Political Ad Guy

2011-05-31T10:27:00.000-07:00

Priorities USA Kicks Off The 2012 Campaign

The first ad of the 2012 Presidential campaign is, wait for it, an attack ad. In this particularly uninspiring piece of creative, Priorities USA uses Newt Gingrich, Paul Ryan and Nikki Haley to go after Mitt Romney (I know, it didn't make sense to me, either) with the tested-in-NY26 Medicare hit.

We hope this doesn't portend a 2012 of cheaply produced, poorly written, I-made-it-on-my-laptop-while-sitting-in-the-LaGuardia-Admirals-Club ads. But I think it does.

Click here to sit through "Pages"

2011-05-24T17:08:00.000-07:00

Oceana Thinks There's Oil In New York Harbor

Oil! Black gold! Staten Island tea! According to this poster (spotted by the world famous Gregg Keller), everybody in Staten Island is about to be filthy rich. Not only does this poster miss the mark, it's an attempt to co-opt 9/11 imagery and feelings to push an agenda. That's not right.

Thanks again to "Hollywood" Gregg Keller. Have you seen a great (or bad) poster? You have a camera phone. Shoot it and send it in.

2011-05-23T15:14:00.000-07:00

Steve Beshear Works Behind A Desk

Wouldn't it be great if you could just buy stock footage and stick your own face in it? That's pretty much what Kentucky's Steve Beshear is doing here. We see Steve on a park bench, Steve in a factory, Steve behind a desk and, wait for it, Steve in a diner.

Even Beshear's tagline, Tested Trusted Tough, has the smell of old alliterative cheese.

Click here to watch "Bio." But, trust us, you've seen it all before.

2011-05-22T14:20:00.000-07:00

Flim-Flam Man Jack Davis Gives Us Most Depressing Ad Ever

The NY-26 special election, which goes to the polls Tuesday, is a political train wreck. (Naturally, we couldn't help but look.) It features Jack Davis, a Democrat running on the Tea Party line on the ballot. Flim-flam or genius? Doesn't really matter because he's going to lose. Trouble is, he'll probably take the Republican candidate with him.

At least he gaves us this gem of an ad that Politico called the most depressing campaign ad ever. Dad lost his job. Mom needs chemotherapy. Sis is depressed. Brother is, well, he's just kind of a prop.

Click here to watch Jack Davis' "Chemotherapy"

2010-10-23T06:06:00.001-07:00

Waste Money The Chinese Way (CAGW) Or The American Way (Bankrupting America)

Wasting money is some of the best creative fodder around.

In this lavish ad for Citizens Against Government Waste, the Chinese become the target. Nice concept, well-produced, nicely derisive and reminscent of Apple's "1984" without directly stealing from it. I thought the giant CG Chinese flag could have looked better, but I'm nit picking.

Earlier in the cycle, Bankrupting America went up with this simple ad showing how, not the Chinese, but our own government is spending us into the ground. Literally. Full disclosure: this is spot our talented team produced.

Grade?: A for both

Click here to watch CAGW "Chinese Professor"

Click here to watch Bankrupting America's "Stop Digging"

2010-10-15T09:58:00.000-07:00

Dead Man Talking: Stevens Endorses Murkowski

This had to be a tough call. The Murkowski campaign cuts an endorsement spot with the late Sen. Ted Stevens. We all know what happened next.

With her campaign in major trouble, she really needs that endorsement. No doubt, Senator Stevens would have wanted them to use the ad, but it's still a tricky bit of business.

Here, the Murkowski campaign plays it smart and errs on the side of respect having Sen. Stevens' daughter introduce the ad, give her blessing and even appear with Murkowski.

Will this turn the tide and get people to write in Murkowski? Probably not, but it's Alaska, so you never know.

It won't win any awards for creativity, but they handled this right.

Grade: B

Click here to watch "Ted Stevens"

2010-10-08T10:48:00.000-07:00

David Vitter Says Charlie Melancon Is A Tad Weak On Immigration

Vitter is hitting Charlie Melancon hard with this over-the-top "Immigrants Welcome" spot.

These are always tricky to do, because you want to get the point across without insulting anyone but the opposing candidate. In this case, Team Vitter goes with ridiculous, cartoony visuals that really work. You won't miss this spot on TV.

Grade: B

Click here to watch "Welcome Prize"

2010-10-05T19:30:00.000-07:00

Rand Paul Discovers That Comedy Is A Dangerous Business

We've ranted and raved about the lack of production values in political ads. This time we won't. Because Rand Paul has taught us you can still make a dreary commercial with nice production values.

We want to like this spot and, on paper, it has everything. Quality shooting, tasteful editing, good props, what could be wrong?

It's only half an idea.

A Barack Obama impersonator talking about how much he wants Jack Conway in the Senate. Good start, but it doesn't go anywhere from there. No gag, no twist, no great line for people to talk about over coffee in the morning.

Looks good, but it's a missed opportunity.

Grade: B (for the production value)

Click here to watch "Stamp of Approval"

2010-10-05T13:33:00.000-07:00

Christine O'Donnell Not A Witch Apparently

Let's be honest, Christine O'Donnell has made some boneheaded moves. One smart move she made was to hire a top flight media consultant.

In this straight-to-camera confessional Christine comes off as earnest, honest and brave enough to present a contrast to the whirlwind of noise around her.

We still think she has a snowball's chance in hell of winning this thing, but this is a simple, well-done ad that hits all the right buttons.

Grade: B

Click here to watch "You"

2010-10-05T12:13:00.000-07:00

John McCain Delivers For Bill Flores

Love him or hate him, when John McCain is on he can really deliver. Here he is doing just that for Bill Flores.

We like the closer shot of Bill Flores speaking to workers, but the shot of him working at his desk late at night? Let's aim a little higher folks.

Grade: B

Click here to watch "Texans Deserve Better"

2010-10-01T21:21:00.000-07:00

Joe DioGuardi Does A Little Presto Chango

Joe DioGuardi has a problem. His opponent is a very good looking woman. He looks like Joe Pesci.

The solution? In this case, a bit of trickery. This spot features Joe standing on a white cyc holding a green screen credit card that magically changes as he swipes his finger across it.

To be honest, his opponent is a lot easier on the eyes, but this spot's pretty well done.

Grade: B

Click here to watch "Credit Card"

2010-09-29T19:37:00.000-07:00

Vitter-Melancon Battle Only Slightly Better Than Fake Sumo Wrestling At A Corporate Retreat

Ever seen two guys in those big puffy fake sumo wrestler suits go at it? Kind of funny for a couple of minutes, then just sad and embarrassing. That pretty well sums up the Vitter-Melancon race.

Vitter has trotted out a series of ho-hum ads including a spot that used one of my favorite horrible political ad cliches, "Charlie Melancon, he's not on our side." Oh yeah, it has a bobblehead in it, too.

Now Melancon, shooting the best (and probably) last bullet in his gun, Charlie has produced a 2:00 commercial laying out (pun intended) the Vitter prostitution story. But this is no ordinary 2:00 commercial, it's repackaged as a quasi news show.

The big moment comes at 1:01 where they show someone who wants their identity protected. We see the silhouette of someone identified as "Retired Firefighter" who says, "if someone writes the laws, they should abide by the laws." Explosive!

The "re-enactment" scene is pretty funny, too.

I give them credit for trying to do something interesting, but it's probably best left to professionals.

Grade: C

Click here to watch "Forgotten"

2010-09-28T10:20:00.000-07:00

DGA Tries To Break Rick Perry, Winds Up Cracking Us Up

It's big news that the DGA is playing in the Texas Governor's Race. Especially when you consider that running TV in the Lone Star State is going to cost them somewhere north of $600,000 a week.

But if you're going to run millions of dollars in paid media, shouldn't you spend more than hundreds of dollars on the production of your spot. The visuals are homemade, the image is mushy and the entire spot looks as if they spent almost as much as ten minutes in deep thought about it.

The messaging has the potential to hit hard, but the technique puts the "hack" in "hackneyed." If this is their best shot, Rick Perry has nothing to worry about.

Grade: F

Click here to watch "Cracks"

2010-09-26T17:24:00.000-07:00

Alan Grayson Makes My Head Hurt

It's negative ad season. I get that. Trust me when I tell you a good negative ad should be clear and simple. It can be funny, it can be fancy, but it has to make sense right away.

Apparently Alan Grayson disagrees with me.

In this attack ad against Daniel Webster, they use a piece of video that would, no doubt, drive Grayson's base crazy. But it's so chopped up, stomped on and convoluted that I could barely make it to the 30 second mark.

But I'm glad I did, because at the end Grayson calls Daniel Webster a Taliban. That made my day.

Grade: D

Hold on tight and watch "Taliban"

2010-09-23T05:15:00.001-07:00

Carly Fiorina Plays The "Ma'am" Card Just Right

When you have a killer piece of video against your opponent, the easiest thing to do is overplay your hand.

Team Carly has been sitting on the "Call me Senator" clip for months waiting for the right time to use it. (This clip really sticks in my craw, because I live in Texas where "ma'am" is always an appropriate term of address, but never mind.)

In this spot from Fred Davis' Strategic Perception, the clip is handled exactly right. It's played in context and features a short, but stinging rebuke nicely delivered by the candidate.

Instead of a personal attack, they use the clip to jujitsu Washington arrogance as a whole. Nice edit and terrific performance by Carly. (But she's spoiled us all cycle.) Tip of the beret to the cinematographer who put Carly in a dramatic light while still keeping an approachable look.

Grade: A (My first "A" of the cycle, besides the ones I gave myself)

Click here to watch and learn

2010-09-21T15:15:00.000-07:00

Charlie Crist Draws The Line

How do you explain why you changed your party affiliation to Independent without using the words "because I was going to lose the Republican primary?"

Charlie Crist does a pretty decent job of it in this spot called "Line In The Sand." He shot it on a beach in Florida and uses the sand as a nice device to get his point across. Love him or hate him, Charlie delivers on camera.

But hey, what's the deal with the snap-zoom into Charlie when he speaks? Seems like there are two mandatories for every Charlie Crist spot:

1. Put Charlie in a light blue golf shirt
2. Snap zoom into Charlie when he speaks

It's hokey camera work in an otherwise nice spot.

Click here to see "Line In The Sand"

2010-09-21T10:44:00.001-07:00

Jerry Labriola Tries To Be So Bad It's Good

The budget for the Old Spice commercials are probably north of a million dollars a piece. The budget for Jerry Labriola's "spoof" (nice word for "stolen") is north of about a hundred.

I don't even know what to say. Except stealing is bad. In this case, really bad.

Make sure you have an empty stomach and click here to watch "Anything Is Possible"

2010-09-14T05:50:00.000-07:00

Rick Perry: A Good Actor In A Bad Movie

Sometimes you go to the movies and you wonder, how on earth did that guy wind up attached to that piece of trash? That's what's going on with Rick Perry's new commercial.

Love him or hate him (there are lots of folks on both sides), you have to admit Rick Perry's a pretty decent actor. Looks good, hits his marks, takes direction, camera likes him, etc.

Even the message is good. "Texas Is Open For Business" is a solid piece of strategic writing.

But it's the space between concept and execution that separates the good from the bad.

The idea is completely sabotaged by a lackluster, flat video look, some amateurish color correction and some set ups that make us want to pull out the Flock of Seagulls cassettes. And why is the candidate in the exact same wardrobe in every single shot?

A major race ($2 million a message for media) in a major state (that happens to be home to several Hollywood network TV productions) should look a whole lot better.

Grade: C

Click here to watch "Open For Business"

2010-09-11T04:08:00.000-07:00

Christine O'Donnell Has A Few Complaints About Mike Castle

Okay, for those of you who say I only pick on Democrats, today is your lucky blog day.

Christine O'Donnell, locked in a rock 'em-sock 'em Senate primary battle with Mike Castle, is up with a spot that can only be described as ten pounds of polling data in a five pound bag.

Too many copy points with too many standard-issue political spot graphics all over the screen. It looks like a 30-second ransom note.

We like Christine O'Donnell, she's the kind of fiesty candidate that keeps politics fun. But just because you're running in a small state doesn't mean you have to look small. Good spots and bad spots, they all cost the same. This just isn't US Senate caliber work.

Grade: D

Click here to watch "Castle"

2010-09-08T19:30:00.001-07:00

Joe Wilson Calls In The Marine(s)

MoveOn.org has decided to play in a South Carolina Congressional race giving money to Rob Miller.

Needless to say, MoveOn.org isn't really popular in South Carolina. Especially with military folks. General Jim Livingston goes on TV to have a Marine-to-Marine talk with Rob Miller about giving the money back. Sounds convoluted, but the general makes it work.

His performance is an A, the graphics are a C. We'll give it a B.

Click here to see "General Livingston"

2010-09-08T07:11:00.000-07:00

Ted Strickland Breaks New Creative Ground

In his latest attack ad, Ted Strickland uses grainy black and white slow motion images of his opponent, hokey After Effects tricks on cheap stock photos and red bars with blocky, poorly set type.

Then, he kicks it up a notch by using a shot of the US Capitol in the background and invoking China.

I think the bar has been set.

Grade: D

Click here to endure "Revolving Door"

2010-09-07T15:02:00.000-07:00

Jerry Brown Changes Course, Goes Positive

After the unions have poured millions into a negative TV blitz on Jerry Brown's behalf, Jerry Brown has decided to do something crazy – go positive.

In Jerry's first spot, he brings back the good old days. Emphasis on old since many voters weren't born yet or are now too old to remember Jerry's actual record. The spot itself is a 70's throwback that drags production values down to the basement using cheap, if not free, stock footage and a very uninspiring turn with Jerry talking straight to the camera.

If you can bore people into voting for you, Jerry's in.

Check out "Jerry"

2010-09-03T10:11:00.000-07:00

Patty Murray Tries To Turn Lemons Into Wenatchee Lemonade

Patty Murray has a little problem. Like a lot of senators who have made their careers on their ability to haul pork back home, Patty now has to justify all the pork hauling.

Trouble is, that ain't easy.

In this testimonial spot, Karl Struble sets the "way back" machine for 1995 and turns what should be an emotional story about saving lives in Washington to a generic hospital commercial with no heart. Where are the patients whose lives were saved? Where are the people telling the heartwarming stories?

Instead, Struble gives us people in scrubs whipping out old bromides like "she really came through for us" and "she cut through the red tape" combined with b-roll shots of Patty nodding as people pretend to talk to her.

Free tip of the day: you can't bore people into voting for you.

Grade: D

Click here to watch "Wenatchee"

2010-09-01T22:53:00.000-07:00

Now Here's How It's Done: Our New Ad for the RGA

From the guiltless self-promotion department, here's a new ad we produced for the RGA in Georgia.

If you make political ads, please take notes:
- a negative ad does not have to be red, gray and black
- a negative ad does not have to use an ugly picture of the opponent
- a negative ad can be designed and art directed to look interesting

This, boys and girls, is how it's done.

Click here to watch "Iron Fist"

2010-09-01T22:47:00.001-07:00

Robin Carnahan Takes Her Best Shot

Arguably the least talented member of the Carnahan political clan, Robin's running behind Roy Blunt and clearly pressing the panic button.

In this shot, for some strange reason titled "Mug," Team Carnahan takes all the best hits and jams them all in one boring, poorly art directed ad.

Like every boring political hit ad it features a stunning color palette of black, red and gray set off with the use of headlines shown on torn bits of paper. Groundbreaking.

This is a campaign in trouble and these ads show it.

Click here to watch "Mug"

2010-08-31T15:43:00.001-07:00

Media Matters Isn't So Good At The Whole Media Thing

Okay, maybe I'm missing the point here.

Maybe Media Matters is trying to make a stand by running an ad critical of Fox News on Fox News. Fine, I get it. But when I look at this spot, I just see 30 seconds of my life I'm not getting back.

A waving American flag with a line that starts off with "A Special Message"? All set in a dull typeface that's improperly spaced and kerned by someone who doesn't know what the word "kern" means?

Honestly, you couldn't have done one single thing more than open up iMovie and jam in some type? An iStock image? A shot of a barking dog? Anything?

I'm sure this a point to all this, but I'm not getting it.

Click here to watch "Media Matters"

2010-08-30T20:49:00.001-07:00

One Word For Charlie Crist

Charlie's up with a positive ad that Frank Luntz called the worst ad he's ever tested. Since I almost never agree with Luntz, I expected to see genius. Unfortunately, I will now have to type some words that are very, very difficult:

I agree with Frank Luntz.

There, I said it. This ad from Crist is the old gag where you just use single words from people and cut it into something. Have I used the "one word" trick before? Yes. Have I used it for 30 whole seconds? No. Did I do it in such a way that not one salient point was made? No. And did I bookend it with graphics that look they were made by someone using a Commodore 64? No.

But Charlie did.

I know it's popular to jump on Charlie right now, but this time, he has it coming.

Click here to watch "One Word"

2010-08-28T20:24:00.000-07:00

Harry Reid's "Extreme" Is Extremely Bad

Okay, you're running against an opponent who spends all day, every day giving you ammunition to pummel them. With things like "Social Security violates the Ten Commandments" and "a Scientology massage program for prisoners" you have attack ad gold, right?

Wrong. Harry Reid can't even do attack ads right.

In "Extreme" he takes a dream collection of hits, illustrates them dreary, cheap stock shots and wraps them all up with "She's just too extreme."

Harry, demand a refund from the agency. Seriously.

Grade: D

Click here to watch "Extreme"

2010-08-28T20:05:00.000-07:00

Rick Scott Has A Plan For Jobs, No Plan For This Spot

We think Rick Scott would make a dandy governor for Florida, but this TV commercial couldn't get you elected President of the Paris Hilton Fan Club. (And you'd be running unopposed for that one.)

Theoretically, the spot is about Scott's plan to bring jobs to Florida, but the visuals look he spend the afternoon rummaging through the trash can behind the Florida Board of Tourism.

They probably meant it to be a lovely pastiche of Florida vistas, but it really doesn't work. Especially when Rick's plea to phase out the business income tax is illustrated by a waist down shot of a woman in white slacks.

Grade: D

Check out "Jobs"

2010-08-23T07:42:00.000-07:00

Kendrick Meek Goes Out With A Bang

For some reason, we are obsessed with Kendrick Meek, the presumptive loser in the upcoming Florida Senate race. Oh sure, he'll beat the pants off Jeff Greene tomorrow (Meek is leading by double digits), but that's not stopping him from going out swinging.

At somebody. Anybody.

Your typical endorsement/closer ad turns negative hit machine at the :15 mark. What can we say? It's another nice hit ad from the Meek campaign.

Grade: B

Click here to see "Endorse"

2010-08-19T10:30:00.000-07:00

NRSC Scores A Political Ad Guy First

Okay, I rarely put up web videos because, well, they suck. Here's a rare exception from the RNC where the message is clear, the type is small and tasteful and the video doesn't try to co-opt (read "steal") and idea from an existing TV spot or movie.

Grade: B

Check out "Extreme"

2010-08-17T18:20:00.000-07:00

You Know Those Funny Viral Videos? Daniel Freilich Didn't Make One

Up until Labor Day every tin foil hat wearing nut job who found enough change in the couch to pay the filing fee thinks he has a chance to win. Thanks to the magic of the Internet, they get to share their madness with us.

You've probably seen the funny viral videos that no-buck candidates have put up this cycle. This isn't one. The only thing more tragic than some idiot trying to co-opt a popular commercial (listen up everyone who has ever used the word "priceless" in a political ad), is someone who knocks off a popular spot so badly that it makes me want to carve out my own eyeballs with a fork.

Vermont's Daniel Freilich has created such a commercial.

Grade: F

Watch "Look At Me." Don't blame me if you gouge out your own eyes. Sorry.

2010-08-17T13:11:00.000-07:00

Bill Binnie Goes All Ponzi On Kelly Ayotte

When John Sununu told the candidates not to go negative in the four-way NH primary, Bill Binnie must have heard "go all negative." In two spots out today, Binnie features the victims of a Ponzi scheme to fire one across the bow of his opponent (and race leader) Kelly Ayotte.

The spot consists of touching stories from people who were fleeced in the scheme. Unfortunately, these stories are presented as if they were shot on someone's cell phone. These victims and their stories deserve better.

Grade: C

Click here to watch "Victims"

2010-08-17T07:20:00.000-07:00

Scott Walker Hates Trains, Not So Crazy About Obama

Wisconsin's Scott Walker is trying to do a spot with Obama, wasteful spending, a federally funded high-speed rail project and potholes.

Somehow, he made it work.

Here's the deal: people hate negative ads and, generally speaking, they kind of like Obama, the guy. This spot does a nice job of dropping a bomb on the opponent and trivializing Obama without having a mean edge.

Walker does a nice job on camera, too. (Although, for God's sake Scott, stop bouncing on the balls of your feet when you finish lines, you're running for governor not auditioning for David Hasselhoff.)

Oddly enough, the star of the spot is a brown paper bag. The website is shown practically with the URL written on a brown bag sitting in a pothole. A double mnemonic that actually works. Very smart.

Grade: A (I don't give many As, so I'll expect a "thank you" note)

Check out Scott Walker's "Stop The Train"

2010-08-09T20:38:00.000-07:00

Will Someone Please Wake Up Bill White

They say you can't bore people into voting for you, Bill White is out to prove them wrong.

Bill White has turned a wonderful, compelling personal story into a dreadfully dull TV spot. The production values are embarrassing and the shots of the candidate look like shots that weren't good enough to go into the family vacation scrapbook.

Hey guys, he's running for governor of one of the biggest states in the union, spring for a little color correction.

I'm told Bill is a nice guy. That doesn't mean he's a good announcer.

Grade: D

Take a big gulp of coffee and try to stay awake through "San Antonio"

2010-08-09T15:19:00.000-07:00

Michael Bennet Takes An Ad With Cute Little Kids And Ruins It

Your candidate has cute, precocious girls who are good on camera. Naturally, you make a commercial with them saying all sorts of cute things (like "Hickenlooper") that just happen to drive some of your polling points.

Fine.

But in this ad from Michael Bennet, he takes the cute kids and, well, doesn't show them. He makes their pictures tiny, slathers ugly supers over them, even shows pictures of himself getting off his schoolbus.

At least the kids will have something to tell their therapist when they get older.

Click here to watch "Bus Ride"

2010-08-03T18:22:00.000-07:00

Now The Fun Begins

The primaries are almost done and the real fireworks are about to begin.

Get ready for 90 days of cheesy bios, flimsy attacks and half-baked creative work. I'm giddy.

Fasten your seat belts and put your tray tables in the upright position, this is going to be a bumpy one.

Stay tuned.

2010-07-31T09:36:00.000-07:00

Kendrick Meek Takes Jeff Greene To The Disco

Let's be honest, Kendrick Meek has approximately the same chance of being the next US Senator from Florida as I do. (And, believe me, I'm a very appealing candidate.)

But that's not stopping Meek from nailing newly rising opponent Jeff Greene in this digital disco fantasy. Why is it set in a disco? It's Miami, even CSI looks like a disco.

Grade: C

Here's a nicely done attack ad called "He's The Man"

2010-07-31T08:17:00.000-07:00

Mike Cox Loves Foghat and a PAG First

If you shamelessly use old pop culture references from your target voters' youth, are you pandering?

Maybe.

But if you manage to get the words "Foghat," "marine" and "attorney general" into the same radio spot, you get a spot on Political Ad Guy blog. Will this work for Mike Cox? Do "Drew and Mike" really want their names in a political spot?

Probably not and probably not.

But all bets are off in this razor thin GOP primary for Michigan governor.

We don't usually run radio spots, but we can't resist this one. Click here to listen to Mike Cox's "Foghat"

2010-07-30T11:38:00.000-07:00

Andy Griffith Shills for Medicare

Let me say up front, I like Andy Griffith. (Never nominated for an Emmy for the The Andy Griffith Show, BTW.) More the old stand-up comic Andy Griffith than the Matlock Andy Griffith, but that's a story for another post.

In this ad, Andy tells us how awesome Medicare is and how much awesomer it's going to be thanks to the new healthcare law.

Andy's still got it and he does a nice job, but why not? In the copy they promise the viewer so much free stuff I feel like someone needs to shout, "but wait, there's more!"

Wait, there is more. Click here to see Ol' Andy talk about "1965"

2010-07-29T13:11:00.001-07:00

Basil Marceaux Has Something To Say

We have no idea what it is, but clearly he's committed to spitting it out. A TV news station was trying to do the right thing by having their own little version of the Fairness Doctrine, but just like the real Fairness Doctrine, it don't work so good.

Enjoy the world according to Basil.

2010-07-27T15:08:00.000-07:00

Brady vs. Quinn: It's Double Negative

In a special two-fer edition of Political Ad Guy, here are a couple of negative ads stagger out of the bar fight that is the IL Governor race. With the smell of Blago's hair gel still wafting in the air, you'd think this would be an R slam-dunk. Not so. Polls give Brady (R) a slight edge, but the Ds aren't quitting.

The DGA has whipped out the old saw that starts with "What kind of politician..." I didn't hear much after that.

Grade: C

Brady answers with a wacky "Christmas In July" gag with some pretty fun graphics and a couple of clean, believable hits.

Grade: B

Brady wins this round by a nose, but can he absorb enough hits to protect a 3-point lead?

Click here to watch DGA's "What Kind?"
Click here to watch Brady's "Christmas"

2010-07-27T11:19:00.000-07:00

Matt Entenza Blames Bush, Thinks Kids Should, Too

Democrats have blamed Bush for everything from the weather to having too many dandelions in their yards. MN Gov candidate Matt Entenza joins the party and brings some kids along with him. He's blaming Bush's No Child Left Behind for standardized tests that kids and teachers hate.

The premise is pretty thin, but the mnemonic of kids ripping the test sheets in half cuts through. Who doesn't want to tear up a test? Especially a test that mean old Mr. Bush handed out. Kinda.

Grade: B

Check out "Rip"

2010-07-25T08:15:00.000-07:00

Harry Reid Hates Big Banks, Loves Cheap iStock Images

Normally I wouldn't even bother to post generic tripe like this Adobe Premier/iMovie mess from the generically-named front group "Americans United For Change," but I'll make an excuse to start a rant.

How many more times am I going to have to look at this same cheap stock shot? "Man In Suit Opens Scary Looking Zero Halliburton Briefcase Full of Cash." C'mon guys, at least click to the next page and find a different briefcase, a different angle, a different country's cash, anything.

Politically speaking, AUFC know old Harry's in trouble so they're probably trying to save their pennies to use in races that are a bit more competitive, but, please, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD find another shot.

Here's "Harry Holds Banks Accountable."

Grade: F

2010-07-24T15:32:00.001-07:00

Rob Simmons' Hands Are Sending Me A Secret Message

That's the only explanation for why Rob Simmons is using some choreographed robot hands routine in this spot for his "suspended" Senate campaign.

You may remember Mr. Simmons suspended his US Senate campaign when he was trounced in the state convention. Since getting beat is no reason to quit, Rob Simmons skipped buying a Frappucino and instead used the $4 to create this awful commercial and run a light cable schedule.

Simmons has the audacity to call the spot a PSA. To quote someone who knows much more about political advertising than Rob Simmons does, "You keep using that word...it do not think it means what you think it means."

The best part is the close: "I'm Rob Simmons, I approve this message and I'm still on the ballot."

Click here to share in Rob Simmon's odd new spot, oh sorry, PSA.

2010-06-02T06:35:00.001-07:00

Mark Kirk Attacks Himself

This Memorial Day will be remembered as the year the military turned and attacked itself. First Dick Blumenthal gets outed for lying about his Vietnam service and now Mark Kirk, running for Obama's snake-bit seat, has stretched the truth a bit about being named Intelligence Officer of the Year. [Insert your own joke about the word "intelligence."]

Here's the video that starts out as a better-than-ever bio web spot and then turns into a pair of cement shoes.

Watch Kirk "bio"

2010-03-16T17:58:00.000-07:00

Michael Bennet Presses The Panic Button Early

Is Michael Bennet in trouble in his race to hold off Republican challenger Jane Norton?

This spot sure looks like it.

Even though it's his first spot, Bennet presses all the buttons:
Look at me I'm not in Washington!
I'm wearing a barn coat just like people in Colorado do!
I hate Congress, too!

If you can bore people into voting for you, Bennet has this one in the bag.

GRADE: C

Click here to watch "I'm Wearing A Barn Coat!"

2010-03-15T08:35:00.000-07:00

Carly Fiorina Gives Boxer A Giant Noogie

There are some in the political ad world who are hammering Carly Fiorina over this ad.

They're wrong.

How do you say someone has a gigantic ego? You give them a big head, like the evil zeppelin in Up In The Air. It's funny, it's well-produced and it's a punch in the gut.

Normally, I'd blow you up for doing the boardroom b-roll shot, but these are the best boardroom b-roll shots I've ever seen.

That being said, couldn't we have told this story in two minutes instead of seven? We all know internet viewing plummets to near zero after 91 seconds and, cool as the special effects are, the story goes on and on and on. Then it goes on a little more.

Cut it in half (or more) and you've got yourself something.

GRADE: B

Click here to watch "Big Head"

2010-02-02T09:08:00.000-08:00

Dr. McKenna: The Race For Orleans Coroner IS ALIVE!

This is the weirdest political ad I've ever seen. I have nothing else to say.

RATING: F (or A depending on your point of view)

Click here to see "Igor"

2010-02-01T10:41:00.000-08:00

Bill White Fires Up The Old Cliche Machine

Bill White (who apparently is very popular in Houston), has put up his first TV spot for Texas Governor.

He's raided the iStock b-roll film library and delivered the great old political ad bromide, "we must move (YOUR STATE NAME HERE) forward, we can't afford to stand still."

That being said, for a guy who doesn't count TV among his strong suits, he's not bad to camera.

RATING: C

Click here to watch "Moving Texas Forward"

2010-01-18T20:10:00.000-08:00

Martha Coakley Throws Her Own Hail Mary (probably needs to say a few, too)

With the Coakley campaign in trouble and being called "lackluster," they're trying to channel a little of that Staubach-to-Pearson magic.

Seriously, they're leaning hard on the "Panic" button and launching a spot starring the President. They've even borrowed Obama's logo for their website.

Click here to watch "Obama"

2010-01-13T19:40:00.000-08:00

Martha Coakley: Doh!

Normally a spot like this wouldn't even rate a review. Typical slash and burn attack ad from the Coakley campaign.

The only thing that makes it noteworthy is that they spelled the name of their home state wrong in the legal disclaimer.

Nice going Bad Attack Ad Makers.

Click here to see "Lockstep"

2010-01-11T14:50:00.000-08:00

Bob Schillerstrom: Guiltless Self-Promotion, Part 2

Remember the old tagline, "With a name like Smuckers, it's got to be good."

We've taken that concept to a new level with this spot for Bob Schillerstrom who is running for Governor of Illinois. He was a very good sport to let us abuse his name, he's also a heckuva a good guy. So, if you're in Illinois, vote for Bob, c'mon, you owe me.

Click here to watch "S***storm"

2010-01-05T14:11:00.001-08:00

Guiltless Self Promotion: Our New Spot For Kay Bailey Hutchison

Is it fair to review your own TV spot? Sure. And in a shocking turn of events, our review is "two thumbs up, unless you have more thumbs, then put those up, too."

Comments are open.

Click here to watch KBH "Road Signs"

2009-12-30T14:13:00.001-08:00

Andy Martin Cracks Me Up

After a year of very dull (read: healthcare) advertising, Andy Martin sends 2009 out with the most insane, over-the-top radio spot in the history of ever.

Sure, it sounds like an SNL bit, but it really is the candidate going on the radio for 60 seconds to say that there are "solid rumors" that his opponent is gay.

Happy New Year everybody.

Click here to listen to "Andy's Radio Spot"

2009-12-26T18:23:00.000-08:00

US Chamber Saves Health Care

Maybe not the health care issue, but after watching about ten thousand horrible health care themed spots, the US Chamber saved the day and brought us one that has an idea and some decent production values.

Click here to watch "Hidden Taxes"

2009-12-21T18:24:00.000-08:00

RNC Ruins Good Idea With Shabby Production

When the ad guys talk about "lighting" and "production values" and "color correction" and you only think about how much money that's going to cost, consider this commercial. A nice idea shot on a home video camera and given zero color correction. The edit isn't bad, but the look is so homemade it's an insult.

C'mon guys, I know message is critical, but no one wants to watch an ugly commercial.

Click here to watch the could-have-been-good "Listen To Me"

2009-12-21T12:34:00.000-08:00

Farouk Shami Will Lose, Seems Like A Nice Guy

Farouk Shami, the guy who invented the Chi hair straightener thingie and really likes rockets, is running to lose the Democratic primary for Texas governor to former Houston Mayor Bill White.

Here's his bio story. It's a wonderful rags to riches, Horatio Alger, hard working American story. Enjoy it now, because he's out before the inner tubes start floating down the Nueces.

Click here to watch "Story"

2009-12-07T15:57:00.001-08:00

Apparently Connecticut Democrats Aren't Too Crazy About Joe Lieberman

First they try to knock Lieberman out of the primary, now they steal his campaign and run it against him. That's cold.

Of course, Joe isn't up until 2012 and, while I'm not in the business of giving free advice, it doesn't seem like such a good idea to go up on TV three years early when you have a 2010 candidate that might not be able to get elected to the local elementary school Bake Sale Committee.

I'm just saying.

Click here to watch "All About Joe"

2009-12-05T13:28:00.000-08:00

Okay, Okay, I'll Do Whatever The AFL-CIO Says

Here's the latest highly confusing ad in the health care wars. This one features my Kryptonite: Scary Middle Aged Lady With Glasses Too Far Down Her nose! Aaaaiiieeeee! Make it stop!

As near as I can tell, the AFL-CIO wants Congress to give them cheap health insurance, but also, they'd like Congress to find someone else to pay for it. I figure this is right, since it's how the AFL-CIO has operated forever anyway.

What do they want? The government to give them the whole company? Oh wait, that's what the UAW got. Never mind.

Here's the latest from the AFL-CIO

2009-11-25T20:15:00.000-08:00

Remember When Move On Used To Do Good Spots?

I don't get it. Move On has tons of cash. All the most creative people are Democrats (so they say). So how come MoveOn.org produces commercials that are just one step up from Honest John's Used Cars "Push, Pull or Drag" Sale?

Seriously.

Here's their latest lame-o effort. Cheap set, bad acting and typography that makes Gutenberg sorry he invented movable type.

Click here to watch Move On's "Cost of Delay"

2009-11-25T20:04:00.000-08:00

Mike Capuano: A Day Late And Several Dollars Short

In this spot, Mike Capuano attacks the policies of George Bush and Dick Cheney. Remember them? Mike Capuano uses a six month old argument in an ad that may have cost as much as ten dollars to produce.

Here's somebody who is hoping US Senate seats go on sale this Christmas.

Check out "George Bush"

2009-11-18T20:05:00.000-08:00

It's Political Primary Season: Hide Your Babies!

There are hands to be shaken and babies to be kissed (not the other way around, please). Political primary season is heating up earlier than ever before. His Republican Senate hopeful Tom Foley talking about babies.

One question, why is there a super reading "30 Years Experience" jammed in the middle of a commercial about the national debt. I'm guessing someone wanted to cram in another message point, but it just made my brain jump out of gear.

Click here to watch "Babies"

2009-11-10T08:20:00.000-08:00

Andy McKenna says, "It's Me Versus The Hair"

How do run against the idea of Blago? You take on the hair. Andy McKenna does just that in his opening salvo in the Illinois Governor race. The b-roll shots of politicians on the streets wearing Blago hair is straight up genius.

Click here to watch "Hair Today"

2009-11-07T21:22:00.000-08:00

Paterson Poll Numbers Must Be Extra Stinky

Here's another nicely produced bio ad for Paterson that sets him up as a guy who worked hard to excel despite his disability. Everything's going along fine until they drop a bomb that says, "And sometimes you make mistakes."

In other words the poll said, "he seems like a nice guy, but he screwed this whole thing up, big time." Ruh-roh, Reorge.

Click here to check out "When You"

2009-11-07T21:14:00.001-08:00

David Paterson Channels Teddy Roosevelt

Here's David Paterson doing his best impression of a populist politician in this very nicely produced re-election spot. He'll probably get shellacked, but this is a nice spot. Well done.

Check out "Some Say"

2009-10-24T19:52:00.000-07:00

Yes We Still Can.org Takes Us On A Guilt Trip

These days it looks like everybody has their own reality TV show, so why not political campaign volunteers from Maine? Here you go. This spot from YesWeStillCan.org whines about how volunteers worked really hard to help Obama win big in Maine (like that was hard) and they did it because of healthcare and now Obama needs to get Olympia Snowe in line and he needs to put in the public option and blah and blah and blah.

Check out "It's Time To Fight" here.

2009-10-15T21:18:00.000-07:00

Christie vs. Corzine – Or, Isn't Having Passaic In Your State Punishment Enough?

The Corzine vs. Christie race has produced the biggest collection of political advertising offal we've seen in a long time. Neither candidate has so much as lifted a pinky-ringed finger to do anything beyond normal, boring political hit ads.

People in New Jersey must be afraid to turn on their TVs. If anyone wins this race, it will be a shame.

Here's a dreary, cheap, poorly made attack spot from Corzine.

Whatever.

2009-10-15T21:11:00.000-07:00

New Spot From The AMA Proves Doctors Are Cheap

Here's the latest in the frickin' blizzard of healthcare spots. This one talks about how much seniors love their doctors. It also demonstrates what kind of commercial you can make for about $5. Doctors really are cheap. (SIDEBAR: I think they reuse those tongue depressors.)

It's not a flashback from 1992, it's the new spot from the AMA.

Watch AMA "Support"

2009-10-15T21:06:00.001-07:00

Harry Reid Rocks The Sideburns

America's most powerful senator, for now, has gone up a year before election day to try to save his job. Two things worth noting about this bio spot. Check out the shot of Harry rocking some serious sideburns and, seriously, if Harry was your client, would you let him talk?

Check out "Work"

2009-09-22T14:06:00.001-07:00

Comedy Is A Dangerous Business

The nice folks at Funny or Die are using sarcasm to try to push for a healthcare public option. It's more die than funny, but on the plus side, it has Megan Fox in it.

Click here to see "Protect Insurance Companies."

2009-09-21T13:19:00.000-07:00

Creigh Deeds Clonks Bob McDonnell A Good One

The Virginia governor race is getting nasty. (I know you're shocked.) Creigh Deeds lays a pretty good lick on his opponent with this very nicely produced ad about women's rights. It plays in DC, but will it work outside of NOVA?

Click here to see "Why Did You?"

2009-09-19T20:44:00.000-07:00

DCCC Ad Has Finally Gone Too Far

The DCCC's ad tearing into Republicans for their opposition to Obama's health plan didn't even move the meter here at PAG World Headquarters until we hit the :34 second mark.

Make fun of Rush Limbaugh? Fine.
Abuse Glenn Beck? Go for it.
Talk trash about Grassley? Ho-hum.

But when you start attacking Fox News uber-hottie Megyn Kelly, well, them's fightin' words.

DCCC, we're calling you out. After school, by the swings. Apologize for sullying Megyn Kelly's good name or we're gonna have to step outside.

Megyn, we got your back.

Click hear to watch the DCCC's "Fight Fear"

2009-09-08T17:25:00.000-07:00

Chris Daggett Steals (borrows?) An Uplifting Idea

I've read some nice reviews about the new ad produced by NJ Independent gubernatorial candidate Chris Daggett. The same reviews I read when a company called Becel did the ad the first time in Canada.

For some reason "independent" and "copying" don't go together so well. Stealing ideas is bad. Fire the agency. Today.

Click here to see Chris Daggett's "Escalator" Ad
Clck here to see the Becel "Escalator" Ad

2009-08-31T12:31:00.000-07:00

RIP, Ted Kennedy

Senator Kennedy worked the airwaves right to the end. Here's his last spot in support of Sen. Dodd's work on healthcare. Godspeed, sir.

2009-03-25T19:40:00.000-07:00

Americans United For Change "Hammers" Home The Metaphor

In their new ad called "Blueprint," Americans United For Change urges Congress to support the Obama budget plan. Hopefully, we can get some money for new metaphors because the construction ones are all used up.

Build your opinion, click here.

2009-03-15T21:22:00.000-07:00

The Dallas Hotel Battle: Going Up?

There's a big fight brewing in Dallas. The city wants to pay to build a $500 million convention center hotel. Hotel owners aren't so excited, so they managed to get it on the ballot.

Now, the day after the city started demolition on the selected hotel site, the anti-hotel people have gone on TV. (One odd note, the "anti" hotel people are campaigning for a "yes" vote. Ask the Prop 8 people how well that worked out for them.)

This is gonna get nasty. Oh wait, it already has. Click here to watch "Anti-Hotel."

2009-03-15T10:42:00.000-07:00

President Obama, Can You Buy The DNC A Microphone?

The DNC has pooped out another "he-said, she-said" internet spot that seems to keep both sides busy during these political dog days. This one is noteworthy only because the voiceover appears to have been recorded via cell phone.

I'm sure the Obama campaign has a little cash left over to spring for a nice, new Neumann M-149, right?

Click here to watch the DNC's "Economy"

2009-03-12T08:33:00.000-07:00

Scott Murphy Runs From Cameras

It's time for shaky tracking video and the good ol' "ripped from the headlines" effect in the New York-20 race. Things are getting tense.

Click here to watch "Doesn't Want You To Know"

2009-03-06T19:52:00.000-08:00

Jim Tedisco borrows a tagline from Darrell Aubertine. Hey, taglines don't grow on trees.

Apparently upstate New York has only one tagline, "he's one of us." The Tedisco campaign is using the line just months after Darrell Aubertine used it in his successful state senate campaign. Hey, if it works, uh, borrow it.

Click here to watch Darrell Aubertine's "One of Us"

Click here to watch Jim Tedisco's "One of Us"

2009-02-17T19:56:00.000-08:00

Tedisco Is Off To The Races in NY-20

In what should be the hottest Congressional special in the country, Jim Tedisco has come out of the blocks with this RNC-funded bio piece.

Do me a favor, will you? Leave the overcoat home.

Click here to see "One of Us"

2009-02-03T10:10:00.000-08:00

I Thought Tom Daschle Had A Limo?

From the Political Ad Guy archives located deep beneath the sub-sub-basement of an abandoned J. Walter Thompson corporate retreat camp, here's an old campaign ad from Tom Daschle talking about how he drives to work every day in an old Pontiac.

My how times have changed.

Click here to watch "Old Car"

2009-01-28T20:52:00.000-08:00

My Favorite "Congratulations Obama" Ad So Far

From a surprising source with an angle that actually moves the advertiser's position forward. Check out this spot from CatholicVote.org.

Click here to watch "Imagine."

2009-01-02T10:47:00.000-08:00

Rod Blagojevich: A little older, a little wiser?

Cleaning out the archives, I ran across this little gubernatorial tidbit where Governor Blagojevich touts his many accomplishments and then promises to do better because he's a little older and a little wiser. Hmm.

2007-12-08T20:28:00.000-08:00

Obama Wants To Be President

In his new spot "Our Moment Is Now" the Obama campaign does the right thing by keeping their man on camera. In this spot, he seems to take a little poke at Hillary Clinton by making reference to the old style Washington campaign. If he wants to make up some ground he's gonna have to poke a lot harder than that.

I feel bad for the GMMB guys, though. Sure, they have to put their guy on TV, they should put their guy on TV, but don't they get bored doing the same thing week after week. I'm guessing they secretly hang out with the Romney ad guys to commiserate.

Here's "Our Moment Is Now."

2007-12-08T07:50:00.000-08:00

John Edwards Hates Democrats and Republicans Equally

In his new spot, "Rigged," John Edwards tells people that the system is rigged against them and that we should replace corporate Republicans with corporate Democrats.

He did exercise some restraint in not using the phrase "don't let the man keep you down."

See John Edwards do some hatin' in the spot "Rigged."

2007-12-08T07:45:00.000-08:00

Freedom's Watch Is Too Hot For NBC

It's not news for a network to reject a political spot it considers too controversial. This spot, from Freedom's Watch, contains the works "Thank" and "You" in very close proximity and is directed to our troops fighting overseas. It also contained the type "freedomswatch.org" which pushed NBC right over the edge.

Click here to watch "Thank You." (I'm sure someone at NBC would want me to make sure your children leave the room first.)

UPDATE: Under pressure from groups like Americans Who Think It's Okay To Say Thank You, NBC as changed its position and will allow the ad to run.

2007-11-27T13:46:00.000-08:00

Fred Thompson Had Awesome Sideburns

Apparently Fred Thompson has been in the Senate since the Civil War. At least, he's throwing down some very mid nineteenth century burns.

In the spot called service, Fred lays out a pretty typical service bio complete with a photo of him looking much taller than Chief Justice Roberts.

Here's a look at "Service"

2007-11-26T19:26:00.000-08:00

Mitt Romney is a Cliche Machine

The message here is that Mitt Romney works hard to stop illegal immigration.Works hard. Get it. He's really hard at work on this deal. Working hard. Hard. Hard. Hard.

And in case you didn't get the message, they actually show an artistic close up of Mitt ACTUALLY ROLLING UP HIS SLEEVES. Which is, as we all know, the universal sign that hard work is about to begin.

Because Mitt is working really hard.

Here's Mitt's boring immigration spot.

2007-11-20T05:56:00.001-08:00

Hillary Clinton's Ad Agency Knocks Off Early for the Holidays

After a string of well-produced ads, the Clinton Campaign has issued this bit of art attacking Republicans for attacking her. Basically a half-hearted response to the half-hearted attacks that are coming her way. Her team can do way better.

I'm thinking they farmed this one out to somebody who got iMovie last week. Either that, or somewhere a car dealership didn't get their commercial done this week.

Click here to see what Hillary says about those mean Republicans.

2007-11-20T05:51:00.000-08:00

Barack Obama Is Hardly On TV

If you're doing a spot with the candidate talking directly to voters shouldn't, you, oh I don't know, show the candidate talking directly to voters?

In Barack Obama's new spot "Chances I Had", he's hardly in it. Think of it as the "Where's Waldo" of political spots.

Click here to see "Chances I Had."

2007-11-20T05:42:00.000-08:00

Barack Obama Makes Our Lawyers Nervous

Ad Geek Alert: The following deals with an ad's most arcane details. If you're the guy who actually reads the legal type this is for you. If not, well, you're probably bored already.

Most political ads end with "I'm Sally Jones and I approved this message." But in his new spot "Conventional" Barack Obama gets unconventional. The ad BEGINS with "I'm Barack Obama, etc." and has type that says the "paid for" line. Then at the end it has type that says "Approved by Barack Obama."

These are the things that make our lawyers crazy. But, hey, for $400 an hour they can afford to go a little crazy.

Here's the rather conventional (except for the legal) "Conventional."

2007-11-19T11:48:00.001-08:00

Hillary Clinton Returns Phone Calls

Constituent services is a big part of running a successful Senate office. In this spot, a man talks about how Hillary Clinton's office helped him get his son a transplant.

Okay, this idea has been done a million times, but it still works. Hillary's team did a nice job. Very credible guy, good looking film. Nothing tricky, but very sturdy. And I'm sure the dad is a considerably more sympathetic character than the candidate.

Check out "Joe Ward."

2007-11-18T17:48:00.000-08:00

Mike Huckabee Gets Tough

We're looking to Mike Huckabee for a little spark in the political advertising world and with his first ad, he's delivering.

The ad features Chuck Norris in a take off of the Internet phenomenon "Chuck Norris Facts." It's a fun way to deliver the point that Mike Huckabee is a tough guy who will do the hard jobs.

Now I like Chuck Norris, way back to "Good Guys Wear Black" (the REAL Chuck Norris fans know where I'm coming from), but in this spot Chuck seems stiffer than a Joan Rivers facelift.

Not the greatest script, the acting's a little stiffu, but I like the graphics and, overall, points for Norris and Huckabee on taking a chance.

Check out "Chuck Norris Approved."

2007-11-15T19:44:00.000-08:00

Fred Thompson Needs A Background Check

No question Fred does a great job to camera, but he might need to look over his shoulder once in a while.

In this spot, there's some crazy kind of stuff going on in the background. What is that woman and the child doing at the bar? Why are children sitting at bars in the first place? And why does she drink coffee so aggressively?

Watch the background in "No Amnesty."

2007-11-15T19:37:00.000-08:00

Rudy Giuliani Carries The Water

For months, Giuliani spokespeople have been saying that Rudy is the best carrier of his own message. Are they right?

In a word, yes.

Rudy does a great job of delivering his New York City credentials and trying to make those relevant to a national audience. The cut is not too fancy, but very contemporary which helps separate Rudy visually from the rest of the (extremely dull) Republican pack.

Click here to watch "Tested."

2007-11-14T09:57:00.000-08:00

South Carolina Makes John Edwards Act All Silly

In his new jobs ad for South Carolina, Edwards laments the loss of jobs that left with the mills.

As is the tradition with these kinds of ads, he blames greed and big business, but instead of throwing China and Wal-Mart on the fire like others have, he appears to be blaming Bush.

I know blaming Bush is a strategy that's working these days, but I don't think George Bush has run too many South Carolina mills out of business.

Watch John Edwards succumb to "Good Ol Days Syndrome" here.

2007-11-14T09:51:00.000-08:00

John Edwards Will Be A Mean President

In his newest healthcare spot, John Edwards says that if Congress doesn't pass universal health care by summer 2009, he'll take their healthcare away from them.

Meanie.

Hey, at least you know where the guy stands. It may be in unreality land, but he's got two feet firmly on the ground their.

Watch John Edwards' "Healthcare"

2007-11-14T09:45:00.000-08:00

Apparently Tom Tancredo Is Still Running

Presidential non-candidate Tom Tancredo is up with an ad largely designed for its shock value.

Disguised as being something that the other candidates are too wussified to say, Tancredo's ad talks about terrorists that are running loose in our country. And, according to this spot, leaving backpacks in shopping malls in a series of poorly shot vignettes.

Click here to see the Tancredo spot.

2007-11-10T06:36:00.000-08:00

Chabot and McConnell Get Put In Time Out

The Americans United for Change have a new ad up taking Chabot and McConnell to task for not compromising on the SCHIP bill.

B-roll shots of sweet children, innocent families and doctors cut together with headlines from newspapers. It's 10 pounds of flour in a 5-pound sack. And the candidates they're chastising go by so fast I had to watch it twice to remember who I'm supposed to be mad at.

One neat thing: the AUG has a website link right under the spot that takes you directly to the back up they used. Smart.

Here's the moderately okay, but too cluttered, "What If?"