The Utube Blog

For a bigtime movie star, the video camera seems so poor.

Go to my report.

Video over at The Utube Blog 2.0, www.theutubeblog.net.  Hilarious skit, one of the funniest in recent memory.

Wow, the Clinton camp is pulling out all the stops.  (more)

Five days, over 2 million views.

Huckabee girl

First, there was Obama girl. Then, Hillary guy. Now, there’s a Huckabee girl, and also a Hillary girl, although both are more tongue-in-cheek.

Hillary girl

Dear Senator Obama,

This letter represents a first for me–a public endorsement of a Presidential candidate. I feel driven to let you know why I am writing it. One reason is it may help gather other supporters; another is that this is one of those singular moments that nations ignore at their peril. I will not rehearse the multiple crises facing us, but of one thing I am certain: this opportunity for a national evolution (even revolution) will not come again soon, and I am convinced you are the person to capture it.

May I describe to you my thoughts?

I have admired Senator Clinton for years. Her knowledge always seemed to me exhaustive; her negotiation of politics expert. However I am more compelled by the quality of mind (as far as I can measure it) of a candidate. I cared little for her gender as a source of my admiration, and the little I did care was based on the fact that no liberal woman has ever ruled in America. Only conservative or “new-centrist” ones are allowed into that realm. Nor do I care very much for your race[s]. I would not support you if that was all you had to offer or because it might make me “proud.”

In thinking carefully about the strengths of the candidates, I stunned myself when I came to the following conclusion: that in addition to keen intelligence, integrity and a rare authenticity, you exhibit something that has nothing to do with age, experience, race or gender and something I don’t see in other candidates. That something is a creative imagination which coupled with brilliance equals wisdom. It is too bad if we associate it only with gray hair and old age. Or if we call searing vision naivete. Or if we believe cunning is insight. Or if we settle for finessing cures tailored for each ravaged tree in the forest while ignoring the poisonous landscape that feeds and surrounds it. Wisdom is a gift; you can’t train for it, inherit it, learn it in a class, or earn it in the workplace–that access can foster the acquisition of knowledge, but not wisdom.

When, I wondered, was the last time this country was guided by such a leader? Someone whose moral center was un-embargoed? Someone with courage instead of mere ambition? Someone who truly thinks of his country’s citizens as “we,” not “they”? Someone who understands what it will take to help America realize the virtues it fancies about itself, what it desperately needs to become in the world?

Our future is ripe, outrageously rich in its possibilities. Yet unleashing the glory of that future will require a difficult labor, and some may be so frightened of its birth they will refuse to abandon their nostalgia for the womb.

There have been a few prescient leaders in our past, but you are the man for this time.

Good luck to you and to us.

Toni Morrison

News: Caroline Kennedy, daughter of JFK, and Senator Ted Kennedy have officially endorsed Barack Obama. Caroline’s endorsement of Obama yesterday in the NYT op-ed was very moving: She described Obama as the only person she has witnessed in her lifetime who could be a “President Like My Father.” That’s a remarkable statement from a remarkable woman.

Ted Kennedy still knows how to deliver a speech!

Caroline Kennedy endorses Obama

Interview

It seems beneath the dignity of a former President of the United States to be the attack dog in a political campaign.  I don’t remember President George H.W. Bush playing that role for his son.

News:  Senators Clinton and Obama took major shots at each other during the CNN South Carolina debate.  Things got ugly.

The Utube Blog study on Presidential Candidate Videos on YouTube–click to download

News: You can download from the link above my latest report on the use of videos on YouTube by the presidential candidates. The study was completed before the New Hampshire primary.

Analysis: Here are my 3 key findings:

(1) Republican candidate Ron Paul continues to be, by a wide margin, the most popular candidate on YouTube, in terms of the average number of views per video (105,908 views per video) and the number of subscribers to his YouTube channel (42,858). He also has the most total views (9,320,763) on YouTube for any presidential candidate (although he does not have the most viewed single video on YouTube—Mike Huckabee does).

(2) Republican candidate Mike Huckabee has experienced a dramatic growth in the popularity of his videos during November and December 2007. He jumped from close to the worst in average number of views in October 2007 to the second most views per video by January 4, 2008, with 27,818 views per video. Most impressive of all is the fact that Huckabee is the first candidate with a video that has generated over 1 million views on YouTube.

(3) Finally, as the primary season has begun, the candidates’ YouTube videos have seen a huge increase in the number of views than in previous months.

News:  Has Hillary Clinton really been reduced to tears? 

Analysis:  I don’t think this is a good strategy for her.  It looks desperate.  If it was spontaneous, her people need to give her a rest from the campaigning so she can look strong and energized.  If she believes in her cause, she should continue at least until February 5th, but stop trying to be who she’s not.

2003 Barack Obama

2007 Barack Obama

Hillary Clinton, “That hurts my feelings.”

Barack Obama, “You’re likable enough, Hillary.”

News:  Frank Luntz polled a focus group of undecided voters after yesterday’s presidential debate.  Overwhelmingly, the undecideds preferred Obama over Clinton after the debate.  Clinton came across as “dogmatic,” “defensive,” and almost “angry.”  People did not like her touting her husband’s record as her own.   Yet, while the people praised Obama, they didn’t seem to have many specifics about what he actually said.

Analysis:  I met Luntz a long time ago at Harvard.  He’s known as a Republican consultant and he was on Fox News, but I have no reason to question the focus group he ran yesterday on the Democratic debate.  But it’s probably good to take everything on TV these days with a grain of salt.  If the views aired by the focus group are reflective of other undecideds or independents, Hillary Clinton is in serious trouble in New Hampshire.

News: I hope to have another official report on the popularity of YouTube videos of the presidential candidates soon. There’s been a lot of movement, especially by Mike Huckabee. You can view my past reports here. In the meantime, I will be posting the campaign videos of the key contenders each day until the New Hampshire primary. Here are Saturday’s videos:

Democrats

John Edwards

Barack Obama

Republicans

Ron Paul

Mitt Romney

“This defining moment in history.” Nearly twice as many voters showed up this year than in 2004. 56% were first time caucus-goers.  If you want to watch the version shown on TV with distracting subtitles, it’s below:

What do you get when you combine the Matrix with Rocky with a lot of cleavage? Is this the next generation of campaign video?

News:  29,000 people flock to see Oprah and Barack Obama in South Carolina.  18,500 in Iowa.  Over 100,000 views now on YouTube in 2 days.  Is this the perfect storm for Hillary Clinton?

News: Barack Obama is now in a statistical tie with Hillary Clinton in Iowa.

Analysis: Oprah is an excellent campaigner. The Clinton camp should be hitting the panic button right now. This will be their toughest challenge for the Democratic nomination.