Advertising Age magazine just named the Obama 08 campaign and Barack Obama marketer of the year.

Beating out Apple and Zappos.com by a landslide. As a practitioner of the trade, I’ve watched this campaign run like a steamroller, picking up steam, hammering home a simple message of “Change we can believe in” that was so good- the competition tried to co-opt it and ended up looking stupid.

The online messaging, using everything from social networking, to twitter to viral videos and a constant effort to connect, collect money and information, and correct any misinformation was picture perfect. Just on the basis of marketing effectiveness and energizing the market, Barack Obama has defined the way campaigns of the future should be run. Of course, it’s also helped that he’s had the money to do it.

What started out with a mashup video by Will.I.am,

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXyqcx-mYY[/youtube]

has now been followed up with this little ditty- in a 40’s strut:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJW67YfLWgs[/youtube]

It’s this kind of donated brand building that a typical advertiser could only hope for.

While some of it may seem blatantly commercial, the reality is our society has changed dramatically- with an access to viewing and making media like never before. If there is one thing John McCain misjudged, it’s the power of presenting a total brand package.

As long as we’re going to spend around 5 Billion on an election- shouldn’t we be entertained?

Here are the lyrics to the second spot:

Hate to see the nation being run by a hack

Dig the situation that he dug in Iraq

Half the population wants to give him the sack

And now he’s lookin’ round for somebody else to attack

We need somebody great to get us back on the track

So we’re takin’ it back with Barack, Jack!

Choo Choo, Change to believe in

Woo woo, we can achieve it

Choo Choo, Change to believe in

Takin’ it back with Barack, Jack!

Now that global warming is a matter of fact

The only real question is just how to react

The new administration needs the guts to enact

Drastic legislation, leave the planet intact

We can’t be foolin’ round with some Republican Mac

So we’re takin’ it back with Barack, Jack!

Choo Choo….

He only gets his money from your regular macs

Doesn’t take a penny from some whackity PAC’s

For bringin’ folk together he’s the man with the knack

And he’ll supply the hope and inspiration we lack

Cause he’s the best we got and did I ….mention he’s black?

So we’re takin’ it back with Barack, Jack!

DevraDoWrite.