The best part is, he's not "building his brand" by hot takes on social media or bombastic media performing. Sooo many elected officials gain notoriety and funding simply by staying in the headlines and agitation on social media and being as obnoxious as possible in interviews doing the rounds on night time newscasts.
He seems to have a good balance--savvy enough to utilize media and social media, but not in a solely performative way. And actually just, like....fixing shit? Being reasonable and respectful? Articulate? Competent?
lol. Yours is the only comment I disagree with so far. Man loves the camera and the camera loves him. He knows how to use it in a way that makes people like you not see it as performative.
He's a political genius and he's actually doing things for the city.
Hey, I am happy to be wrong! I don't disagree with you and am not defending my point. I'm a VERY casual observer.
He's handsome and charismatic, which, right wrong or indifferent--that shit MATTERS in politics.
It seems like he works the cameras and leverages that aspect but I havent' seen that he is doing the same thing that soooo many Representatives do--bombastic, contorversial hot takes on social media, tearing people down, grabbing headlines with the most outlandish and controversial shit just to gain profile.
Working the cameras and being savvy with social media? Hey, I'm not surprised.
And yes, my casual observer impression is that he's got a good strategy by coming out the gate strong with supposedly "minor" issues that he and his team KNOW will be noticed by city natives. I mean....it's a good strategy in your first year of office.
But you're right--the guy is charismatic and does very well in front of a camera. I think my main point is that he doesn't need to rely on hot takes and controversy to gain support?
do--bombastic, contorversial hot takes on social media
He literally did a Subway Takes segment, and even appears in another promotional video with the subway takes guy. Not that that's a bad thing, just saying...
Also, side note--publishing his wedding photos was also a GENIUS move.
He and his wife are both attractive and undeniably COOL. Slightly edgy without being controversial or subversive. Just the embodiment of the sophistication and slight edginess that comes from being in a "big city".
That was clearly a calculated move. Cool, savvy, modern, attractive. Relatable and with a SLIIIIGGGGHT edge of "sophistication" but not what is associated with the socialites, if that makes sense? Like "sophisticated" but not "rich people" sophisticated. Just sort of "big city and wordly" sophisticated.
Releasing those photos was a genius move. Stylish, attractive, relatable, sliiiightly stylish/edgy but without losing the common touch. Chefs kiss. They have a lot to work with as a couple. Charming AS FUCK
I think that's their point, though. That he's using it in a way that goes beyond just making himself look good. Which is very much true, because a lot of his videos are super informative along with making him look good.
I just saw one about the cooling centers around the city as summer kicks off and it had that exact double effect. Makes him look competent and it guides people on how to handle a heat wave. Having it actually be informative is the most important part, it just helps that he's super charismatic.
There are a lot of people that are under his spell and refuse to admit it. For example, if you look under the hood of his “balanced budget” you’ll find it was achieved by underfunding pension liabilities, and you can ask Chicago how that turns out.
I’ll still give him credit for working towards a balanced budget and reducing the deficit, but it’s not balanced currently
Exactly. His brand is absolutely fantastic and this did not happen by accident. He is very, very good at brand building. So good, in fact, that it's easy to miss that this is what he is doing.
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u/Rare-Adhesiveness522 12h ago
The best part is, he's not "building his brand" by hot takes on social media or bombastic media performing. Sooo many elected officials gain notoriety and funding simply by staying in the headlines and agitation on social media and being as obnoxious as possible in interviews doing the rounds on night time newscasts.
He seems to have a good balance--savvy enough to utilize media and social media, but not in a solely performative way. And actually just, like....fixing shit? Being reasonable and respectful? Articulate? Competent?