CNN has acknowledged that the advertising campaign for Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt is working [1].
The recognition marks a shift in how media outlets perceive the candidate's strategy, as his messaging moves beyond traditional political outreach to achieve wider visibility.
Josh Hammer, a senior editor-at-large at Newsweek, said the ads have moved past the goal of simply winning an election. He said Pratt is a man whose ads have transcended politics and that it is no longer just about whether he wins the mayoral race [1].
Hammer said the candidate is a cultural phenomenon [1]. According to Hammer, the reach of the campaign has evolved into something larger than a local political bid, a transition that has forced national networks like CNN to recognize the effectiveness of the strategy [1].
Pratt continues his bid for the mayoralty in Los Angeles, utilizing a media approach that emphasizes cultural impact over standard political campaigning. Hammer said he wishes the candidate all the best as the campaign continues [1].
“Spencer Pratt … is a man whose ads have transcended politics”
The shift in narrative suggests that celebrity candidates are increasingly utilizing 'viral' marketing to gain leverage. When a political campaign is categorized as a cultural phenomenon rather than a policy-driven effort, the metric of success shifts from polling data to media saturation and brand recognition.
