Crafting the Message: Who Should Have Won the 2012 Election? [video]

Fred Davis, legendary political ad man and Anacapa alum dad, brought his expertise to discuss the outcome of the 2012 presidential race. By analyzing Barack Obama and Mitt Romney as candidates in categories such as appearance, economic policies, personal finances and life experiences, Fred concluded that ultimately, Romney should have been the victor. The deciding factor, says Fred, is the cohesiveness of the political party. He argued that because Obama was the incumbent, he enjoyed more unified support for his agenda from his party. In contrast, Romney was one amongst a slew of republican candidates, making his overall agenda unclear. In the end, Fred suggested that the winning politician is often the one that crafts the best story and “sells” their message. Fred has spent years telling the stories of various republican candidates, starting with his uncle, Jim Inhoffe. He crafts ads that make you like his candidate, while adding his own special “pixie dust” to make it memorable. Sometimes he finds himself in the center of controversy, but that’s what it takes to make an impact.