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Creative campaign ads may be catchy, but not always effective
Some candidates are getting creative with their campaign ads for the legislative election, hoping to one-up their competition, but both potential voters and analysts are questioning the effectiveness and relevance of such a strategy.
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A man rides a motorcycle on Dec. 11, 2023 past a fence covered with a display of colorful campaign banners in Lebak regency, Banten. The General Elections Commission (KPU) has banned the placement of campaign banners in public spaces, including parks and pedestrian bridges. (Antara/Muhammad Bagus Khoirunas)
Tens of thousands of candidates across the nation are vying to woo voters for seats in the national and regional legislatures through a variety of media, including putting up traditional campaign banners in almost every corner of the country.
To attract voters, some candidates have turned to creative means in designing their banners, from posing like models or holding their pets to using pop culture characters. Analysts are unconvinced, however, that these strategies will help them gain votes come election day on Feb. 14, 2024.
Television actor Verrel Bramasta, noted for his roles in sinetron (soap opera), is one such candidate from the National Mandate Party (PAN) resorting to creative banners in his bid for a seat in the House of Representatives.
An image of Verrel posing like a cover model appears on campaign banners displayed in his electoral district of West Java.
His campaign banners and billboard ads later went viral on social media, with some users joking that he was acting like a brand ambassador rather than a legislative candidate.
