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Eric Swalwell’s Campaign Ad Is So Cringeworthy He Might Be a Genius

Last Updated October 4, 2020 6:58 AM
Steven Buchko
Last Updated October 4, 2020 6:58 AM

By CCN.com: Rep. Eric Swalwell, the Democratic presidential nominee you’ve probably never heard of, recently released a campaign video weird enough to make your junior high self cringe.

The representative from California announced his intent to run for president in April and has gained some recent notoriety as one of only two candidates to accept cryptocurrency donations. (If you’re curious, Andrew Yang is the other.)

Before heading off on the campaign trail, though, Swalwell first needs to find a (much) better marketing team. His primary campaign video  has almost five times as many dislikes as likes on YouTube, and his most recent video…well, take a look for yourself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCg4DphJ2YU

I want to root for Swalwell, I really do. He’s a blockchain advocate, so seeing him in the White House would be great in that regard. His amateurish video, though, leaves me wondering whether or not he actually knows what he’s talking about.

Let’s try to break down every spot where Swalwell went wrong.

Swalwell Comes Off as Technologically Illiterate

The video opens with Swalwell in front of what appears to be a green screen crudely photoshopped into an animated iPhone. To make matters worse, it’s an older generation phone. If Swalwell wants us to believe he’s as forward-thinking as he claims, you think he would have at least upgraded to an iPhone X.

Additionally, the remaining parts of the video are reminiscent of 2017’s sketchy initial coin offering (ICO) boom. It features poorly drawn animations that flash buzzword after buzzword without providing any real substance. For example, Swalwell states in the video,

“We must test, retest, and constantly monitor such [blockchain] systems for interference or abuses by using expert oversight.”

What does that mean, exactly? Your guess is as good as mine.

He Really Wants You to Know He’s Running for President

The video has a non-stop, animated ticker shouting, “ERIC SWALWELL FOR PRESIDENT 2020” on the top and bottom of the frame anytime Swalwell is on the screen. And in case that Myspace-era eyesore isn’t blatant enough, the video also includes a gigantic White House/flag combo that slaps you in the face with good ol’ fashioned American symbolism.

eric swalwell for president, democratic primary
Don’t forget to pick up your #SWALWELLING swag. | Source: Eric Swalwell Campaign Website 

The Video Quality Is Plain Awful

The entire video looks as if a high school film student created it. I wouldn’t be surprised if Swalwell later admits to working with the first “expert video producer” that happened to reach out to him on LinkedIn. The whole video is mediocre at best and an absolute dumpster fire at its worst.

LinkedIn Video Producer example for Eric Swalwell
Rep. Eric Swalwell’s video producer, probably.

Unfortunately, the production isn’t even the most upsetting aspect. Numerous times throughout the video, you can catch Swalwell blatantly reading off a script that he’s conveniently placed right below eye level. This lack of professionalism does not bode well for his potential work ethic once president.

Eric Swalwell Democratic Presidential Candidate
The camera is up here, Representative Swalwell. | Source: YouTube

Eric Swalwell – Lazy Fool or Marketing Genius?

This campaign video is so poorly done, it almost seems intentional. It’s challenging to release something this terrible without any self-awareness. That can’t be the case here, can it? Maybe Swalwell is up to something.

If Swalwell’s mission was to make a video so awful that it would go viral, the man has my vote. But honestly, I’m probably giving him too much credit. Either way, we at least get another laugh out of the clown show that American politics has become.