A Vermont liberal shakes up the Democratic primary with the help of the youth vote and small-donor fundraising? Before Bernie Sanders, it was Howard Dean who had that claim to fame.
The Dean campaign is remembered for its pioneering use of the Internet more than its ads. But it did run an ad capturing his enthusiastic youth following, titled "Rock The Vote."
Howard Dean Lays Down a Funky Beat
While designed to show how Dean was on the technological cutting-edge at the time, the ad looks practically quaint today. Set to the house music track "To Beat Of The Drum," the spot begins with hands banging away on a computer keyboard – no smartphones yet – typing in the campaign's URL address.
A montage ensues, with clips of Dean rallies mixed with American flags and brief flashes of text. One word at a time, we see "ONLY YOU HAVE THE POWER TO TAKE YOUR COUNTRY BACK!"
But the Young Vote Didn't Show Up for Howard Dean
The early enthusiasm for Dean dissipated once it was time to vote. While Sanders racked up near unanimous support from voters under 30 in Iowa and New Hampshire,
Dean only mustered 25% of the under 30 vote in Iowa, sending him to a third-place finish that effectively ended his campaign.
Perhaps Dean needed less house music and more
Simon & Garfunkel.
