The politics of viral marketing

::: ‘Tis the season for political talk (and in the case of the cable news networks, non-stop political talk), so it only seems natural to get in on the act here. No, we’re not going to talk Obama vs. McCain. That’s been done to death. We’re going to talk about a much more fascinating race. We’re going to talk Tevis vs. Seigfreid. (click ‘read on’ for more)

OK, if you’re inside the beltway or outside the suburbs of Kansas City, the names Tevis and Seigfreid may not ring a bell. But the state congressional race between incumbent Seigfreid and whipper-snapper upstart Tevis has created a stir, not just within their district but across the Internet as well. In particular, marketing/advertising goobers like ourselves have become captivated with Tevis, thanks to his infectious viral marketing campaign that started with this simple cartoon. Tevis’ online funding bonanza has even made him a bona fide media darling, with various outlets across the country picking up the story. The question that looms for marketing mavens, however, is whether the impact of his landmark strategy will carry over into the voting booth this November. It’s an interesting question to ponder, given the popularity these viral campaigns have enjoyed of late. Stay tuned …