Continuing a review of potential prez candidate emails, today's topic is the use of a candidate's spouse to soften the candidate's image.

In an earlier post, I mentioned that most of the campaigns have caught on to effective email tactics used in the 2004 presidential campaign and down ballot campaigns since. A message from the candidate's spouse -- who in many cases are their more attractive, softer counterpart -- is a tactic campaigns have used for centuries. Now, that message can be sent via email, and so far, the Joe Biden, John Edwards, and Hillary Clinton campaigns have engaged the candidate's spouse to reach out and touch supporters and potential supporters. In 2004, the Bush campaign heavily employed Laura Bush for sending email and the Kerry campaign employed Theresa Heinz Kerry a couple times, and since then it's become regular practice by many statewide and congressional races.

Also of note, Joe Biden is the first to up the softening ante by employing his sister to send an email message.

So, what do we think of this tactic so early on in the campaign? I think it's a smart strategy in this phase when you're introducing yourself as a candidate to use all of your assets, and as the saying goes, behind every good man is a great woman (or something like that). Of course, the Hillary situation is a bit different. As Michael Turk posted earlier, the image chosen by the Clinton campaign was likely not the best choice to soften Clinton's image.

Nonetheless, technopoliticos collectively agree that the best campaign web strategy is one that's a reflection and extension of the campaign's strategy overall. So, if a campaign is using a spouse on the trail, they should engage the spouse across the net as well.

Who will be the first Republican to launch a spouse email message?

I have my guesses ...