Technology Has Played an Active Role in Elections in the Caribbean.

In the Caribbean island of St. Maarten technology has become the latest weapon in the island council election campaign arsenal. In an election where the popular vote counts, candidates have taken to the television, the internet and other media outlets to increase their visibility.

Providing the younger electorate generation, candidates have resorted You Tube, email blasts, and online interactively to engage them in the process. Given that the financial resources are lessened in regions like St. Marten, the candidates in order to boost their campaign platform has resorted to free technological mediums, as opposed to high priced airtime slots.

A Democratic Party candidate has stated that there has been an evolution in the society of the Caribbean. Traditionally, citizens would attend rallies to hear how there delegates intended on addressing issues, but in a time where people are more in tuned with the internet and the television, they have no found a way to meet the people where they are. According to publicist consultants, these mediums allow candidates to come into the homes to meet their electors. This is the goal of the candidates in the Caribbean, immersing the younger generation into political issues through the use of technology.

Today’s Facts
Using technology definitely stretches the campaign dollars. Its usage in connection with traditional election strategies, such as radio jingles, TV ads and talk shows, and printed releases provides access to a wider audience. As long as they can drive the voters to the websites, there is a better chance of them staying long enough to learn more about the candidate.

Political Advertisement (Location: Jamaica)

Primary Terminology

Comparative Advertising

Comparative advertising compares one brand directly or indirectly with one or more competing brands. This advertising technique is very common and is used by nearly every major industry, including airlines automobile manufacturers, and political campaigns. One drawback of comparative advertising is that customers or voters in our our case have become more skeptical about claims made by a candidates about its competitors because accurate information has not always been provided, thus making the effectiveness of comparison advertising questionable. I

Summary of Spent Funding for 2008 Campaign Season

U.S. Presidential Candidates	Political Advertisement Expenditure
Barack Obama	9 million
Hilary Clinton	7 million
John Edwards	3.2 million
Romney	7 million
Huckabee	1.4 million
Thompson	1.1 million

The More They Spend, They More Votes They Buy

It seems to be the preconceived notion of politicians that the more money they spend on advertisements, the more votes they are buying. In Barack Obama’s case, he is hoping that a massive expenditure of cash on advertising will buy him the votes of eligible voters in Pennsylvania. This past weekend he is said to have mounted the biggest advertising blitz of the presidential campaign by spending well over two million dollars on ads in the run-up to the primary. Thus far he has earmarked $465,000 for Philadelphia alone.

Today’s Fact:

According to this presidential candidate the more money spent on advertising, the higher the odds of winning an election.

Political Advertising

Advertising has always been a central feature of American culture. Providing that the mass media is said to be both pervasive and inescapable, political advertisements have benefited from this cultural norm. As a matter of fact in recent years, political advertising has become essential to campaign strategy.

In political advertising there are no rules when it comes to the content and form of political advertising. The advertisers are not accountable to any regulatory body for the accuracy of their claims. They engage in so called “comparative” advertising, in which they are given allowance for criticizing their opponents by whatever means possible. To control the incessant propaganda, the press at times acts as mediators by running “ad-watch reports, but this is also monopolized in a sense which therefore fuels public cynicism.

Today’s Fact:
“Considerable evidence suggests that the negativity associated with contemporary political campaigns has created an "avoidance" mentality which is serving to shrink the electorate and the level of political participation generally.” (Department of Communication, Stanford University, 1999)

Welcome

Too often we become engulfed in the commercialization of our surroundings. In a sense we have become hypnotized by this microwave facade that not only the media, but our society in general has fed us. Through this blog my goal is not to alter or indoctrinate my personal opinions onto others, but rather to offer factual information that informs viewers of the vast amount of monetary investments made to the media by political actors during campaigning seasons. Consequently, this space will give attenton to the extensive use of advertisements in political campaigns throughout the Western Hemisphere, particulartly Latin America, the Caribbean, and the United States. As we embark on this journey, please feel free to engage in our cacuses, because it truly directly affects us all.