Google – AFP, Marianne Barriaux, 7 November 2012
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A view of
Barack Obama's victory tweet (AFP, Lionel Bonaventure)
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WASHINGTON
— It was a moving photo like countless others on Facebook, but the caption
"four more years" said it all -- US President Barack Obama had won
re-election, and was about to make social media history.
After a
months-long, gruelling presidential campaign fought both off- and online, Obama
sealed his tech-savvy reputation late Tuesday by announcing his victory over
Republican foe Mitt Romney on Twitter and Facebook with the photo.
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US
President Barack Obama and First Lady
Michelle Obama acknowledge supporters
(AFP, Jewel Samad)
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By early
Wednesday, the shot of a smiling Obama holding his wife Michelle in a loving
embrace had already broken records on both social networks -- bringing to a
climax a hard-fought online campaign for supporters and votes.
"This
Barack Obama photo is the most-liked Facebook photo of all time," the
social network announced Wednesday, as it clocked up more than 3.5 million
"likes".
The picture
was actually taken in August in Iowa, at a time when a weary president seemed
to lack the necessary spark to win re-election.
Wearing a
simple red-and-white checked dress with a blue belt, the First Lady had joined
her husband at the end of an exhausting three-day bus tour of the Midwest,
giving his battered political brand a timely jolt of energy.
Not only
had she appeared to reinvigorate the president, but her dress also drew
countless comments, reportedly purchased for just under $90 on online fashion
store ASOS.com.
On Twitter,
the photo of the 44th US president hugging his wife had been retweeted 714,800
times mid-Wednesday, far outpacing singer Justin Bieber whose tribute to a fan
who died of cancer held the previous record in popularity.
The
president's emotional announcements on Twitter and Facebook mark the
culmination of a sophisticated, months-long social media campaign that has seen
Obama's team work the popular platforms hard to garner supporters and votes.
Social
networks emerged as key tools in the US presidential campaign, with both Obama
and his Republican foe Mitt Romney staging major pushes on the platforms.
But while
Romney has increased his presence hugely on social media compared to 2008
Republican presidential candidate John McCain, Obama is seen as having retained
the upper hand from his successful online campaign four years ago.
Zach Green,
head of Twitter political consultants 140Elect, said the president's 2012
campaign "broke new ground."
"The
picture said it all -- it made everyone feel closer to the campaign in a way
that hasn't been done before," he said.
Obama's
team blanketed many platforms, from the better-known Twitter, Facebook and
YouTube, to blogging platform Tumblr and Pinterest -- the latest phenomenon
that allows users to post and share photos put together by theme.
They also
carried out innovative initiatives, such as Twitter town halls with the
president or his top advisors that allowed anyone on the social network to ask
them questions.
Obama also
checked in on social news site Reddit in August to have a live chat with the
public on issues as varied as hurricane relief efforts, the space program and
Internet freedom.
And just
hours before polls began to close in states around the country Tuesday, he took
to Reddit again to appeal for votes, and kept tweeting through the evening to
remind people to cast their ballots.
"It's
really about a connected relationship with him, it doesn't feel like he's just
someone out there, there is connectedness," said Green, pointing out that
the Obama camp tweeted far more often than Romney's team.
"It
shows that the model of very active engagement, having a loud voice seems to be
effective," he added.
"But
it's hard to prove that he wouldn't have won without this."
“In the U.S. the Presidential elections are coming to a close, and President Obama will return to power to take you all into the Golden Age.”
“So far you have seen little of his real abilities or desire to bring about World Peace. The dark Ones may have used their methods to appoint their choice, but we of the Light are not without our way of making sure our choice succeeds this time around. It is a victory that is assured.”
“This will be an election that clears the way for Obama to step into his role to co-create the New Earth. So, yes, he will and he does have the support that he will need in order to play his role.
“But if everything went awry, we need to emphasize that this does not change the roles and missions of each of you but more importantly of Barack Obama and his team. This will go forward.”
“… The
successful re-election of President Obama in the United States will clear the
path for the Light Forces to begin working openly and broadly on many Lighted
and humanitarian projects that President Obama has been behind without the
majority of your world knowing he has been a part of these projects, and the
doubt about the Light signature of this soul will completely fade whenever his
role in bringing your New World forth is revealed.
Without
divulging too much sensitive information at this time, we can say that the
President Obama has been playing much bolder and more direct of a role than
many dear souls realize at present.
By the time
you dear souls absorb this communication, the soul known as Barack Obama will
indeed have been re-elected and his re-election will again, signal the
beginning of many changes that you dear souls have wished to see for so very
long but it is important to express that while President Obama has been and
will be a significant bringer of Lighted change to your world, it is still you
dear souls who must do all that you can to enact this change for yourselves, as
your United States President is only one soul. …”
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