I
receive dozens of nutty emails from P.R. people every day. But the
one that hit my inbox at 11:18 this morning has to be the nuttiest. I
won't name names or anything. I'll just let the pitch speak for itself.
Washington, D.C.; September 23,
2008...A strategically scented presidential campaign, incorporating
calculated aromas in event venues, signs and merchandise, could turn the tide in
the current presidential race. With polls indicating the election is extremely
close, the result could come down to just a few percentage points separating
Senators John McCain and Barack Obama...
There is a
multitude of research proving that scent highly influences a person's perception
of products and people. Studies show that scent can significantly alter the
perception of age, weight, attractiveness, and reliability of a person...
Endorphin branding is the use of scent as a means of
imprinting a highly emotional, positive experience in tandem with a targeted
signature scent, which can be reintroduced at a later time to trigger and
recreate the desired response. This strategy should be implemented at political
events, which are positively charged environments ripe for this type of scent
branding.
This presidential election has already seen historic,
innovative campaign efforts, particularly Senator Obama's use of the Internet to
raise funds and communicate his messages. A multi-faceted, scented campaign
could provide the edge one of these candidates needs to help gain victory in
November.
Could it now? And here I thought the election was all about turnout and economic messaging.
All
kidding aside--or most kidding aside--I'd love to hear your picks for
each candidate's "targeted individual scent." Should McCain deploy a manly musk?
Or is the smell of mothballs and Ben-Gay more fitting? Would a
Polynesian aroma--say, Plumeria flowers--prove too "exotic" for Obama?
Perhaps he should stick with apple pie instead...
Who "nose." This could be the future of political marketing.
I'll highlight the best response in this space. If there are any.
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