Media Advisory: Golden Gate University Experts Available to Comment on Presidential Election

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Golden Gate University has faculty experts for economic/financial policies and marketing/branding of candidates available to comment on the 2012 presidential election. For assistance reaching an expert, contact Daniel Ray at [e-mail] or 415-772-9907 ext. 134.

Presidential campaign branding, advertising and marketing strategies and tactics:

Michal Strahilevitz, professor of marketing, has been quoted hundreds of times in the media and in her Psychology Today blog about topics related to marketing, consumer psychology, pro-social behavior and behavioral economics. Professor Strahilevitz has also done consulting work for both for-profit and non-profit companies creating emotionally powerful brands. Strahilevitz can discuss the branding of the candidates, political ads, and campaign marketing strategy.

Here are some examples of insights Strahilevitz can provide:

• First, and most importantly, the candidates need to remember that not everyone is voting based on rational self-interest. Emotions play a huge role. See latest Psychology Today blog about this very topic.
• Obama needs to improve his image of strength. He got Bin Laden, and that helps. However, many of his supporters still feel he has let the Republicans walk all over him during his first term. It did not help that he seemed to miss opportunities to respond more assertively to Mitt Romney during the first debate. Some of his supporters wish he had appeared stronger and more comfortable with this opportunity to address some of Romney’s questionable assertions. Obama needs to seem stronger, more comfortable around his opponent and even more willing to be disliked by his foes in order to reach the goals of his supporters.
• To seem more like an authentic candidate (and person), Romney is going to have to own his mistakes, at least the huge ones. He did quite well in his first debate, but clearly has to monitor what he says during those situations where he has to say something, but is unable to rehearse and be coached in advance. He needs to think of the public, even when speaking behind closed doors. Obviously, in this era of smart phones, things said in private gatherings can and often do go public. He should work on specifics, be more consistent. He will have to work to alter his current image of being a candidate with vague and easily altered values and opinions.

Contact Strahilevitz at 415-442-7877 (office) or at [e-mail]

Where candidates stand on the economy:

Terry Connelly is an economic expert and dean emeritus of the Ageno School of Business. He’s a regular blog contributor for Yahoo! Finance and The Huffington Post and his economic, investment, and political commentary is regularly featured in local and national media. With more than 30 years experience in investment banking, law and corporate strategy on Wall Street and abroad, Terry analyzes the impact of government politics and policies on local, national and international economies, examining the interaction on global financial markets, the U.S. banking industry (and all of its regulatory agencies), the Federal Reserve, domestic employment levels and consumer reactions to the changing economic tides. Connelly can comment on both candidates’ proposed economic policies and potential impact they may have on the U.S., Europe, and the world.

Here are some examples of insights Connelly can provide:

• The most important present-tense economic policy question for the candidates is what they would do "Day One" after the election – not waiting till the inauguration – to resolve the “fiscal cliff” – when each has to sit down with the Party leaders on November 7, to play “Let's Make a Deal.” What is each candidate's opening bid? We should know that before the election, and right now we don't and nobody is asking them, and they seem to have a mutual assistance treaty going where they won't ask each other. This brings in the debt ceiling, too, as well as what to make, financially, of Simpson-Bowles.
• Will a Romney administration move to cut U.S. participation in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in terms of further aid to Europe – Obama clearly will not, but Romney will be somewhat beholden to the Tea Party if he wins, and they will want their pound of flesh, and then some – especially if Romney cuts a fiscal cliff deal that they don't like and only vote for reluctantly after the stock market crashes.

Contact Connelly at 650-714-5663 (mobile) or at [e-mail]