Donald Trump is at the center of attention right now in the 2016 presidential campaign, thanks to his outspoken and non-traditional approach. But it’s not just Trump who seems to be finding new ways to appeal to the audience.
Although it is still early on in the race for the Republican nomination, GOP presidential hopefuls are resorting to humorous and, at times, wacky strategies to set themselves apart in such a crowded field of contenders. And that includes using social media to appeal to a younger demographic.
”You have to have a message that relates to Millennials,” Newt Gingrich, the former U.S. House speaker who campaigned for president in 2012, told Newsmax. “You can’t have it both ways. You want a Republican Party, which can be in social media appealing to younger people, [but] it’s going to have a lot of goofy things because look at social media. The truth is those things go viral, they work, they have an impact.”
Here are 10 of the most noteworthy, attention-getting campaign stunts so far from GOP hopefuls:
1. Ted Cruz’s Audition for “The Simpsons”
Though he may have lost a little momentum since announcing his presidential bid back in March, Cruz sought to revamp his campaign last month by submitting a video of his impressions of classic “Simpsons” characters. Of all the Texas senator's impressions, Lisa is probably the most noteworthy.
His more recent "Machine-Gun Bacon" video also got people talking.
2. Lindsey Graham Destroying His Phone
After Trump leaked Graham’s personal cell phone number to the world, Graham decided to team up with IJ Review to film a response video. In the clip, the South Carolina senator can be seen in high definition and in slow motion burning, throwing, clubbing, and chopping his phone into pieces as a soft symphony of classical music plays in the background.
"I thought Lindsey Graham’s video was actually pretty funny," Gingrich told Newsmax. "It may even be the funniest I’ve ever seen Lindsey be."
3. Carly Fiorina Takes Office Sexism to the Masses
Last month, the former HP CEO teamed up with BuzzFeed to create a funny video depiction of how women are treated differently in the office as compared to men. In the clip, Fiorina flips the script on conventional sexist office tropes by asking a male coworker "How do you walk in those shoes?" and wondering how another "manages the work-life balance," among other things.
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4. Jeb Bush’s Favorite Hashtag and Tech
Bush released a Millennial-geared, tech-centric video last month, likely in response to his controversial Apple Watch comments (he infamously suggested repealing Obamacare in favor of the gadget). Showcasing his favorite technology devices, Bush also shares his favorite hashtag and shirt style.
5. Rick Perry’s Country Rap Mash-Up
Although Perry is known for being the governor of Texas, he could possibly have a future as a music pioneer after he mixed country and rap together with his presidential announcement theme song. It seemed for a time that the song — "Answer to No One" by Colt Ford —made more headlines than Perry's campaign.
6. Dr. Ben Carson’s Gospel Cover of Eminem’s “Lose Yourself”
Carson, too, demonstrated an odd song choice during his presidential announcement when he featured a gospel choir cover of the Eminem anthem made famous by the movie "8 Mile." The choir’s rendition the rap song drew a lot of media attention, and even political comedian Jon Stewart played the tune during an episode of "The Daily Show."
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7. Mike Huckabee’s “Hakuna Matata” Nuke Vine
Taking a page out of Lyndon B. Johnson’s campaign book, Huckabee’s Vine combines both the cheerfulness of Disney’s “The Lion King” with the austerity of LBJ’s 1964 presidential “Daisy Girl” attack ad in an effort to protest against President Barack Obama’s recent Iran nuke deal.
8. Scott Walker and Rand Paul Face Off With Hillary Clinton Over Chipotle
After Clinton made headlines when a security camera captured her ordering at Chipotle, presidential candidates Rand Paul and Scott Walker rushed to social media to upload photos of themselves in retaliation. Walker is seen ordering and giving out hugs at a McDonald’s, while Paul is pictured posing in front of a Chipotle with a motorcycle.
9. Rand Paul Burning and Shredding the Tax Code
Paul’s latest campaign video showcases him burning physical copies of the U.S. Tax Code and placing pages into a wood chipper while taking a chainsaw to a large stack of the code’s documents to propel his message of liberty. On his website, Paul put together a poll asking his supporters how they would destroy the Tax Code.
How would you kill the tax code? With a chainsaw? With a woodchipper? Burn it? Please watch and vote by visiting https://www.randpaul.com.
Posted by Rand Paul on Tuesday, July 21, 2015
10. Bobby Jindal’s Bromance With "Duck Dynasty"
The Louisiana governor has been a longtime friend of the members of the show “Duck Dynasty,” and he has used that friendship to appeal to Millennials, often posting photos of himself on social media with the cast. Jindal also made a birthday post wishing friends Willie, Phil, and Si at “Duck Dynasty” a "Happy Birthday." The Robertson family has also actively
endorsed Jindal's presidential bid, according to Fox 411.
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Help wish my friends Willie, Phil and Si a happy birthday. Sign their birthday card here: http://www.americanfutureproject.com/happy-birthday-robertsons/
Posted by Bobby Jindal on Wednesday, April 22, 2015
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