Political analyst Michael Shemesh addressed the praise former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has been receiving on social media for his street campaign, arguing that the viral success is not translating into electoral support.
Bennett has been meeting with disillusioned Likud supporters and "Bibi-ists," engaging in confrontations and fielding tough questions and accusations. Shemesh contends that the approach is not reflected in polling numbers.
A Channel 11 poll released Sunday night showed Bennett's party receiving only 11 Knesset seats. Writing against the backdrop of Bennett's recent decline in surveys, as he approaches single-digit mandate territory again, Shemesh posed a question:
"What about the 'parliament campaign'? Bennett argues with taxi drivers, citizens in the periphery, conspiracy theorists he encounters, and random passersby. The videos bring likes, views, and work quite well on social networks."
"But perhaps they simply fail to accomplish what Bennett really needs to do: bring voters. Because in the end, Bennett's goal is not to be a social media star. The goal is to bring mandates," Shemesh wrote.
