--- title: "How Surfing Influenced Presidential Candidate Tulsi Gabbard: Fanocracy Stories" description: Tulsi Gabbard, the former Presidential candidate, is an avid surfer with a lot of fans. How can businesses learn from Gabbard's fandom to connect with customers? image: https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/Webp.net-resizeimage%20(1).jpg --- [Skip to main content](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/how-surfing-influenced-presidential-candidate-tulsi-gabbard#maincontent) [ «  View All Posts ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog) # How Surfing Influenced Presidential Candidate Tulsi Gabbard: Fanocracy Stories September 3rd, 2019 2 min read By [David Meerman Scott](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/author/david-meerman-scott) ![Tulsi Gabbard](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Webp.net-resizeimage%20(1).jpg?width=714&height=357&name=Webp.net-resizeimage%20(1).jpg) Tulsi Gabbard, a member of the U.S. Congress from Hawaii and candidate for President, is also an avid surfer. It says so right on her [@TulsiGabbard](https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard) Twitter profile: “Soldier. Veteran. Surfer. Congress. Candidate for President.” So when I had an opportunity to ask her a question at a town hall event in New Hampshire, I went straight to her love of surfing. Later, when I had a moment to speak with Gabbard away from the spotlights, she told me mine was the best question she’d ever been asked in her entire political career! That’s what happens when you get people talking about what they are a fan of. ## Tulsi Gabbard's Surfing Fandom The Gabbard town hall was one of 17 presidential candidate events I’ve attended (so far) during the 2020 election cycle. At each one, I’ve asked the candidate about their passions. Well, except for the [Donald Trump MAGA rally I attended](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/trump-the-marketer-non-political-observations-on-maga-rally) where there is no opportunity for a Q&A. People naturally want to talk about their passions. Some, like Gabbard, have managed to weave their passions into their work. In this video, Gabbard tells us about how when she was 21 years old, surfing was an important aspect of why she first ran for office because she wanted to do more to help the environment so the beaches and oceans would be clean and marine life would be protected. She also shares: *“On a deeply personal level, I try to get in the ocean as much as possible,"* she says in the video. *"It’s magic, man! It’s magic. It’s hard to describe. The renewal you get from the ocean and across mother nature keeps us centered and connected to our planet.” * Gabbard, an Iraq War veteran herself, works with [AccesSurf](https://www.accessurf.org) to give military veterans an opportunity to get into the waves no matter what their ability or disability. AccesSurf is a pioneer in the advancement of adaptive water sports, ocean recreation, and therapeutic instruction for people with disabilities throughout the state of Hawaii and worldwide. ### Fandom Reveals Authenticity From Presidential Candidates At the town hall events I've attended, the vast majority of questions are predictable. The same is true at the debates. 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. Heck, you can find the answers on their websites! But our question about what they are a passionate fan of is unusual. They 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. My daughter 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! You can find more candidate Q&A on their passions [here](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/us-presidential-campaign-marketing-pr). ## How Fandom Can Grow Your Business So, what does Tulsi Gabbard's passion for surfing have to do with helping your business? Gabbard's surfing fandom makes her authentic in the midst of political PR. Similarly, consumers are bombarded with impersonal corporate messaging all the time. The businesses that embrace their customers' passions will build meaningful relationships. Through this authentic trust, businesses will gain loyalty from customers that transcends products and services. To learn how businesses like HubSpot and Hagerty Insurance are using fandom to connect with customers, check out my latest book, [Fanocracy: Turning Fans into Customers and Customers into Fans](https://www.fanocracy.com/). In the meantime, you can read about [4 game-changing benefits of fandom](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/benefits-of-fandom) for your business. ***Important note:** This is a marketing blog, not a political blog. By analyzing and commenting on a Presidential candidate’s passions and their marketing strategies, I am not saying I do or do not support that candidate. This is simply a marketing analysis. Rather than commenting on any candidate’s views on the issues, I write about the US Presidential election because it is a massive marketing case study playing out for several years.* For more of my posts about US Presidential election marketing going back three election cycles, go [here](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/us-presidential-campaign-marketing-pr). [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/413105/c115455a-31ca-4316-ab6f-c57d44f9d9b5.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/413105/c115455a-31ca-4316-ab6f-c57d44f9d9b5) [ David Meerman Scott ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/author/david-meerman-scott) David Meerman Scott is a business growth strategist, advisor to clever entrepreneurs who are building emerging companies, and the international bestselling author of a dozen books published in 30 languages. David’s high-energy keynote presentations, masterclasses, and virtual events educate, energize, and inspire. Connect: [mailto:david@freshspot.com](mailto:david@freshspot.com) Topics: [ Personal branding ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/personal-branding) [ Marketing ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/marketing) [ US Presidential Campaign Marketing & PR ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/us-presidential-campaign-marketing-pr) [ Fanocracy ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/fanocracy) Don't forget to share this post: ## Related Articles [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/L1330663-2.jpg?width=1500&height=967&name=L1330663-2.jpg) ### I’m a Senior Citizen Now—Try Catching Me March 25th, 2026|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/im-a-senior-citizen-now-try-catching-me) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/DMS%20casual.jpg?width=3000&height=2001&name=DMS%20casual.jpg) ### My New Website, New Focus, and New Photos January 20th, 2026|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/my-new-website-new-focus-and-new-photos) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Kenyon%20students.jpg?width=2086&height=1394&name=Kenyon%20students.jpg) ### The Future-Proof Value of a Liberal Arts Education in the Age of AI August 19th, 2025|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/the-future-proof-value-of-a-liberal-arts-education-in-the-age-of-ai) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Flax%20Dental.jpg?width=1540&height=1058&name=Flax%20Dental.jpg) ### The Simple Professional Services Website Makeover That Creates Fans August 11th, 2025|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/the-professional-services-website-makeover-that-creates-fans) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Creating%20a%20Personal%20Website%20for%20Success.jpg?width=1536&height=1024&name=Creating%20a%20Personal%20Website%20for%20Success.jpg) ### Your Future: AI Models Will Find You Via Your Personal Website July 18th, 2025|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/your-future-ai-models-will-find-you-via-your-personal-website) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/DMS%20Banner%20Option%202%20-%20LinkedIn%20_%20Facebook%20Sizing.png?width=1200&height=627&name=DMS%20Banner%20Option%202%20-%20LinkedIn%20_%20Facebook%20Sizing.png) ### How to Write and Publish a Book that Supercharges Your Personal Brand July 2nd, 2025|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/how-to-write-and-publish-a-book-that-supercharges-your-personal-brand) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Stefano%20Paciotti.jpg?width=1500&height=1084&name=Stefano%20Paciotti.jpg) ### The Ham Whisperer of Rome: How Stefano’s Honest Videos Won the World’s Heart June 24th, 2025|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/the-ham-whisperer-of-rome-how-stefanos-honest-videos-won-the-worlds-heart) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Tufts%20Entrepreneurial%20Marketing.jpg?width=1500&height=1000&name=Tufts%20Entrepreneurial%20Marketing.jpg) ### My Best Advice for New University Graduates: Do These Two Things April 7th, 2025|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/my-best-advice-for-new-university-graduates-do-these-two-things) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Television.jpg?width=1000&height=667&name=Television.jpg) ### Your Daily Schedule Determines What You Will Accomplish February 19th, 2025|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/your-daily-schedule-determines-what-you-will-accomplish) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/DMS%20at%20HBS.jpg?width=1239&height=843&name=DMS%20at%20HBS.jpg) ### Sneaking In Via Life’s Side Doors January 14th, 2025|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/sneaking-in-via-lifes-side-doors) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Vermont%20wilderness%20pond.jpg?width=1500&height=1125&name=Vermont%20wilderness%20pond.jpg) ### Artistic Craft or AI Dreck in 2025? 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