Political signs...

[30ABandMan]

I'm always ammused by the literally hundreds of political signs that always pop up. Are the more of a tradition or are they a proven way to help your campaign?

I know about brand recognition but honestly, have you ever cast your vote based on a sign? Or, even better, someone standing on the road waving at traffic. What is that all about?

I could see where these tactics may have been beneficial years ago but I would think that, on today's era of digital media, a candidate's money would be better spent on the radio and Internet.

 

[Jdarg]

I really love the ones placed on 30a close to the dune lakes. Yuck.

 

[Rita]

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A political sign in a yard of someone I know and respect might make me bother to research a candidate further.


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[30ABandMan]

I agree with you both. I just find it all comical. Especially when you see them standing near traffic holding a sign like the ones you often see standing on the south end of the 331 bridge. Fo they REALLY think I'm going to vote for them because they waved at me as I blew by them doing 50?

Who tells them "Ya know what will give your campaign the shot in the arm it's been looking for? If you'll go stand by the side of the road and wave at people when they pass by. Go on and go now, you want to hit that 6am rush hour traffic. I made you a vote for me sign, it's by the back door and don't forget to wear your red, white and blue tank top, that always gets'em!"

I'm mean really!

 

[Bob Wells]

Believe it or not, it seems to attract attention. Here you are talking about it. As for local media, depending on which end of the county you live in, there would need to be a lot of TV stations to deal with. It is also more expensive to do TV and even Newspapers than signs. As for standing on the side of the road, it does show commitment. I also know that when you stand near the polls there is the opportunity to share your candidate views.

 

[30ABandMan]

I wouldn't mind meeting candidates face to face. They should spend time among the voters not along the roadway. As far as discussing the signs, it's not their candidates im discussing, it is the idea that I'll vote for them simply because the have 500 of them planted along the highways.

You are right about the cost of advertising too but I'd be far more apt to vote for someone whom I've shaken hands with in the Grayton General Store than I've simply seen their sign on the corner.

 

[TNJed]

I used to vow never to buy tickets thru travelocity because they ripped off the movie Amelie in their commercials. But ya know what? When it came time to purchase a ticket, for some insane reason I checked their rates and they got my business.

I guess my point is, it doesn't matter if you like them or not...just seeing their name a few thousand times will etch it in your head. And when you're in that voting booth voting for the 1 candidate you're there for, you see a few familiar names in other races you aren't quite up to speed on soooo....

We like to think we're smarter than that and hopefully a few of us are but I think there's some very basic psy going on there. I know it works on me though I hate being anyone's target market.

 

[scooterbug44]

Rarely do the signs make me vote FOR a candidate - have made me think negatively about some though. And the people who stuck signs for a candidate in my yard lost both my vote and their signs. ;-)

Sign placement and numbers of signs say alot about the respect candidates have for people, local businesses, and our environment.

And the "I can't control what my campaign workers do" defense makes me think that if you can't properly delegate sign placement and clean-up, you can't do much of anything else well.

 

[futurebeachbum]

I think the signs are mostly a tradition that is a throwback to earlier, pre mass media days.

Before everyone had a radio or a TV they meant a lot to brand recognition (particularly if, as mentioned earlier, a respected person put one in their yard or shop window.)

I think the 'traditional' aspect of the signs also strokes the ego of the candidates because everyone important has signs during an election.

 

[30ashopper]

I'm always ammused by the literally hundreds of political signs that always pop up. Are the more of a tradition or are they a proven way to help your campaign?

I know about brand recognition but honestly, have you ever cast your vote based on a sign? Or, even better, someone standing on the road waving at traffic. What is that all about?

I could see where these tactics may have been beneficial years ago but I would think that, on today's era of digital media, a candidate's money would be better spent on the radio and Internet.

I'm not a big government type, and I have no issue with someone placing these on private property. But I think it would be reasonable to ban placing politically oriented signs on public property.

I don't believe Walton supports referendums (not sure?). But if we did I'd love to see something like this in the next election cycle.

(I think there's a thread on this in 'Local Politics' too).