Candidates need to be ready to craft their Hollywood pitch
Mandie Suits
And the winner is…both! That was the outcome of the Kristen Bell-Toby Keith-hosted debate in the opening segment of Wednesday night’s CMT Music Awards. The show began with the two performers campaigning for the top host spot of the night. Voters for this election included the likes of Jon Bon Jovi and Matthew McConaughey, as well as President Obama and Mitt Romney. The president and his challenger appeared in separate skits where they deliberated over their votes for host. In the end, the politicians proposed that Bell and Keith equally share the spotlight.
That isn’t the only thing they agree on. The other is finding a place for their campaigns in the entertainment world. Hollywood and awards shows may not be on Romney’s radar by choice, but he has to be where the competition is. Last Sunday night, Obama’s campaign aired its first national TV spot during the MTV movie awards. The 30-second ad consisted of actress Sarah Jessica Parker introducing Obama’s latest fundraising effort – a sweepstakes for a dinner with her and the first lady at her house on June 14.
In response to Parker’s commercial, the Republican National Committee released a web video pointing out that the unemployment rate rose to 8.2 percent at the same time as Parker was publicizing this swanky fundraiser.
This isn’t the first Hollywood fundraiser for Obama. George Clooney recently hosted an event at his home in Los Angeles that raised nearly $15 million for the president and just on Wednesday Obama was at Glee creator Ryan Murphy’s Beverly Hills mansion for a funder.
Hollywood seems to have made it clear where its support – and money – is going. But will there be celebrity backing – and the media coverage that goes with it — for the GOP side this year? It doesn’t look like it, at least if this past Tuesday is anything to go by.
Gov. Scott Walker (R) won the recall election in Wisconsin on the same day actor Liam Hemsworth proposed to former Disney Channel actress Miley Cyrus. NBC, ABC and CBS spent more minutes covering the couple’s engagement and minimal time on Walker, which shows the campaigns where people’s priorities are.
A version of this post was also published on Campaigns and Elections.
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Just shows that Hollywood is full of not real smart paople. Obamas hope and change is i (hope i can change what people really think of me)the USA will not exist if he is re_elected. Ithink the Beatles had a song that should be his campaign song “BACK IN THE USSR”
You are right on about Hollywood. I was going to get tickets to see Bon Jovi at the Greenbrier Classic and after hearing he spent the weekend with the Obamas I have no desire to waste my hard earned money for tickets to see Obama’s friend, Bon Jovi.
Another job well done!!!!
Maybe the Obamas will be doing a reality TV show next in the White House! Let’s call it “The Obama Drama”! Ughhh…
Great article Mandie.