Axelrod (Obama’s adviser) and company use an image like the Presidential seal to create immediate connections in the viewer/voter’s mind to the idea of power and prestige of the Presidential office – and implanting those ideas into the voter’s mind. This is a face value analysis that an advertiser would look at, but it could be taken further…

If you are a fan of subliminal advertising (a form of advertising tobacco and beer companies have used for decades), the effort works twofold, by subliminally implanting the reality of a “President Obama” into the voter’s mind through images of Obama talking in front of his “Obama presidential seal”. So… by marrying the two images, the seal and Obama – it is easier for a voter to accept the reality of a President Obama, because the voter is already shown the image, like the one posted above. I believe that Axelrod et. al understand this – hence the audacious move on their part to do such a thing.

In order for people to believe there can be a President Obama, they have to see it. This is what Axelrod and Co. are doing. If you don’t believe such image manipulation takes place, take a look at who is seated behind the presidential candidates during a press op. If they want white women to vote for them, they will place white women behind them, if they want Latinos… you get the point.

As far as the legality of it – it doesn’t matter, since any lawsuit will have an outcome that will be settled until after the election.

Bold move on their part. Obama’s strategists are better at image manipulation than McCain’s strategists. The differences in their campaign Web sites is an example. Another is the ugly “green” background used for McCain – someone should have screen tested the backdrop. Hopefully the McCain people will give the Obama people a run for their money in the “image/advertising” category so we can have more analyses.

As far as some of the politicos in D.C. whining about this – you must understand that you’re not the demographic that Obama and Axelrod are shooting for. You’re sophisticated and probably have a defined party identification. This presidential seal “Obama” logo is designed for less politically-savvy voters, you know – like regular people. Not for you.