The Year of the Personal Vote

The Obama Campaign’s use of the internet epitomizes the personalization of politics.

"Tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America."

-President-Elect Barack Obama

A few days ago the Institue for Eurodemocracy 'Glafcos Clerides' and the American Embassy here in Nicosia, Cyprus organized a very interesting lecture. Professor Rick Ridder of RBI Strategies and Recearch gave an excellent, varied and entertaining presentation. The topic covered the last presidential elections in the States.

Katie Clerides, president of the Institute for Eurodemocracy 'Clafcos Clerides' introducing the lecture.

Barack Obama

Message: Change We Can Believe In
Barack Obama ran not on a platform of experience, but on one of judgment.
Obama individualized his message. This race is about you.
Obama’s campaign encouraged personal expressions of support, such as Will.i.am’s “Yes We Can” video and Obama Girl’s “I Got A Crush On Obama.”

How we vote

Voting has become increasingly personal as more and more people opt for mail in and early voting option allowing individuals the availability to vote at a time convenient to them.
Over 70% of those voting in Colorado voted either early or mail in.
In Douglas County, Colorado, only 17,000 people voted on election day, though 138,000 votes were recorded.

Tactics That Touched People
An Individual Message Delivered by an Extraordinary Ground Operation

Conclusion
• It was a new and different campaign which has “changed” the way we do campaigns
• Extraordinary integration of message and tactics
• Expect the same integration from the White House
• Millions of volunteers ready to be mobilized in the United States and abroad
• How do you bring this level of personalization to motivate action on the President’s behalf?

So, The Play is Not Over. It Just Shifted Venues

Πριν λίγες μέρες το Ινστιτούτο Ευρωδημοκρατίας 'Γλαύκος Κληρίδης' και η Αμερικανική Πρεσβεία στην Κύπρο διοργάνωσαν μια ενδιαφέρουσα συζήτηση για τις τελευταίες προεδρικές εκλογές στις ΗΠΑ. Τη διάλεξη έκανε ο καθηγητής Rick Ridder του RBI Strategies and Research.

Στο βήμα η πρόεδρος του Ινστιτούτου Ευρωδημοκρατίας 'Γλαύκος Κληρίδης' κυρία Καίτη Κληρίδου πρώην βουλευτής, καλοσωρίζοντας τους προσκεκλημένους.

Welcoming the president of DISY Rally party Mr. Nicos Anastasiades.

Nicos Anastasiades, Kutlay Erk, Tasos Mitsopoulos and Unal Findik.

Professor Rick Ridder and Maria Kyriacou, member of the Cypriot Parliament.

Ο πρόεδρος του Δημοκρατικού Συναγερμού Νίκος Αναστασιάδης και ο Αναπληρωτής πρόεδρος Αβέρωφ Νεοφύτου.

Η Καίτη Κληρίδου με την Ελευθερία Κημήτρη, τον πρώην δήμαρχο Λευκωσίας κ. Μιχάλη Ζαμπέλα και τον Μιχάλη Παπαπέτρου πρώην κυβερνητικό εκπρόσωπο.

Partial view of the audience

Μιχάλης Ζαμπέλας, πρώην δήμαρχος Λευκωσίας, Παναγιώτης Αντωνίου και 'Αγγελος Αγγελίδης.

Charalambos Charalambous, Christos Stylianides, Kutlay Erk, Tasos Mitsopoulos, Aristos Aristotelous and Ionas Nicolaou.

Kutlay Erk, Tasos Mitsopoulos, Aristos Aristotelous and Ioanas Nicolaou.

Katerina Pantelidou, Savvas Hadjiminas, Stelios Ioannou.

Λία Γεωργιάδου και Σόφη Μιχαηλίδου.

Eleftheria Kimitri, Ioanna Nicolaou, Fraggiskos Fraggou, Savvas Hadjiminas. Sophi Michaelidou and Unal Findik.

Ελευθερία Κημήτρη, Ιωάννα Νικολάου, Φραγκίσμκος Φράγκου, Φοίβος Νικολαΐδης, Κούλα Αφροδίση, Unal Findik και Σόφη Μιχαηλίδου.

Σόφη Μιχαηλίδου και Χαράλαμπος Χαραλάμπους.

Sibel Tatlidil, Zubeyir Agaoglu, Tumer Halil and Emiral Tatlidil (from left to right).

Ivi Mitsidou, Savia Orphanidou, Unal Findik and Phivos Nicolaides.

Koula Afrodisi, Sibel Tatlidil with Katie Clerides.

Kutlay Erk, Athos Kyriacou and Savvas Hadjiminas.

Charlambos Charalambous, Alpay Durduran, Andreas Hadjipanyis and Sophi Michaelidou.

Joseph Hadjhanas, Phivos Nicolaides, Alpay Durduran, Sophi Michaelidou, Manthos Mavromatis, Petros Kareklas.