Public relations is more convincing than advertising - consumers feel the additional scrutiny placed by an independent reporter provides a level of assurance that is missing in mainstream advertising. Working for clients to secure positive media coverage is the basic building block of public relations.

Given it’s fundamental to my business, I was pleasantly surprised to positively respond to an article endorsing Barack Obama.

As a disclaimer I am a life-long Democrat and would have voted for Obama. (In fact as an overseas American I posted my ballot a fortnight ago.) Yet until today I lacked solid conviction that Obama merited my vote.

Time Magazinethis week features and essay and interview by Joe Klein (”Why Barack Obama Is Winning“). In it Klein chronicles defining moments in his coverage of the candidate. When McCain suspended his campaign to be in Washington for emergency finance meetings (where McCain did NOT succeed), Obama instinctively responded, “A President has to be able to do more than one thing at a time.”

Best of all though is the report of a meeting with Iraq war commander General Petraeus. The two discussed strategy for an extended time then agreed to disagree - Obama knew a never-ending campaign would be disastrous for America. Here’s a great summary:

Unlike George W. Bush, who had given Petraeus complete authority over the war — an unprecedented abdication of presidential responsibility (and unlike John McCain, whose hero worship of Petraeus bordered on the unseemly) — Obama would insist on a rigorous chain of command. (Source: Joe Klein, Time Magazine)

I recommend a full read of the article - it demonstrates how a well considered essay can boost the brand power of a person, a product or a presidential candidate.