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But Doesn't Say G-O-P; Plus: Ariz. Candidates Harp On Terrorism, Immigration
 In Today's Ad Spotlight: Randy Graf For Congress: "Open Door"
Jon Kyl For Senate: "Lone Wolf"
Rod Smith For Governor: "Fought Republicans"
Brad Ellsworth For Congress: "Pump"
Michael Steele For Senate: "Different Kind Of Senator"
Mike Bouchard For Senate: "Spending"
2006 Ad Archive |
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© National Journal Group Inc.
Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2006
Ad Spotlight is taking a late-summer hiatus and will return Tuesday, Sept. 5.
Maryland's Sept. 12 primary may cast a confusing cloud over media strategy in the state, but GOP Senate hopeful Michael Steele isn't waiting three more weeks for a Democratic candidate to be named to begin his advertising.
Spokesman Doug Heye pointed out on Tuesday that only 80 days remain until Election Day -- so it doesn't matter when the primary is, "there's not a whole lot of time left." The campaign went up with its introductory spot Tuesday that will be airing statewide through the day after Labor Day.
In its article on Steele's debut this morning, the Baltimore Sun noted that the ad never mentions his party ID. The two lines of text don't indicate his affiliation, either -- a detail that continues to crop up in the African-American Republican's blue-state campaign.
A day after holding an off-the-record session with reporters in July where he compared being a Republican to wearing a scarlet letter, Steele came clean about his anonymous remarks.
Despite this context, it's notable that the media firm producing Steele's ads, OnMessage Inc., is also responsible for Michigan gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos' (R) on-air efforts. Gov. Jennifer Granholm's challenger isn't up front about his party ID, either, and strikes a similar tone as Steele.
But while the state economy is defining the Michigan race, the Maryland race may be characterized by its players. A July poll shows that if Steele, the heavily favored Republican, faces Rep. Ben Cardin (D), he'll have an uphill climb. If former NAACP executive director and former Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D) -- a fellow African-American -- scores the nod, however, the race would be far closer and could turn into a battle for the African-American vote.
Fear And Campaigning In Arizona
Two weeks after British authorities thwarted an alleged terrorist plot aimed at U.S.-bound airplanes, Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., has unveiled a new TV ad highlighting his legislative efforts to improve the U.S. government's counter-terrorism operations.
Throughout the month of August, the Kyl camp's TV ad campaign has been painting a portrait of the junior senator as a tough crime-fighter and advocate for victims' rights. The latest chapter in this developing narrative highlights Kyl's record on national security.
Security issues are also playing an important role in Arizona's 8th District, where former state Rep. Randy Graf (R) debuted his first ad Monday linking illegal immigration to terrorist attacks.
The ad comes three weeks after Graf's primary rival and state Rep. Steve Huffman unveiled his own spot proposing stricter border enforcement measures. Graf, however, has the support of the Minutemen and is staking his candidacy on his hawkish immigration credentials. In this new ad, he warns that the border could be an "open door" to terrorists, adding, "We all remember what happened on September 11th. That's why I'm asking for your vote."
Meanwhile, Democratic front-runner and former state Sen. Gabrielle Giffords has taken a different approach to the issue, releasing a new Spanish-language radio ad Wednesday entitled "Confianza" ("Trust") and featuring Arizona Rep. Raśl Grijalva (D).
A Not-So-Sweet Spot In Florida
State Sen. Rod Smith released a new spot in his quest to spur the Democratic nomination contest into a horse race. In "Fought Republicans," Smith outlines his plan to improve public school education by raising teacher salaries and fighting voucher programs. But on the day of his first televised debate with Democratic Rep. Jim Davis, much of the political chatter in Florida is directed at another ad.
A group calling itself Florida's Working Families and funded by U.S. Sugar Corp. is buying airtime to attack Davis for having "the second-worst attendance in Congress," voting to "deny some struggling workers the minimum wage," and voting "against allowing seniors to order low-cost prescription drugs from Canada." The group, like many 527s, does not have a Web site and has proven elusive to track down.
The Davis campaign charges that the ad is full of inaccuracies, and it has sent a cease-and-desist letter [PDF] to TV stations airing the spot.
Bouchard Gets Tough On Spending
With his post-primary ad push behind him, Michigan Senate candidate Mike Bouchard (R) is launching a new spot today. The latest addition to the sheriff's media rotation focuses on spending. In it he asserts: "We have to stop spending money we don't have in Washington." Before the primary, Bouchard aired another spot devoted completely to another area of policy -- illegal immigration.
Yet Another Hit At Big Oil
In Indiana's 8th District, Vanderburgh County Sheriff Brad Ellsworth (D) has become the latest candidate to visit the pump and talk about the pains of high gas prices. In a new ad released Monday, he outlines how expensive gas is negatively affecting the district -- and mothers, farmers and seniors in particular. The ad lays the blame squarely on Big Oil and gas companies and suggests that Rep. John Hostettler (R) is complicit in price gouging. "Washington's got it all wrong. I'll be your congressman, not Big Oil's," Ellsworth promises in the ad.
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