John McCain Finally Gets It

by Bob Bentz

Nearly two years ago, this author wrote in this publication that John McCain just didn’t get it.

John McCain with his new cell phone.

John McCain had just told a reporter during the presidential campaign that when it comes to computers: “I am an illiterate who has to rely on my wife for all of the assistance that I can get.”

For most of us that work in the internet business, McCain’s fate was sealed when he said he “couldn’t get on” (a computer) without his wife’s assistance. How could he run the country when he couldn’t get on a computer without his wife’s help?

Well, John McCain finally does get it!

On Wednesday, Senator McCain launched a new campaign website to provide Arizona voters with information about his campaign. The site is attractive, easy to navigate, and even…youthful.

“I’m very excited to see this new release of the web site,” said McCain. “I’m committed to using the latest tools and newest technology to reach voters across Arizona.”

It is said that as you get older, you get wiser. And, John McCain is a very wise man. He committed to not make the same mistake in the 2010 Arizona senatorial election that he made in 2008 when President Obama utilized new technology such as the internet, social networking, and mobile marketing while the McCain campaign simply ignored it.

Obama not only used new technology, he embraced it. His famous text message announcement of his vice-presidential running mate was sent to 2.9 million voters that chose to opt-in to his mobile marketing database.

Not to be out-done, albeit two years late, Senator McCain now has his own text message campaign. Arizonans can text McCain to 69872 to sign up for text message alerts. According to the McCain campaign team, the campaign will utilize texting to inform Arizonans about upcoming events, announce endorsements, and share breaking news—all sent instantly to the mobile phone.

A year after the election, with two wars, a sluggish economy, and an unpopular health care bill, maybe John McCain is happy he was still living in the dark ages two years ago.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 17th, 2010 at 2:09 am and is filed under Mobile Marketing, internet marketing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.