Imagine Barack Obama, who has been accused of lacking foreign policy experience, standing before hundreds of thousands of cheering American ex-pats and Europeans at Germany’s landmark Brandenburg Gate. This is the very gate at which President Ronald Reagan taunted Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to “tear down this wall.”
It would be an electrifying YouTube moment. As a former network TV producer, I admire the staging, or what we call “establishing” the shot. The idea that his campaign even would consider such bold staging is a testimony to the skill of Barack Obama’s superb advance teams that work tirelessly to find the right TV backdrop.
Television staging is not new news, but you would think it is a foreign concept when you look at the McCain camp. Obama gave his “patriot” speech in Independence, Missouri. He gave his speech on racism in Philadelphia near the Liberty Bell. Both are symbolic shrines that speak poetry and help frame Obama’s messages.
McCain’s advance team, meanwhile, has flunked most of the visual staging tests. When Obama clinched the Democratic nomination, he did so at the Minneapolis-St.Paul convention center where the Republicans will hold their nominating convention this September. McCain’s staff replied that their guy’s speech — also long in the planning — would occur in New Orleans. This, they said would serve as a definitive counterpunch.
Obama’s was a beauty shot for the camera. McCain’s audio was poor; his staging a mess and lighting was horrible. Oh, and his campaign message was a muddle. Both back-to-back events compared the talents of both campaign staffs. Obama’s team smashed McCain’s.
Meanwhile, McCain has taken two overseas trips this year. One was to Europe, the Middle East and Iraq — these are his signature issues. A second was recently to Colombia, Mexico and Canada. None had any staging and none left any YouTube moment.
Btw, this is what MSNBC filed about McCain’s European/Middle Eastern campaign tour:
John McCain wrapped up his five-country swing to the Middle East and Europe by meeting with two familiar faces- one old and one new. In London this morning, former Prime Minister Tony Blair and McCain had breakfast together at the swanky Mandarin Oriental hotel. A quick photo-op for reporters before the official visit quickly became a reflection of McCain’s recent travels.
The swanky Mandarin Oriental. That worked for me…
In seeking out the Brandenburg Gate, Barack Obama’s advance team is displaying sheer cockiness and brilliance. It still may not happen. But the fact they are scoping out these symbolic locations demonstrates that they are completely outclassing the McCain advance team. (although he does have a new team in place).
In the visually-centric world in which we live, enduring YouTube (and TV news) moments are vital. This year they could determine who is the winner and the loser for the Oval Office.
