Hillary Rodham Clinton wants YouTube viewers to pick her campaign theme
song.
In a clear appeal to young voters, a YouTube video asks viewers to vote
for Clinton's presidential campaign theme song on her Web site. The
contest started May 16 and the number of songs was narrowed to 10 on
Thursday - five initially suggested by the campaign and five write-in
candidates.
They range from U2's "Beautiful Day" to Smash Mouth's version of "I'm a
Believer" to Celine Dion's "You and I."
"I want to know what you're thinking on one of the most important
questions of this campaign," Clinton said in a mock-serious tone during
the initial video. "It's something we've been struggling with, debating,
agonizing over for months. So now I'm turning to you, the American
people."
According to the view counter on YouTube, the video had more than
500,000 views; a more recent post was seen by more than 40,000. Her
campaign said it received more than 130,000 votes in the first round. It
promises to release the final result "in the coming days."
Robert Thompson, professor of television and popular culture at
Syracuse University, said the request for help selecting a theme song is
not unusual for Clinton, who preceded her 2000 run for the Senate with a
"listening tour." This is just taking that concept and putting it online,
he added.
But Kathleen Hall Jamieson, who directs the Annenberg Public Policy
Center at the University of Pennsylvania, said any way candidates can
engage potential voters, especially young people, at this stage is good.
"If they don't know who you are, they're not going to go out and vote
for you," she said.
The five suggested songs that got the most votes:
_"Suddenly I See," KT Tunstall
_"Rock This Country!" Shania Twain
_"Beautiful Day," U2
_"Get Ready," The Temptations
_"I'm a Believer," Smash Mouth
The top write-in suggestions are:
_"Are You Gonna Go My Way," Lenny Kravitz
_"Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now," McFadden & Whitehead
_"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic," The Police
_"You and I," Celine Dion
_"The Best," Tina Turner
(AP)
