. Each candidate already has already worked up the answers to these questions.
But our question is unusual. The candidates aren’t ready for it. After we pose the question, the candidate frequently pauses to think. You can feel the tension as they consider how to answer.
Our book will release January 7, 2020 from the Portfolio division of Penguin Random House.
Important note: This is a marketing blog, not a political blog. I am not commenting on any candidate’s views on the issues nor am I publicly supporting any candidate. I write about the US Presidential election because it is a massive marketing case study playing out for several years, not because I voice my support for any candidate over another or one party over another.
For more of my posts about US Presidential election marketing going back three election cycles, go here.
