Iraq’s three-week campaign season is over.
In the U.S., campaigns run a lot longer than that, with candidates using expensive advertising firms and pollsters to get their message out. In Iraq, it’s more old-school: fliers, posters, rallies — and sometimes the threat of violence.
Driving through the streets of Baghdad, you notice thousands of posters plastered all over. We’ve even seen them stuck to palm trees in nearby villages. They’re the most visible sign of a fierce competition for voter recognition. We’ve also seen candidates and volunteer supporters out in the neighborhoods handing out fliers.
But we’ve heard reports that some of those fliers are warning voters to stay away from the polls. Fear, intimidation and sectarianism are still a part of Iraqi life.
Over the course of the last few months, several candidates have been assassinated and some party offices have been bombed.
The U.N. says it’s concerned about the attacks, but so far there’s been no widespread sectarian violence.
Iraq has no campaign finance laws. So we’ve heard many, many reports of vote-buying and gift-giving. Candidates allegedly are offering blankets, heaters, cell phone cards and even chickens — all in exchange for votes.
Large rallies have been limited in number, as any gathering is still considered a target for violence. That’s why many candidates have turned to the airwaves. TV channels are saturated with campaign ads and some candidates are starting to try out new media like text messaging and Facebook.
Voters’ concerns will sound remarkably familiar: Many Iraqis tell us that the government has failed to deliver on basic services, jobs and security. Many express the opinion that all politicians are liars.
The candidates’ ads and speeches might also sound familiar to an American audience; their main message? You can trust me.