Marketing | US Presidential Campaign Marketing & PR
“As a Kid I sometimes feel like my voice doesn’t matter. I want to show the world it does matter!,” says Hannah Kesselring, a ten-year-old Hew Hampshire political fan I met at a recent Nikki Haley for President town hall event.
Hannah has attended dozens of candidate events this cycle leading up to the New Hampshire primaries on January 23, asking candidates tough questions and posing for photos. She’s become a celebrity, having been interviewed on network television including CNN, NBC, ABC and quoted in such publications as The New York Times, USA Today, and the National Review as well as local New Hampshire publications.
She also has an active social media presence on X.
Last night at the @NikkiHaley rally in Manchester, New Hampshire C-Span interviewed me and my Dad live!😳
— Hannah NH (@Hannahnh2023) January 20, 2024
We didn’t know it was actually live… but very fun interview! Sorry C-SPAN I really really enjoyed doing the interview but sadly you’re not my first interview!😀… pic.twitter.com/zyW7DA9koC
I spoke with Hannah prior to the event. She told me she gave candidates including Chris Christie and Ron DeSantis a look but was most impressed with Haley, and she wishes she could vote for her, but she isn’t old enough yet. Hannah knows more about the nuances of the 2024 Presidential election than almost all my adult friends.
She made her own Hannah NH #GoVote buttons and gave me one which I wore during the event.
I watched Hannah interact with members of the media as well as Haley’s campaign staff who know Hannah by name and court her growing influence in the media.
When Hannah’s was her turn to say hello to Haley after her town hall event, she was greeted with a big hug and kind words. Hannah gave Haley a button too.
Young people asking questions at Presidential campaign events are rare, which is one reason why Hannah has attracted attention. Campaigns need to realize that even though young people like Hannah cannot vote themselves, they can ask pointed questions, share on social networks, and most certainly influence how people vote.
Hannah is an inspiration! I have confidence in the future because of young people like her.
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 four election cycles, go here.
