Germany fumbles with Obama-style election tactics

BERLIN (Reuters) - German politicians are drawing on the lessons of the U.S. presidential campaign by embracing the Internet and experimenting with townhall meetings, but what worked for Barack Obama seems to be backfiring here.

Pollsters and strategists say the new media outlets and formats Obama used so successfully in his bid for the presidency have exposed the weaknesses of Germany's leading politicians, including a lack of charisma and clear political message.

But so far, neither party has scored points with the new approach. A frowning Steinemeier fell flat at a townhall meeting last week, baffling his audience with long words and convoluted sentences. Media panned his lackluster performance.

The trouble for the campaign managers, analysts say, is that no amount of innovative tactics can compensate for a lack of substance

Germany fumbles with Obama-style election tactics