Non-denial denial
Wednesday, Sep 3, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Tom Kacich took note of the Politico story claiming that the DCCC was pulling out of the race against Congressman Rodney Davis…
But the DCCC still lists Callis’ campaign in its top-tier “red-to-blue” category and hasn’t canceled any of the TV time it has reserved for Callis, starting later this month.
Asked for a comment on whether the DCCC was yanking its support for Callis, spokesman Brandon Lorenz wrote, “Judge Callis is running a strong campaign talking about her record of reform and holding Congressman Davis accountable for keeping perks like his taxpayer-funded gym during his government shutdown.”
Not really a vote of confidence for Callis.
That’s an understatement.
* Meanwhile, Davis is running his second intro ad, and it’s pretty good…
* Script…
I’m Toryn Davis.
Next year I’ll be a freshman in college.
I’m a little nervous but excited to get away from my brothers.
It’s also a little scary to think about how much college costs.
That’s why I’m so proud of my dad, Rodney Davis.
In Congress, he’s fighting to make college more affordable and working just as hard to create jobs, so we all have a better future.
Even them. (points to her brothers, Clark and Griffin).
- phocion - Wednesday, Sep 3, 14 @ 10:28 am:
If Rodney doesn’t watch it he might find himself Illinois Governor or U.S. Senator one of these days. Great ad!
- Former Downstater - Wednesday, Sep 3, 14 @ 10:28 am:
Talk about boring. Those “college kids” look bored out of their skulls.
- Sunshine - Wednesday, Sep 3, 14 @ 10:29 am:
Great spot. It’s all about family, everyone’s family. After all, the big reason we want good representation in DC is to help protect the nation and our families. Helping keep the cost of education affordable is an important step in the right direction.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Sep 3, 14 @ 10:33 am:
That is a good ad, and I hope he’s fighting to make college more affordable. If that’s true though, it means he’s probably fighting his own party. Republicans like Virginia Foxx would rather bring the banks back into the student loan market, giving our money to the bankers instead of the students.
Lots of colleges in that district. I wonder is any student organizations will fact check this particular claim. What has Davis done on textbook costs? What is he doing to make sure Illinois maintains its support for higher education? Does he support an increase in Pell? How exactly does he plan to make college more affordable?
But it does sound nice. Sort of like Rauner’s property tax freeze. By the time the voters figure out he was just kidding, it’ll be too late.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Sep 3, 14 @ 10:35 am:
Another great ad.
He is running in a district with younger voters as a sizable demographic. He is lucky that his daughter is able to appear sincere and adorable. Davis is also lucky that he can show off his family in a hokey, yet credible way.
It is a warm and powerful message to younger voters.
Keep it up!
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Sep 3, 14 @ 10:36 am:
The DCCC is lying, btw.
- Jimbo - Wednesday, Sep 3, 14 @ 10:38 am:
He is a heck of a nice guy, the nicest Congressman i’ve had probably, but his politics and mine just don’t mesh.
- A guy... - Wednesday, Sep 3, 14 @ 10:42 am:
It’s among the top ads out there. The young lady is beautiful and sincere, the brothers act like….brothers, just well executed. It’s memorable. As good as we’ve seen so far.
- walker - Wednesday, Sep 3, 14 @ 10:46 am:
Great ad. Makes his efforts practical and relatable.
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Sep 3, 14 @ 10:52 am:
This is the best ad of the season - easily an A. Other campaigns can and should learn from this. The ad is simple and probably cost little to produce. It is not negative and is not so sappy that voters in the 13th would be turned off.
- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Sep 3, 14 @ 10:56 am:
Nicely done. Being in that demographic, (parent not student lol) this will play well.
- Under Influenced - Wednesday, Sep 3, 14 @ 11:01 am:
Two ads from Davis - both fail to highlight a single accomplishment.
No vote to cut his taxpayer funded salary or cut perks for “politicians”?? Aren’t those all the rage these days?
- Responsa - Wednesday, Sep 3, 14 @ 11:26 am:
The ad works in large part because it is so personal and was obviously made for this candidate, and this campaign, and this district’s demographics. It is not some warmed over talking-point generic congressional ad with the local candidate’s face slapped on, that we see too much during election season and recognize as such. Good work Davis campaign and family!
- Amateur Hour - Wednesday, Sep 3, 14 @ 11:35 am:
What an awesome ad. Wow. Honestly the best ad I’ve seen this cycle so far.
- CampfireGirl - Wednesday, Sep 3, 14 @ 11:54 am:
Toryn could pass for 30 easily. Not a bad ad.
- John Boch - Wednesday, Sep 3, 14 @ 12:00 pm:
He’s fighting to make college more affordable *how* exactly?
Is he doing it by coaching some kids’ football team on the weekends? By being the Congressman nobody ever sees across his district, except in and around Taylorville?
If Rodney Davis wanted to be something besides another face in Congress, he’d spearhead a charge to bring student loans back into the “dischargeable” category at bankruptcy proceedings.
That right there would make college more affordable overnight.
It would also cause some layoffs and closures of some of “higher education” vendors, but that’s a small price to pay for all of these recent college grads cobbled by six-figure student loans in this Obama economy.
John
- Chris - Wednesday, Sep 3, 14 @ 12:06 pm:
47th: “I hope he’s fighting to make college more affordable. If that’s true though, it means he’s probably fighting his own party”
I had the same immediate reaction.
Also, John Boch is not wrong. Maybe not 100% right, as to any given student, but in the aggregate, there would be less spent on ‘higher education’ if student loans were even partly dischargeable under a looser standard than we have right now.
- Big Debbie - Wednesday, Sep 3, 14 @ 12:17 pm:
It is a well executed ad, and does a good job of trying to deflect one of the most effective criticisms of Davis in a university-heavy district. Too bad there is no truth behind it. Davis has voted to raise interest rates on future college loans, seeks to privative the loan industry, and has voted twice to cut Pell Grants. His big accomplishment in “fighting” to make college more affordable? Sponsoring a bill that gives college students more disclosure on how much debt they are taking on. I can’t argue that is a bad thing, but it does nothing to make college more affordable, offer relief to those who have huge student loan debt, or even decrease the debt of anyone - except to explain that you can either have enormous debt or no college education. I would have liked a little more explanation on that back in the day, but it hardly does anything to fix the problem. It is just mean to make it seem like he is fixing the problem when in fact he does not support any meaningful policy to either (1) make college more affordable or (2) reduce the burden on persons who already have substantial debt.
- North Shore Joe - Wednesday, Sep 3, 14 @ 12:22 pm:
Since this is another substance-less ad (exactly HOW is he fighting to lower the cost of college?), two irrelevant thoughts came to mind.
A). Agree with CampfireGirl, Toryn could pass for 30.
B). The kid with the fat watch on kinda made me chuckle.
- Modest proposal - Wednesday, Sep 3, 14 @ 12:33 pm:
I have seen Rodney numerous times throughout the district, and every time I see him he remembers who I am and sometimes lands a soft punch on my shoulder. John Boch has some baseless claims that he is throwing out there.
For people asking about what he has accomplished - there are two things important to his district: education and farming. Rodney was on the farm bill subcommittee and got that bill passed and signed.
In a related note: has anyone seen how Rodney is switching cars with a liberal California congresswoman? He is going to drive an electric car across the district..
- downstate hack - Wednesday, Sep 3, 14 @ 12:33 pm:
A nice pleasant ad that probably sticks out in a year with so many negative ads.
- Jimmy Baseball - Wednesday, Sep 3, 14 @ 1:24 pm:
Maybe I’m in the minority here, but I’d rather hear about Rodney’s stances on issues than about his son’s football team or his daughter’s education. Is the whole family going to be on the ballot or is it just him?
If she mentioned what he’s doing to keep education costs lower I’d give it an A, but I think voters are starting to get fed up with this general fluff. We’ve been told they’re fixing all of the problems for both sides for decades, and look where it has gotten us. I’ll give it a C+.
- Chef - Wednesday, Sep 3, 14 @ 2:11 pm:
Great ad through and through.
So far, I know that Callis’ son is an army ranger and wants to stand up for.. a group of people? Davis is a volunteer for his son’s football team as well as someone who wants to do more for his children.
So far, Davis has been winning the ad war, in my opinion.
- second street - Wednesday, Sep 3, 14 @ 2:23 pm:
Vote for my Dad. Being a congressman is a good paying job and Dad had a family to support.
- Carl Nyberg - Wednesday, Sep 3, 14 @ 3:22 pm:
Is anyone else find it unsettling when politicians use their progeny inappropriately?
A guy running for alderman parades his kids in front of the audience to say he’s a great dad but there’s minimal policy stuff.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Sep 3, 14 @ 3:36 pm:
The spot’s fine, but I cringe when anyone puts the kids out there in speaking parts. Makes them fair game.
And seriously, what exactly is the House GOP doing to make college more affordable?
The only thing they’ve tried recently is to eliminate the fixed rate on student loans and let them float. Guess what? Interest rates have nowhere to go but up.
- Former Downstater - Wednesday, Sep 3, 14 @ 4:31 pm:
As usual, you’re spot on Wordslinger. Not even a headline or blurb to provide some context, just his daughter saying meaningless words.
- Responsa - Wednesday, Sep 3, 14 @ 6:10 pm:
You all are missing (or pretending to be missing) that in that district you have a pol who appears to understand and acknowledge that college has gotten difficult and unaffordable for many, and then he makes an actual ad around that issue. It’s at least a baby step in the right direction and shows empathy for worried students and parents of students. You are all familiar with the standard poll question where subjects are asked to rate candidates on a scale, “xxx cares about people like me”? Some of you are trying waaaay too hard to find some fault with what is a brilliant political ad.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Sep 3, 14 @ 6:48 pm:
==Is anyone else find it unsettling when politicians use their progeny inappropriately?==
I find it more unsettling when one applies such a standard to one candidate, but fails to do so when their opponent’s entire campaign so far is based on their kid (”I’m a Ranger Mom”).
- Wally - Wednesday, Sep 3, 14 @ 7:47 pm:
You asked most people what is the total cost to attend the U of I at UC for one year, they would likely not be close in their estimate.
Davis has the lead and it is a good, safe ad that hits home with parents of teenagers, or younger.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Sep 3, 14 @ 8:10 pm:
–You asked most people what is the total cost to attend the U of I at UC for one year, they would likely not be close in their estimate.–
What’s your point?
- QCLib - Wednesday, Sep 3, 14 @ 11:53 pm:
Callis is going through a lot of campaign turnover as well. DCCC always manages to screw things up. Good riddance.