Clutching at straws

Have a look at this picture:

Now have a look at this picture:

Now let's look at them together:

Bland and nondescript or strikingly like an image used to good effect in another election campaign?

A picture of Auckland Super City mayoral contender Len Brown in a campaign advertisement is being compared to posters of Barack Obama used during his successful bid for the White House.

Well let's do a comparison, shall we?

Differences:

• One is in a striking colour scheme, one is in black and white.
• Len Brown is smiling and looking at the 'camera', while Obama comtemplates the heavens.
• Obama is very stylised, while Brown goes for a more 'warts and all' depiction.
• Obama's picture features the word 'HOPE', while Brown's has nothing.

Similarities:

• They are both pictures of political candidates.
• Both wearing ties?

Ok, so not much there. So where did this story come from? Let's have a look at the text.

A picture of Auckland Super City mayoral contender Len Brown in a campaign advertisement is being compared to posters of Barack Obama used during his successful bid for the White House.

Right - the sort of Fox News-style weasel words that I really shouldn't have to expect. Who is doing the comparing? The only 'characters' in the story are the Brown campaign, the Banks campaign and the reporter herself. Let's imagine it as a CSI episode - you know, there are only about three characters in the episode and it has to have been one of them. It's probably not the 'victim', which means that it's either Banks's people or a lazy journalist.

Either way I'm bored and don't care.

Mr Brown's main rival for the super mayoralty, Auckland Mayor John Banks, did not want to comment. However, his campaign strategist, Auckland City councillor Aaron Bhatnagar, described the ad as "bland and nondescript".

"Our campaign's about talking about the issues of the people, not just showing off a big photo."

Quite.