It's a Facebook election, with pictures and enthusiastic encouragement posted for the mayoral candidates' friends to see and comment on. This lends a bit of a smalltown feel to the mayoral race online, as if Republican John Lassiter and Democrat Anthony Foxx were running for high school class president, not for the mayor's seat of the nation's 19th largest city.
I just did a TV spot with Stuart Watson of WCNC NewsChannel 36 on social media and the mayoral race. It will be on tonight's newscast at 5:45. Here's what we talked about, primarily how the mayoral race breaks down on Facebook, the platform each uses the most.
Foxx has a bigger following, and a younger, more active approach. The Democrat has more than 3,300 friends, contrasted with Lassiter's nearly 1,200. The Democrat also has a "group" of more than 1,200, while Lassiter's only group is just 154. In what could be an age difference, Foxx plays more on Facebook: He's a fan of Stephen Curry, who starred at basketball at Foxx's alma mater of Davidson. And he's a fan of jazz musician Wynton Marsalis. He's more active, and relaxed.
This participation seems to pay off for Foxx: Fifty friends responded on Facebook to get get-out-the-vote post this morning. Just 10 of Lassiter's did. That community spreads out to each of that person's friends. And that can add up.
One interesting note about Lassiter on Facebook: He lists his cell phone number. So friends get access to that. When WCNC's Watson called it, Lassiter picked up.
As a Facebook friend of both, I created a friends list with just them on it, which allows me to isolate and compare their posts. Politicians often want friends during a campaign, so friending two opponents and checking them out this way can be illuminating.
Will these guys bail on Facebook tomorrow? Something tells me they'll be a little less active after the election. (Just a hunch.) But Foxx is invested there. And win or lose, a populist candidate benefits from the personal touch. As a more corporate guy, Lassiter might indeed back off some.
Also, I created a mayoral race list on Twitter, so you can compare the candidates' tweets. You don't have to be friends or be followed by them to see that.
Yes and facebook and twitter and other "social" networking sites are so reliable. Now we are making decisions on how cool their face book page is! Great, what is going to happen when the hot blonde, with the great body we were communicating with turns into a 65 year old troll
ReplyDeleteJohn does have a different approach. It is more about creating a long term communication channel via an online community. I can't speak for Foxx, but John has invested a great deal of time and effort to establish a "link" to the people of Charlotte that will continue after the election. He build an online community called: www.lassiterlink.com, where people can have a direct connection and be part of lots of different groups. Where most politicians have used social media to get elected, John has recognized the power of the medium to STAY connected to the people and have an ear to the people that will help him govern. This is one of the key differences...long lasting solutions vs. hype.
ReplyDeleteNice post Jeff. I would agree with just about everything.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I don't think Lassiter is planning to abandon social media just yet. Check out his social networking site - www.lassiterlink.com
I'd be curious to see how Lassiter uses social networking (if he is elected).
If you have time to tweet, facebook, and surf the web, then surely you can run to your local voting precinct to vote for the next Mayor of Charlotte and other important local offices; if you haven’t already. Polls open till 7:30pm. Don’t get comfortable. YOUR VOTE MATTERS EVERY YEAR!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.charlottehappening.com/?tag=get-out-and-vote-09
I noticed Foxx was much more present on Twitter and gained an early lead that way. However, as the race came to a close, Lassiter wised up and put Ben (his son) in charge of social media. All of the sudden, I was getting invites to campaign parties for Lassiter through mutual friends I have with Ben. Smart move, but he should've done it sooner.
ReplyDelete