Winners: Jingles for Romney and Obama

Kurt Andersen has been struck by how bland and uncreative the presidential campaign commercials have become; the more aggressive the attack ads, the more forgettable. So he challenged you to write and perform original jingles for the candidates.
The veteran Republican ad man Bob Gardner, who has worked on many campaigns, was our contest judge, selecting one winner for each candidate. He wrote Gerald Ford’s jingle in 1976. Gardner tells Kurt that a great jingle needs to be sticky, “in the sense that you don’t want it to wear out the first time you hear it.”
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Winner: “Mitt’s Our Man” by George Huckins – Weehawken, New Jersey

Gardner was impressed by this jingle’s rhymes:
No more foreign apologies.”Mitt’s our Man!” Pride at home and strength overseas.
Winner: “Vote Obama 2012” by Shianne Poplar – Atlanta, GA

Gardner likes the specifics woven into this jingle’s lyrics:
He stood firm in the face of adversity,Taking Bin Laden down was quite a great feat. Shout the three famous words: “Yes we can!” He needs four more years to see change in this land.
Bob Gardner was eager to give kudos to several runners-up among nearly 60 entries.
“Romney Jingle” by David Kent – Pleasant View, Tennessee

Gardner found Kent’s use of calypso music unusual and found the lyrics catchy.
You know who’s working hard, you know who’s tryingIt’s Governor Romney and Congressman Ryan. They got experience, so if the shoe fits, Place it on the Mormon from Massachusetts.
“Obama Jingle 60″ by Peter Bell – Watertown, Massachusetts

In this Forties-style swing tune, Kurt thought Bell might be the first person to get the word “obstructionism” into a jingle:
He fought to overcome Republican obstructionism. Unemployment’s going down, and housing’s on the go again.
“Presidential Jingle” by Hannah Oatman – Boulder, Colorado

Both Gardner and Kurt appreciated the old-fashioned ukulele style.