The New Hampshire Debate – Hitting the Angle Button

At the Democratic debate on Tuesday night, the CNN/WMUR crews weren’t the only ones toting video gear. In the midst of the YouTube primary, the campaigns were sporting crews of their own.

Throughout the day, the Dodd campaign was rolling tape in their signature cinéma vérité style. As a “pre-game show” they hosted a live video chat via ustream.tv. Even days before the debate they were generating debate-related clips, such as this one:

The Edwards campaign immediately followed the debate with a quick clip of the former Senator being marched into the hall by a drumline. Today they have a new release with an interesting film showing the Senator as he is given a walk-through of how the event will go down.

There’s a great deal to like here. I love the gentlemanly and impromptu meeting with Governor Richardson at the end. I would like to have seen footage from the debate worked into the piece – especially since CNN went to all the trouble of freeing up use of it for vLoggers and the ‘net.

Maybe it goes like this…

Open on the debate.

Show a great line from the candidate.

Then cut out.

TITLE: X Hours Earlier

Flashback to the walk through.

During the explanation of the first half, show a great line from the first half.

At the rundown on the second half, show a great line from the second half.

Wrap it up with the great hallway meeting, and a suggestion of where to find more substantive clips (captured from TV?).

I love the novelty of the piece, which taps into the exclusivity of having a campaign-controlled camera. It gives viewers a reason to watch. But, while you have them it is important to also deliver the message.