Click Here To See RealVideo™ Of "Camping" Click Here To See RealVideo™ Of "Mo"

By Tamara V. Townsend, NationalJournal.com
© National Journal Group Inc.
Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2000

Colorado 2nd District Rep. Mark Udall's (D) re-election campaign released two ads featuring the candidate's position on wildlife preservation and the expansion of Medicare coverage.

In one ad titled "Camping," Udall says that "spending time outdoors is a Colorado family tradition," but the family featured in the ad quickly becomes stuck in traffic when they try to go camping. As the family sulks, Udall makes his appeal to voters, saying "unchecked growth and sprawl" are destroying this family tradition and hurting the state.

The family is then shown setting up camp alongside the highway, with the father trying to convince his family that the traffic sounds "just like a waterfall." Udall concludes by suggesting that Colorado needs "smart growth."

Another ad, "Mo," focuses on creating prescription drug coverage under Medicare. The ad begins with a spotlight of family photographs featuring Udall's father, former Arizona Rep. Mo Udall, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1979 and died in 1998.

While sitting with a group of senior citizens, Udall says that his father's illness was "really hard" and that "it would've been even worse" if his father had been unable to get the drugs that he needed. Udall adds: "I know how important it is for seniors to have the prescriptions they need -- I've lived it." He also says that "the best way to do that is to provide drug coverage through Medicare" because "it's just the right thing to do."

The ads, which were produced by Greer Margolis Mitchell Burns, were running in the 2nd District in a $215,000 ad buy. "Camping" aired Oct. 10-19, and "Mo" began airing on Oct. 19.

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