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Following an e-mail to select donors and supporters, Hillary Clinton’s campaign team reached out Sunday to the masses and publicly announced her plans to run for the US presidency, via several social media sites.
An official YouTube account posted a two-minute video titled “Getting Started.” In the short promo, several people announce personal resolutions they are getting ready for, which range from growing tomatoes to applying for jobs. Clinton appears near the end to say she is “getting ready to do something too,” and declares, “I’m running for president.”
Though YouTube view counts are still being verified at the time, the video has already garnered more than 2,000 comments, and her YouTube channel has racked up a bit over 5,700 subscribers. On her Facebook account, the same video was posted and has collected more than 607,000 views and 20,000 shares.
Meanwhile on Twitter, Clinton posted to her 3.25 million followers that she is seeking the presidency and that she wants to be a champion for Americans:
I’m running for president. Everyday Americans need a champion, and I want to be that champion. -H https://t.co/w8Hoe1pbtC
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) April 12, 2015
Use of social media has quickly become one of the most prominent ways to increase brand awareness and support. As Clinton and other candidates drum up votes this year and the next, it’ll be interesting to see how new platforms (other than Facebook and Twitter), will be utilized, such as Snapchat and Periscope.
At this moment, only two other people have announced their bids for the 2016 election: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul. With over 392,000 and 592,000 followers, respectively, both Republican prospects have a smaller presence on Twitter than Clinton.
On the other hand, the former US secretary of state and senator from New York has received criticisms about her online conduct. A month earlier, it was discovered she had used a personal email account to carry out official business during her time at the state department. And Saturday Night Live recently dedicated a cold opening to her, parodying an aloof but ambitious Clinton as she tries to record a selfie-video for social media.
