Question

The 1952 presidential election saw Democratic candidate Adlai Stevenson face Republican challenger Dwight D. Eisenhower. Eisenhower enlisted the advice of advertising executives to create the first political spot advertising campaign. Eisenhower's use of 30-second ads to quickly inform viewers of his achievements and vision for leadership, all in a catchy manner, marked the advent of politicians' adoption of television advertising for political means. By the 1960 presidential election, Democratic candidate John F. Kennedy's media team was creating television advertising spots portraying the candidate on the campaign trail interacting with voters—advertisements used to generate excitement for upcoming campaign stops.

Which action by contemporary political parties is comparable to the scenario above?

Answer 1

Contemporary political parties use targeted digital ads, data analytics, and social media campaigns to reach out to voters, similar to how Eisenhower and Kennedy used early television advertising to influence voters in the 1950s and 1960s.

Step-by-step explanation:

The evolution of political advertising has continued to adapt with advancements in technology and changes in media consumption. Since the 1952 and 1960 elections, where candidates like Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy pioneered the use of television advertising, contemporary political parties now leverage a mix of different platforms to reach voters. These include targeted digital ads, the use of data analytics for narrowcasting to specific demographics, and social media platforms to create personalised and engaging content to influence voters.

For example, the 2020 presidential campaign saw the use of data-driven digital advertising to target specific groups and the creation of content tailored to address current events, like Joe Biden's ad contrasting his crisis management experience with President Trump's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Similarly, social media has been used strategically to engage with younger demographics and reach a wider audience with rapid response to trending topics. Campaigns now utilize a multi-platform approach that includes television, digital ads, and social media to influence public opinion and drive voter turnout.