Political Machine

'More' - New DNC Ad

Greg McNeilly — 2008-09-04T17:54:00+00:00

Filed under: Democrats, Ads, 2008 President

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) launched another attack ad against John McCain. The :30 second spot is titled "More" and is airing in battleground states.

The McCain is a third term line of attack, seems to be the only message point the Democrats have for electing Obama - or in the case of this ad - not electing McCain.

Given the approval numbers of Presient Bush, this is understandable. While his approval numbers are twice that of the Democrat led Congress, they are at historic lows for any White House occupant.

Yet this line of attack against McCain is not new.

It's been apart of the Democrat chorus throughout their primary.

At some point, campaign operatives have a choice to make. Believe, on faith, that doing the same thing - simply louder and more frequently - will produce a different result than it has todate. Or try something different.

The path Obama's campaign takes on this strategic crux will have a significant impact on who is sworn in next January.

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'Expensive Plans' - New McCain Spot

Greg McNeilly — 2008-09-04T07:27:00+00:00

Filed under: Republicans, Ads, John McCain, 2008 President

John McCain's campaign has a new attack ad airing in battleground states aimed at Barack Obama. It's a :30 second spot titled "Expensive Plans."

Technically, this spot is jointly funded by the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the McCain campaign. That also explains why the spot broadens it aim to hit congressional Democrats along with their presidential nominee Barack Obama.

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'Alaska Maverick' - New McCain Ad

Greg McNeilly — 2008-09-03T13:20:00+00:00

Filed under: Republicans, Ads, 2008 President, Sarah Palin

Setting the brand straight, the McCain campaign has a new :30 TV spot featuring Governor Sarah Palin. It's titled "Alaska Maverick."

Very smart move, a few days tardy, by the McCain campaign.

Attacking Palin's experience is a direct attack on Barack Obama's lack of experience.

Palin was a mayor, Obama was not.

Palin is a Governor, Obama was not.

Palin took on corruption in her own party; Obama votes 97% with his bosses.

Palin has been a reformer; Obama has been a talker.

The McCain campaign's response was smart because it not only defended Palin against what seems increasingly to be a high-tech chauvinism from media elites, but they counter-punched at the biggest weakness the Democrats have - Obama's risky lack of experience and dangerous judgment.

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Obama Hits McCain on Abortion Rights

Christopher Weber — 2008-09-03T12:03:00+00:00

Filed under: Ads, 2008 President, Abortion

Abortion rights was going to be an issue this election year of course, but up until a few days ago it probably wasn't going to be a super mega major issue. In fact, abortion was barely mentioned last week at the DNC. "By his nomination of Gov. Palin, McCain has made his opposition to a woman's right to decide a major campaign issue," according to Obama adviser Kate Michelman. Now the Obama camp has released a radio ad campaign in seven swing states attacking McCain's abortion stance.

Politico has the transcript:

"Let me tell you: If Roe vs. Wade is overturned, the lives and health of women will be put at risk. That's why this election is so important," says the nurse-practitioner who narrates Obama's ad. "John McCain's out of touch with women today. McCain wants to take away our right to choose. That's what women need to understand. That's how high the stakes are."

An announcer then claims that "as president, John McCain will make abortion illegal," before playing an exchange on "Meet the Press" in which McCain told moderator Tim Russert that he favors "a constitutional amendment to ban all abortions."

"We can't let John McCain take away our right to choose. We can't let him take us back," says the ad.

The ad had a soft launch before the Palin pick but now it appears it's being stepped up. Obama had hoped to court female voters by discussing less divisive issues like health care but the Palin pick changes that. Palin, the new darling of the far right, is anti-abortion to the extreme, even in cases of rape and incest.

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'Same' - New Obama Ad

Greg McNeilly — 2008-09-02T17:03:00+00:00

Filed under: Democrats, Barack Obama, Ads, 2008 President

Another negative attack ad from Barack Obama. The latest, is a :30 second spot titled "Same."

The "McSame" tag or the full talking point - John McCain voted with George W. Bush 90% of the time - is the most consistent mantra Democrat wags recite.

Clearly the Democrats know that to beat McCain they have to make this election about Bush. It's the best card they have, it plays to the dynamics of 2008, but it doesn't add to their coalition.

Which undecideds does this TV spot move into the Obama column?

Obama has to contend with the fact that this election is a referendum on whether or not he's too risky or dangerous for America's future. Rather than settling fears or concerns over himself, Obama relies upon the old school politics of tearing down his opponent.

It's worked in the past, it might work in 2008.

As for the the mantra, they're right. In 2007, according to the Congressional Quarterly, McCain voted 90% of the time with the White House.

Of course, this ad doesn't mention that over his short tenure in the U.S. Senate (142 session days), Barack Obama has voted half the time (50%) with George W. Bush. This number or figure demonstrates the hollow nature of the Democrat talking-point.

Nonetheless, facts never get in the way of cheap political attacks.

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'Revitalize' - New Obama Ad

Greg McNeilly — 2008-09-01T15:26:00+00:00

Filed under: Barack Obama, Ads, 2008 President

Barack Obama's campaign has an ad pandering specifically, and airing in, Michigan. The :30 second spot is titled "Revitalize."

Obama, who of course has no experience in any issue related to the economy, uses Michigan's highest-in-the-nation joblessness as a political issue.

He claims that McCain's change of position on loan-guarantees is less sincere than his own. Another example of Barack Obama being just another politician.

Two things of interest. First, the domestic auto companies have not backed the loan-guarantee proposal. They're not asking for it from Congress and the Democrat congress won't give it to them.

Hence, why I noted this is simply a pandering politician (straight from the political machine of Chicago).

Also, of note, is that McCain's across the board business tax-cut - which Obama has attacked - would greatly benefit the auto industry. Of course, Obama's opposition to a business tax-cut is essentially a tax-hike on domestic auto companies - if we're to apply the mathematical consistency of Obama's political spin.

Politically, it's smart for Obama to reach out to Michgian voters.

He's in danger of losing the Great Lakes State. But instead of selling out the new politics he campaigned on just a year ago, he should stand forth and provide some straight honest talk about the challenges to American jobs.

Instead, we get the old politics of pander, mislead and divide (class warfare). The Obama way seems more and more to be just too risky.

The ad's script reads:

BARACK: I'm Barack Obama and I approved this message.

Auto workers, auto manufacturing ANNCR: In tough times, who'll help Michigan's auto industry?

Barack Obama favors loan guarantees to help Detroit re-tool and revitalize. Super: McCain opposed government help for automakers - Detroit News, 8/23/08

But John McCain refused to support loan guarantees for the auto industry. Now he's just paying lip service, not talking straight. McCain Tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas

And McCain voted repeatedly for tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas McCain Selling out American workers.

Selling out American workers.

We can't afford more of the same

We just can't afford more of the same.

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'No Change' - New Obama Ad

Greg McNeilly — 2008-08-30T09:58:00+00:00

Filed under: Barack Obama, Ads, 2008 President

Another negative ad released by the Barack Obama campaign. This one is a :30 spot titled "No Change" and features footage of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, but does not mention her by name.

Obama's team made a smart move throwing up an ad showing Palin and continuing their theme. This ad seeks to 1) blunt her advantage McCain gets with her imagery, and 2) refocusing the race on McCain and their McCain-Bush theme.

Obama is not going to contest McCain's ideas, solutions or record. He is simply going to manufactur the notion that McCain is Bush and let that be the question American's vote on.

Meanwhile, obviously, McCain wants to remind voters that Barack Hussein Obama is not someone we can trust and to leave voters with the question can we risk an Obama Presidency.

Let the fun times roll!

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'Convention Night' - Special McCain TV Ad

Greg McNeilly — 2008-08-28T16:36:00+00:00

Filed under: Republicans, Ads, John McCain, 2008 President

John McCain is airing a historic ad during tonight's coverage of the DNC Convention in Denver. The :30 second TV spot is titled "Convention Night."

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'Remote Control' - New McCain Video

Greg McNeilly — 2008-08-28T15:18:00+00:00

Filed under: Republicans, Ads, John McCain, 2008 President

John McCain's campaign has released a new :60 second web video highlighting Barack Obama's lack of experience in the context of a dangerous world. It's essentially a video montage of other people's words.

The clip at the end of spot, Obama in his words, surprisingly has not gotten too much play. Obama should certainly be called upon to answer what's different about his resume versus the time and context of this answer showcased in this video.

McCain's folks have had a great messaging week. First exploiting the Clinton-Obama divide and now driving home the lack of experience question.

The first 3 days of the DNC convention in Denver really provided no reply. For Obama, it's been a bust. Only ex-President Bill Clinton came close to providing a stamp of approval on Obama's resume. And even he, couldn't do it with substance but rather force of personality.

The challenge for McCain will be to continue this type of message discipline through his own convention and avoid the fractured wasted of a week the Democrats have made for themselves.

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McCain's 'Tiny' Judgment

David Knowles — 2008-08-27T13:26:00+00:00

Filed under: Barack Obama, Ads, John McCain, Featured Stories, Media

John McCain's latest political ad calls Barack Obama to task for what the Illinois Senator said about Iran. As Andrew Sullivan points out, here is the quote that McCain slices and dices to get the supposedly damning material for his spot:

"Strong countries and strong Presidents talk to their adversaries. That's what Kennedy did with Khrushchev. That's what Reagan did with Gorbachev. That's what Nixon did with Mao. I mean, think about it: Iran, Cuba, Venezuela-- these are countries tiny compared with the Soviet Union. They don't pose a serious threat to us the way the Soviet Union posed a threat to us. And yet we were willing to talk to the Soviet Union at a time when they were saying, 'We're going to wipe you off the planet.' And ultimately, that direct engagement led to a series of measures that helped prevent nuclear war and over time allowed the kind of opening that brought down the Berlin Wall."

Now, here's the ad, titled "Tiny", that McCain cooked up from it:

Along with Sullivan, ABC's Jake Tapper, The AP, Ben Smith, The Guardian, and The Washington Post all call the ad out for what it is: utterly dishonest.

Perhaps John McCain doesn't realize that Iran is a tiny country in comparison with the former Soviet Union. He seems to have trouble with geography in this campaign. He might be forgiven for his ignorance, but the larger problem is the way, time and again, he simply lies and distorts in his attack ads. Is this a sign of a man with sound judgment?

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'Tiny' - New McCain Ad

Greg McNeilly — 2008-08-27T08:24:00+00:00

Filed under: Republicans, Barack Obama, Ads, 2008 House

John McCain's campaign released a new :30 second spot titled "Tiny." It takes on Barack Obama's judgement over threats to America's national security.

Cleary the McCain campaign wants to exploit the notion a majority of Americans (according to polling numbers) have about Obama, that he is not ready to protect America as Commander-in-Chief.

The quote used by Obama, is by all accounts, not taken out of context.

However, it us unclear based upon media moniotors, how many of these rapid release ads - from both McCain and Obama - are actually airing in the battleground states they claim. There is growing speculation they area essentially video press releases.

Our readers can help solve this mystery. If you see the ads posted here, airing in your state, please note your media market and which ad you see in the comments below!

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'I am the Surge' - Vets Ad

Greg McNeilly — 2008-08-26T21:51:00+00:00

Filed under: Republicans, Barack Obama, Ads, Iraq, 2008 President

Vets for Freedom, a pro-Iraq war independent 527 organization, is airing a new :30 second TV spot titled "I am the Surge." It targets Barack Obama.

This spot will air in Colorado, Michigan, Ohio and Virginia.

The organization described their effort by noting:

The thirty-second spot features three Iraq war veterans-all of which were part of the Surge-who can personally attest to success in Iraq; all three asking Senator Obama-point blank-to support their success, and the success of all troops, by supporting the bi-partisan resolution introduced by Senators Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham recognizing the success of the Surge and expressing gratitude to the men and women who made it possible as soon as the Senate returns from its five week vacation. (Senate Resolution 636, introduced July 31, 2008).

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3 A.M. Again

Dave — 2008-08-26T06:46:00+00:00

Filed under: Hillary Clinton, Democrats, Ads, 2008 President

McCain hits the infamous 3AM ad and the devastating quote on the eve of Hillary's big night:

Hmmm... I wonder if McCain is going to hit the experience theme a little hard this season. Even if it wasn't a great quote for him from Clinton, it's just too juicy to pass up. As noted yesterday, HRC is united with Barack Obama, but then she has to be to clear her way. Obviously she personally benefits of Obama goes down in flames this year, all ready for the "I told ya" tour of 2011, 2012. But in order for that to happen, there must be no fingerprints on the knife.

But the truth is that both Biden, Clinton and a host of other Democrats have played the experience card already and it's too late to call it back. And there's plenty of material in this vein that McCain can use. The Democrats solace is that they can mine all the quotes of conservatives in the GOP hitting McCain and play it during his convention.

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The Battle Over Ayers

Greg McNeilly — 2008-08-25T18:16:00+00:00

Filed under: Barack Obama, Ads, 2008 President

Reports indicate that Barack Obama campaign's will release a response ad to the spot being aired by American Issues Project (AIP), an independent 527 organization. The AIP ad is a :60 spot titled "Know Enough." AIP's ad is airing in battleground states like Ohio and Michigan.

Obama's campaign is expected to air a :30 second spot in response that links this ad to McCain and attempts to change the subject.

Time reports the ad's script will read (it can be viewed here (not yet availible on YouTube):

ANNCR: With all our problems, why is John McCain talking about the sixties, trying to link Barack Obama to radical Bill Ayers?

McCain knows Obama denounced Ayers' crimes, committed when Obama was just eight years old.

Let's talk about standing up for America today.

John McCain wants to spend $10 Billion a month in Iraq, tax breaks for corporations that ship jobs overseas, selling out American workers.

John McCain, just more of the same.

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'Don't Know Much' - New Obama Ad

Greg McNeilly — 2008-08-25T13:18:00+00:00

Filed under: Barack Obama, Ads, 2008 President

Barack Obama's campaign continues its negative attacks on John McCain with a new :30 second spot titled "Don't Know Much." It rehashes the theme McBush that Democrat operatives have been pushing. Ironically, it is unveiled today as Jimmy Carter takes the podium at tonight's DNC Convention in Denver.

It's clever to set this type of attack up with some light hearted music. And focusing on the economy is the greatest area of opportunity for Obama.

The whole McCain is Bush theme hasn't yet proved successful. People are not dumb, they know the difference. But maybe the Democrat's perfection of the Big Lie (repetition) will work for them.

Republicans always fall back on making the Barack Hussein Carter Obama connection.

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'Debra' - New McCain Ad

Greg McNeilly — 2008-08-25T10:19:00+00:00

Filed under: Republicans, Ads, John McCain, 2008 President

John McCain's campaign is airing a new :30 second spot titled "Debra." The spot features a Debra Bartoshevich a self-proclaimed Hillary Clinton supporter turned McCain voter.

Barack Obama's campaign calls the spot a stunt and a distraction. They're probably right on the stunt part but stunt's can have a political impact!

Contrasting with other spots in current rotation, this ad is at least positive in tone.

The ad's script reads

DEBRA BARTOSHEVICH: I'm a proud Hillary Clinton Democrat.

She had the experience and judgment to be President.

Now, in a first for me, I'm supporting a Republican, John McCain.

I respect his maverick and independent streak, and now he's the one with the experience and judgment.

A lot of Democrats will vote McCain. It's okay, really!

JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approved this message.

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'Passed Over' - New McCain Ad

Greg McNeilly — 2008-08-24T05:31:00+00:00

Filed under: Republicans, Ads, John McCain, 2008 President

Following-up on Saturday's :30 spot, "Biden," the John McCain's campaign has another :30 spot for airing during the Democrat National Committee Convention. This one titled "Passed Over."

Another smart move, politically, by the McCain campaign.

It adds, not so subtly, the subtext that Barack Obama - as the uber-Celebrity 'Chosen One' - is also a primadonna. He doesn't like dissent or being questioned.

Of course, Obama's team can point to Joe Biden and say that he'll be question Obama. He'll be a voice of dissent when needed.

While running for President this cycle, for an entire year, he stood in only one Primary - Iowa - where he received less than 1 percent. He was, and never was a threat to Obama. And now he's fallen in-line.

Hillary Clinton is the only Democrat who stood up against Obama. His treatment of her is obvious.

The ad's script:

"She won millions of votes.

"But isn't on his ticket.

"Why?

"For speaking the truth.

"On his plans:

HILLARY CLINTON: "You never hear the specifics."

ANNCR: "On the Rezko scandal:

HILLARY CLINTON: "We still don't have a lot of answers about Senator Obama."

ANNCR: "On his attacks:

HILLARY CLINTON: "Senator Obama's campaign has become increasingly negative."

ANNCR: "The truth hurt.

"And Obama didn't like it.

JOHN MCCAIN: "I'm John McCain and I approved this message."

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'Biden' - New McCain Ad

Greg McNeilly — 2008-08-23T08:04:00+00:00

Filed under: Ads, John McCain, Joe Biden, 2008 President, Veepstakes

The energetic John McCain campaign did not miss a beat in reacting to the Obama announcement of 36 year Washington, D.C. veteran Joe Biden to the ticket. It launched a :30 second ad that will air during the Denver Democratic National Convention. It's titled "Biden."

Smart move by team McCain to ensure that their perspective is injected into the media heavy coverage of the DNC Convention and today's stage presentation of Joe Biden and Barack Obama in Springfield, IL.

It's hardly negative. The ad wrote itself. It's all Biden in his own words.

The Obama people probably tested a mock-up of this ad themselves.

One of the reasons Biden as survived nearly four decades in Washington, D.C. is that he is quotable (sometimes to his detriment) and generally authentic. A trait he shares in common with now rival John McCain.

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So Much for the Fifty State Strategy

Dave — 2008-08-22T22:02:00+00:00

Filed under: Barack Obama, Ads, 2008 President

Headline from Fox News, "Obama Stops Advertising in Battleground States".

Barack Obama's presidential campaign has put the brakes on ads that were running in seven states carried by the GOP in the 2004 presidential election, FOX News has learned.

Of the seven states - including Alaska, Georgia, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota - Florida and Virginia are considered key battlegrounds this year. Obama's decision to stop advertising in those states is raising eyebrows.

Aides to Obama told FOX News that the changes are related to the convention next week. They wouldn't discuss the specifics of their ad strategy, but the Obama campaign insists that it has not pulled out of those states permanently, calling this a temporary suspension.

Florida is shocking but predictable. McCain is ahead and staying ahead. Virginia is shocking altogether. Virginia is one big pickup opportunity for the Democrats this year. If they're giving up this state already (and they probably aren't, see below) this race will be even more conventional than is widely assumed.

The other states are not shocking at all, with the possible exception of North Carolina. Many thought Obama was serious about a play there. No this is going to come down to Ohio and the upper Midwest, just like 2000 and 2004.

Another big implication is that Obama is NOT picking VA governor Tim Kaine. Kaine would be expected to help bring Virginia and in that scenario it would make no sense to pull advertising there.

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'Out of Touch' - New Obama Ad

Greg McNeilly — 2008-08-22T17:05:00+00:00

Filed under: Democrats, Barack Obama, Ads, 2008 President

Barack Obama's campaign releases yet another negative political attack ad. The second leveraging the housing gaffe of John McCain's. It's a :30 second spot titled "Out-of-Touch."

The divisive deployment of the envy card - class warfare - seems limitless within the Obama campaign. They seem captive to the old politics of dividing America and appealing to the worst in each of us. Some philosophers have credited envy with the source of unhappiness.

That's a great move by a would-be U.S. President. Let's stir up the pot, divide people, get people envious of one another and oh by the way, keep everyone unhappy.

Last I checked, most monotheistic creeds hold "envy" as a sin. In the Catholic tradition it is one of the seven deadly sins and in the Decalogue, it is condemned.

The political ploy of playing the class warfare card is simply hogwash and demonstrates a massive lack of character by its practitioners.

And what makes the housing issue worse - for use by Obama - is that McCain doesn't own any of those houses. Like John Kerry, his homesteads are held by his wife's funds. They both married well.

What kind of man attacks another guy for his wife's wealth?

I have an answer but I don't think the overlords here at AOL will allow it to be published.

There is something seriously soulless about how Barack Obama is campaigning.

McCain is by no stretch of the imagination guiltless of cheap political shots. But he has not yet, in my observation, created an entire chorus line aimed at deepening divisions amongst us.

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