In case you somehow missed the flurry of Facebook wall postings, President Obama launched his re-election campaign today with a remarkably scaled down, almost Spartan website and a introductory video that is remarkably similar to another much hyped launch….for Windows7?

To be fair, in the email announcement the President writes “We’re doing this now because the politics we believe in does not start with expensive TV ads or extravaganzas…”

Mission accomplished?

Barack Obama 1012 Campaign Launch Video "It Begins With Us"   

Windows7 Launch “Party"

What do you think- Is OFA / DNC taking the right approach?

Try watching “It Begins With Us” and the NRSC’s April Fools Day ad- “President Barack Obama’s First Ad of 2012”. Wait 5 minutes, what do you remember? Also note the difference in the titles of the ads- What are people more likely to be searching for? Will this clever attempt by the NRSC siphon off traffic from Barack Obama’s channel? So far the NRSC is ahead in views, the ratio of likes / dislikes and total comments, be interesting to see if their lead holds.

Also worth seeing: CNET’s analysis of the Microsoft Ad… Anything apply here?