I have been involved in politics for over 50 years—as a voter, campaigner and writer.

I have never seen anything like the shenanigans being practiced by today's political operatives—the marketers of the candidates—and their handmaidens in the media.

Backgrounder

In 1969 I joined John V. Lindsay's re-election campaign for mayor of New York and was assigned to ride in the campaign car of Lindsay's controller candidate, Fioravante (Fred) Perrotta.

For 2-1/2 months during the Republican Primary, I spent evenings and weekends driving all over the 305 square miles of the city of New York. My job: Finding pay telephones and men's rooms for Freddie while he speechified and pressed the flesh.

The one thing I learned about the marketing of aspirants for political office:

The candidates are the stars of show. Our job was to stay in the deep shadows and do everything possible to help them achieve center stage and shine.

Back then, there were:

No 24/7-cable news. No cellphones. No computers.

No Twitter. No Interviews with campaign directors.

No media blah-blah-blah-blah-blah-blah-blah-blah.

Fast-forward 47 years. A sampling from the 2016 media:

• Picture caption from The New York Times front page Feb 23, 2016:

Behind Ted Cruz's

Campaign Manager,

Scorched Earth and

Election Victories

Jeff Roe, Ted Cruz's campaign manager, answered reporters' questions after the Republican presidential debate in Charleston, S.C., this month. —Matt Flegenheimer

• [John] Podesta, who is actually the chairman of the Clinton campaign, was put forward by the campaign to face off against Bernie Sander's senior adviser Tad Devine during a spin room interview with Chris Matthews. —Brent Scher, The Washington Free Beacon

• After Rubio underperforms tonight, they'll roll out 5 lobbyist endorsements tomorrow & call it momentum. —John Weaver Tweet

Kasich Senior Strategist (author of 30,900 Tweets)

• "South Carolina is going to be important because it's going to be the commander-in-chief primary there," [Maxwell] Kochel [Bush's Chief Strategist] told Business Insider. "You've got 25% of the state [that] is military or veteran. We have the support of Lindsey Graham and we have a strong organization. I think this race is going to narrow."

 —Maxwell Tani, Business Insider

The above are examples of how campaign officials no longer operate in secrecy. Instead they fall all over themselves and the media to achieve personal recognition and kudos.

The media want scoops, exclusives, gossip and—above all—ratings. With hours and hours of airtime to fill and unlimited print space on the Internet, these so-called journalists are desperate to make news rather than report it.

They are also wrecking the political process.

A direct marketing analogy

Imagine having a client whose business is selling a gold bracelet and charms on a continuity basis. What is the optimum selling price for the bracelet and each charm?

Obviously you test.

Imagine going out the marketplace and announcing you are testing gold charms at $9.99, $19.99 and $29.99. Plus another test of free vs. paid shipping and handling.

The concept is preposterous!

Same thing with politics

By revealing the insider discussions and campaign strategy to print and broadcast journalists, these gonzo marketers are gleefully bragging to the world how clever they are manipulating the candidates.

And worse, instead of concentrating on message, candidates are seen to be manipulating the electorate.

Trust and believability are down the toilet.

The Tale of the Tweet and Why

Donald Trump Is Kicking Rump

Back in 1973 Twitter did not exist. Today everybody tweets.

Current campaign tweets by the numbers (as of 02-22-16)

Tweeter                               Number of Tweets

Hillary Clinton                               4,328

6 Clinton Staffers                            8,058

Bernie Sanders                             6,087

Tad Devine, Senior Advisor               625

Jeb Bush                                       3,990

7 Bush Staffers                             61,834

Dr. Ben Carson                             2,852

2 Carson Staffers                         15,193

Ted Cruz                                        14,300

9 Cruz Staffers                               71,324

John Kasich                                   7,180

2 Kasich Staffers                           45,400

Marco Rubio                                  5,022

10 Rubio Staffers                          32,834

Donald Trump                               30,900

 National Spokesperson

   Katrina Pierson                           36,400

2 Additional Trump Staffers                385

Why is Trump way out in front?

Quite simply the candidate and his highly professional Campaign Spokesperson are controlling the messages. No insecure weenies hungering for recognition are muddying the waters. The Trump campaign is simple, unscripted, deeply personal and powerful. With the candidate himself very much in charge.

Sure the outspoken Trump could drop an inadvertent IED and blow himself to hell.

But he will not be sunk like a skunk by a punk Communications Director named Rick Tyler over a vicious misleading video attacking Marco Rubio. Tyler was axed the following day, leaving the Ted Cruz campaign a shambles.

Takeaway to Consider:

• "A's hire A's. B's hire C's."

  —Donald Rumsfeld, Rumsfeld's Rules

• Don't let B's and C's speak or write in your behalf and wreck your show.

P.S. What Triggered This Release

Below is the text of a preview message to the 1,186 readers with whom I have corresponded over the past 22 years.

You are invited to take advantage of this no-risk, no obligation offer.

= = = = = = = = = = = = =

SUBJECT LINE: A personal invitation from Denny Hatch

Hi [First Name],

Since we last corresponded, I have retired as a regular columnist for Target Marketing. I'm on my own now with a fascinating iron in the fire.

This is a quick note to invite you take a free look at the first 2 chapters of the marketing book I had the most fun researching and writing.

It is being published for the first time in a Kindle edition.

In this truly unusual election cycle, an amazing number of self-proclaimed outsiders have announced for the presidency.

This story is about marketing the ultimate anti-establishment outsider who ran for mayor of New York in the 1973 election. The title:

THE FINGERED CITY

How the Mafia Marketed a Candidate

To Become the Mayor of New York City

http://tinyurl.com/jseko3y

The price: $2.99.

Book critics loved it. I hope you will too.

A sampling:

Looking beyond this gripping, brawling narrative there

undoubtedly is an exciting movie in the future. Meanwhile,

here's a worthwhile experience in reading entertainment.

—Cleon Walfoort, The Milwaukee Journal

"The Fingered City" is a gripping narrative, from the opening

moments when Page is snatched to a New Jersey hideout

where he's told he may be the next mayor of New York,

through the wild, brawling scramble for votes over the

length and breadth of the sprawling, filthy city, right up

to the climax, so shocking, so explosive the reader will

never again look at a politician the same light."

—George Near, Abilene (Texas) Reporter News

The idea of organized crime getting a hand-picked

candidate elected mayor of New York City via a secret

$10 million programmed effort is frightening. The question

is: is it possible? It's almost impossible to decide for yourself

until AFTER you finish this book because excellent writing by

the author in his character portraits and story line demand

nonstop readership. The story is good, a winner. It has

movie possibilities written all over it.

 —Dudley Lehew, Associated Press

Readers may find themselves going back for a second,

sober thought on some passages and chapters, so true does

the Hatch argument ring. The entire proposition, and his

handling of it, make a highly entertaining, topical package.

—Robert A. McLean, The Boston Globe

Go The Fingered City—http://tinyurl.com/jseko3y—and then click on the cover where it says, "Look Inside." Up will pop a couple of chapters so you can judge it for yourself.

I think you'll really like it.

Thanks so much for your time.

Cheers.

Denny Hatch

200 West Washington Square, #3007

Philadelphia, PA 19106

215/644-5426 (rings on my desk)

dennyhatch@yahoo.com