PRESS RELEASE
London, 30 April 2008 - The PRCA PR Leaders' Panel today highlighted that reputation is more than just what you say. An overwhelming majority of the panel (70%) felt that Boris Johnson had run the best campaign of the London Mayoral campaign, but nonetheless over 50% believe that Ken Livingstone will win a third term at City Hall.
Francis Ingham, PRCA director general said "The cream of PR is as close to unanimous as they ever get to concluding that Boris has run the best PR campaign. It is intriguing though that so many of them think this still won't carry him over the finishing line.
"What is clear is that this campaign has energised London's voters in a way that we really haven't seen before. Who wins is going to be determined by who has best energised those people who don't have a tribal loyalty.
"Whichever candidate wins, the burden of expectation after such a hard-fought and bruising campaign is going to be crushing. The winner had better have his plans for actually governing London absolutely worked out, because voters expect nothing less."
- ENDS -
The Panel was asked the following questions:
From a PR perspective which candidate has run the best campaign to become London Mayor?
- Boris Johnson - 70%
- Brian Paddick - 9%
- Ken Livingstone - 17%
- Other - 4%
Who will be the next Mayor of London?
- Boris Johnson - 39%
- Brian Paddick - 9%
- Ken Livingstone - 52%
Comments from the panel
Michael Hayman of The Communication Group commented "From a campaign perspective Boris has had the better run of it in terms of setting the agenda. Second preference votes though are anyone's guess."
Matt Neale of Golin Harris commented "The Evening Standard appears to be running Boris' PR for him, Ken has suddenly got all cuddily whilst Brian campaign though professional has no policies to 'buy'."

Connect


