MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges is hoping that a new campaign strategy will give her a bump in the polls.
On July 8, Hodges released four new memes on her twitter page featuring puppies and kittens, promoting her campaign and her slogan of “One Minneapolis.”
#OneMpls #MplsMayor pic.twitter.com/w7AHP1Wzqf
— Betsy Hodges (@MayorHodges) July 8, 2017
“We’re getting ‘tired’ too, hang in there #OneMpls,” features grey kittens with glowing green eyes.
#Mplsmayor #OneMpls #DFLConvention #Awwww pic.twitter.com/sLHNRfewqd
— Betsy Hodges (@MayorHodges) July 8, 2017
“When we work together anything is paw-sible #OneMpls,” the meme states, with Hodges adding “#Awwww” in her tweet.
#OneMpls #DFLConvention pic.twitter.com/oLYp7Sy8tM
— Betsy Hodges (@MayorHodges) July 9, 2017
#OneMpls #ImWithPurr pic.twitter.com/qYLWNHZef4
— Betsy Hodges (@MayorHodges) July 9, 2017
Hodges plays off the slogan of former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s “I’m with Her.” The one-term mayor may have gotten the idea from hosting Kitty Hall, a cat adoption event at Minneapolis City Hall. The event was well attended and covered by local media outlets.
The embattled mayor has found herself in the fight for her political life. The Minneapolis DFL Convention, which occurred on Saturday, showed delegates who were less than receptive to her message. Hodges came in third, behind Minneapolis State Rep. Ray Dehn and City Councilman Jacob Frey.
According to Forbes, pets have become a profitable marketing tool for businesses, noting companies usage of animals in their commercials for the 2013 Super Bowl.
However, Hodges campaign strategy may have temporarily backfired as multiple twitter followers commented on Hodges post berating her for a police shooting that left two dogs injured.
According to USA Today, a Minneapolis police officer shot two dogs after being called to a local residence to check a burglary alarm.
blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-conversation=”none” data-cards=”hidden” data-lang=”en”>
…except YOUR police are SHOOTING dogs & I dont see YOU doing something about this!! #AnimalCruelty #Minneapolis https://t.co/mJYJeiujcS
— Wulfram (@Wulfram) July 11, 2017
One Twitter user wrote, “…except YOUR police are SHOOTING dogs & I don’t see YOU doing something about this!! #AnimalCruelty #Minneapolis.”
Watch out tho your police department will want to shoot those puppies for “charging at them”
— Shumpy (@Peglegbros) July 10, 2017
Another twitter user wrote, “Watch out tho your police department will want to shoot those puppies for ‘charging at them.’”
Preya Samsundar
Preya Samsundar was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN. She graduated from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities this Spring with a B.A. in Political Science and Sociology, with a minor in Strategic Communications. Preya has previously worked on several State Campaign Races.
