Introduction
Barack Obama’s vital technological innovation that led him to move to the White House did not involve a smartphone app or tweets. The candidate used the new integration of cell phones, websites, and e-mail. In this instance, Obama’s intelligence showed when he employed young technology-savvy individuals as his campaign staff. While Republicans gained revenues via mail, these staffers increased the capacity for Obama to reach a vast population (Hendricks & Denton, 2010). They did not focus on the web but allowed supporters to self-organize and connect, establishing how grassroots organizations would adopt and adapt platforms in future campaign cycles. In this instance, Obama’s campaign combined social-networking characters in MyBarackObama.com (Hendricks & Denton, 2010). These supporters would raise money, form groups, organize grassroots events and obtain information on voters within their neighborhoods.
Barack Obama’s 2008 Election Campaign
Obama’s campaign translated online action into offline energy; its brilliance was elicited in the form of mass voter registration to virtual rallies developed via phone banks. It also involved getting–out–the–vote efforts during the general election and primaries. Obama’s personality also displays his intelligence as he illustrated a unique capacity to move people. Simonton’s study of intellectual brilliance posits that intelligent people are more likely to lose presidential elections. The former president was inspirational to many young black individuals. However, he used a rapidly developing contemporary technology that aids an active, insurgent campaign that upset Hillary Clinton’s chances of winning the primaries for the democrat position (ICPSR, 2022). He effectively won over a member of one of the nation’s political dynasties. The leader’s charismatic characteristics were elicited when he won against John McCain in the general elections, an impressive feat as he was a war hero.
It is also essential to consider Obama’s success in the 2008 elections based on its adherence to various popular strategies. He had a form of luck in this sector because the Bush administration had failed in its duties. While he faced numerous criticisms because of his lack of experience running a significant position because he had spent most of his time in Congress, Obama was charismatic and convinced individuals of his capacity to lead (Obama, 2010). His luck involved a two-faceted approach that focused on changing issues in the nation (ICPSR, 2022). Firstly, it included alterations in the White House as a replacement for the Bush presidency. He also included change involving Washington’s work. Obama sought to replace a divisive partisanship approach with a cooperative government without major fissures as in previous administrations (Clayton, 2010). He believed voters were tired, focusing on impressing lobbyist groups as opposed to the public good.
Finally, Obama also illustrated how an intelligent person could attain a presidential position in the US using empathy to gauge necessary actions. He proposed major healthcare reforms, addressing the issue in the nation to join other wealthy nations that had introduced universal healthcare. Furthermore, he also sought to make alterations to energy consumption and develop environmental protection policies to reshape the economy. The former president also used factual information to propose changes such as increasing tax for top earners to boost the economy and reduce income inequality. Lower-income earners would also receive tax cuts under his government (McKenna & Han, 2014). He gained a substantial following from many individuals in the US as top earners form a small percentage of the nation’s voters.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Obama’s 2008 election campaign illustrated various new methods to conduct politics. He used novel technologies to reach people and develop communication without relying on an online presence. The leader’s charismatic nature, coupled with competence and a fact-based campaign, endeared him to many people, helping the candidate win the presidential elections by a landslide. Obama showcased a flaw in Simonton’s ideology, where an intelligent man led the world’s most powerful nation.
References
Clayton, D. M. (2010). The presidential campaign of Barack Obama: A critical analysis of a racially transcendent strategy. Routledge.
Hendricks, J. A., & Denton, R. E. (2010). Communicator-in-chief: How Barack Obama used new media technology to win the White House. Lanham (Md., USA: Lexington Books.
ICPSR. (2022). Campaign Themes, Strategies, and Developments. The Regents of the University of Michigan. Web.
McKenna, E., & Han, H. (2014). Groundbreakers: How Obama’s 2.2 million volunteers transformed campaigning in America. New York, NY : Oxford University Press.
Obama, B. (2010). Barack Obama’s speeches = Los Discursos de Barack Obama. Ulysses Press.