Perhaps the Oscars needs a new best acting category.  In politics.  Their nominee surely might be Barack Obama, the politician-turned-actor (not the other way around) who thrills the electorate with so many crafted characters.

With assistance from GOP adman Mike Hudome and Playmaker ace John Koval, here are five to consider:

• THE JOCK: A winning game of H.O.R.S.E. with Clark Kellogg. March Madness whiteboard sessions with ESPN. Fist-bumping janitors in the White House.  As MSNBC’s Chris Matthews likes to say, it’s towel snapping in the House gym.
• THE PREACHER: At the pulpit, often seen in Southern venues, like Selma, AL.  This is down-home Obama.  Lilting.  The drawl.  Hopeful.  Gospel-like and almost God-fearing.
• THE PITCHMAN: His election-opener 2012 State of the Union performance. Upbeat.  Relaxed.  Hey, why’s everyone crying, here? It’s just spilled milk?! Channeling Al Green at the Apollo.
• THE PROFESSOR: Waxing philosophic on policy and world affairs. Grand re-commitments to Asia and the soft-sounding of Burmese generals, to name a few.
• THE DAD: Sitting down, chair-to-chair, with 60 Minutes’ Scott Pelley. He’s serious. Palpably exasperated. Indulgent of the congressional kids. Just barely.

Are these plays that POTUS is running? Yes and no. They’re not so much strategies as they are tonal tactics. Our Factors at Play reference hints at how. But Obama employs plays to support his deft acting. His play selection correlates to his characters:

• THE JOCK: Self-nominating Screens on his own athleticism and competitive prowess. 

• THE PREACHER: MLK-style Challenge plays to exhort the masses. And Fiats to declare a new truth.

• THE PITCHMAN: Positive Screens on good news and clever Preempts on the opposition’s agenda.

• THE PROFESSOR: Discos that concede a perceived weakness. And Pings to keep world leaders in line.

• THE DAD: Polite Mirrors that examine the political mischief that Father-in-Chief endures.

Posted by Alan Kelly

Photo Credit: The Endive