* Andy McKenna officially kicks off his Republican gubernatorial campaign today. The campaign will show this video at every stop and they’ve offered us an exclusive preview. Take a look…
*** UPDATE 1 *** The theme continues with McKenna’s announcement…
“Pat Quinn said he would be different than Rod Blagojevich, but, when it comes to taxes, he’s Rod Blagojevich with just a little bit less hair. He’s more of the same,” McKenna said.
*** UPDATE 2 *** I’ll be curious to see if this makes the final cut in tomorrow’s dead tree edition…
McKenna vilified the influence of special interests on public policy as he billed himself as an outsider. But he did not address how as chairman of the state GOP, he also relied upon Republican-oriented special interests for campaign donations to assist candidates.
*** UPDATE 3 *** Some of you have asked who made the video. From NBC5…
The ad… was made for McKenna by the same team that made McCain’s Anti-Obama ad featuring Paris Hilton and Britney Spears.
The positive stuff on McKenna wasn’t bad, but the first half of the video on Hair was embarrassingly bad… With so much material, couldn’t they have done better?? Ridiculous. It makes it look as though they don’t take it seriously either…
“outsider”?! LOL…the hair motif seems silly (and would only work for a candidate with male pattern baldness, but no such candidate ever has a chance again, as i’ve pointed out before).
interspersing some “hair” shots and references into the second and more serious part of this video made it even worse.
not sure how the Notre Dame reference resonates with non-domers.
So, the former head of the ILGOP during the Blago years is running as an outsider??
Ok, if you say so.
Frankly, Mckenna should have been Murphy’s Lt.Gov candidate.
It’s a good (re)intro piece that seizes on themes one might have thought would draw other candidates into this race. I’m inclined to cut them some slack on “the hair.” Plenty of time in the campaign to draw attention to the actual substance of our legitimate corruption crisis. At the end of the day, the video makes me wish that a stronger candidate with the charisma to back-up this message was the one behind it.
all that money and he couldn’t afford a good editor?
Six minutes. Really? This must the be the director’s uncut version. Some decent stuff in there, but each drags on for too long. In the hair bit it seems like the voiceover guy is even getting tired of talking.
If it weren’t for Andy being in that commerical, I’d have thought it was a commercial for Adam Andrzejewski… the only one who can legitimately claim everything that was in that commercial.
Remember that anyone who says they are going to truly balance the budget by “slashing spending” and “holding the line on taxes” is lying. If the candidates don’t understand that none of them are getting my vote. Also, there was a lot of background shot in Chicago which, as a downstater, turns me off. Sure, include Chicago, but there are millions more square miles in the state.
So the leaders of the Republican Party are going to spend their money on someone who brings us the “Hair” rather then electing someone that can fix the problems of government, business and jobs, sad?
Not as bad as some are saying given its intended use as an intro piece with a sympathetic and hopefully laughing and groaning live audience.
There are some good hooks here. The quiet cure thing could work. I think voters are going to latch on to someone who appears serious and genuine. Get rid of the hair snark/silliness and McKenna does seem serious and genuine.
== but there are millions more square miles in the state.==
Unfortunately many of those square miles are not inhabited by a lot of voters. Cornstalks can’t vote.
- Bring Back Boone's - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:37 am:
I couldn’t figure out if it was a political ad or or a cialis ad.
As someone who produces things like this I am just amazed. It’s like they had a really bad brainstorming session with a producer who was afraid to tell the candidate his ideas stunk.
Nominees for the worst part of this ad?
1) Two minutes of an unfunny (and expensive to produce) hair gag
2) The first face you see is the charismatic and reasonably attractive Matt Murphy.
3) That it took five minutes for McKenna to get on screen and when he did he was AWFUL.
“He apparently has all this money and he puts out low budget crap?”
Ahoy, that is what makes that ad so pathetic. It was VERY EXPENSIVE TO PRODUCE. All the effects in the hair section alone must have cost a pretty penny. There were lots of shots. Lots of different setups. Lots of post-production. That ad was at least two or three days of shooting. It probably set him back almost $100,000.
This could have been good but to long. 30 seconds is long enough
- Cranky Old Man - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:47 am:
Tripe. Maybe I’m biased sitting here in southern Illinois, but aside from from the “hair” people walking around the Cap bldg and the ONE farmer, it looks like he’ll make a great gov for the state of Chicago. I don’t care what the party affiliation is, have we learned nothing from our current state of affairs while being governed from Chicago?
- Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:50 am:
Shockingly Bad. Zero stars.
The Hair theme is lame, and if they were gonna use it, why not slap a couple rugs on Quinn and Burris in their cameo? (Calling Photoshop experts…)
Next, although Bill makes a good point, the Chicago-centric views aren’t helpful to the folks downstate who don’t know him.
Then, seems like forever before we see the candidate, hear his plans, and hear him talk.
Hey now all they said prior to the announcement was that it would be “Epic”. Looking at Dictionary.com, Epic is defined as: of unusually great size or extent. So by that definition the video/hair piece movie was a success.
i think we got the hair reference within a few seconds, the next two and one-half minutes were tedious. If this is to be run before McKenna speaks at every stop, the audience will be expecting a guy who can’t articulate what he wants to get across and has to have a commercial do it.
What exactly does Matt Murphy add to the ticket? Same area, same positions, outsized ego and he has the other governor candidates not trusting him to be on thier ticket. Dumb move by Murphy to tie himself to McKenna. But he was dying to run for something.
- Joe From Joliet - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 11:03 am:
The hair part was kinda catchy. But, man, when he started speaking, all I could think of was
Once again we have a gubernatorial candidate talking about “fixing Springfield.” Exactly when did Springfield become broken? I can’t speak for Chicagoans since I’m not from that area, but I know pretty much everyone downstate feels that the real problem with politics in Illinois is the Chicago machine and the politicians it’s churning out, and that’s been the problem for decades. So telling me about great events in Chicago is only going to convince me that he’s part of that same old machine.
The “Hair” motif tries to marry a comedy bit with a serious point, but I don’t think it comes off in the end.
That said, the piece relies too heavily on spin. I think it works best with folks who know absolutely nothing about our politics and recent history. To state it differently, the more educated you are on the facts, the more unconvincing this propaganda piece becomes. A smattering of examples: Dan Walker ran into trouble with the law while in business long after he was governor. If Blago constitutes the “fault line” of Illinois “corruption”, he’s out, and the Democratic party and its elected officials have been scrambling since last December to distance themselve from Blago — can McKenna really tarnish Quinn/Hynes with this approach? “Outsider”?-give us a break.
Artistically and messagewise I like the theme, but will it help McKenna? One thing I don’t like is that this feels like a puff vid. Not sure puff is appropriate in this instance.
I am certainly not for McKenna, but I kind of liked the video. I’m surprised no one else does.
I think the outsider claim is ridiculous and the line about “impeccable integrity” is also a stretch when you consider how he used the Republican Party for its gain.
Slow-motion train wreck. Was this a consultant gone mad or horrible staff work? Either way, Andy needs to fix it soon. And Matt should consider jumping ship.
- without sports we'd have to talk about politics - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 11:46 am:
I think the piece was long…if it were a commercial, however, it was not intended for that. The way i see it, is it was an introduction to McKenna-Murphy. After watching the video, I feel excited. I thought it has some great information, esp about the 1000 people convicted in the last 30 years?! Woah, had no idea.
its time we get a Gov that will listen and make changes instead of empty promises.
2 empty suits resorting to 3rd grade humor because they have no accomplishments and nothing real to offer.
Andy reminds me of the cartoon fish Nemo in that ad - running around trying to find his daddy.
Springfield and Blago are bad, but of course not a peep about McKenna family pal Mayor Daley. Right, Chicago is A-Okay.
- GOP has Troubles - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 11:59 am:
My cat glanced and tossed out a hairball. I rate that ad as one of the worst I have ever seen in Illinois. We have serious ethical and financial problems and McKenna wants to talk about hairdos. When the ad actually gets to substance, he is wandering around like Moses in the wilderness trying to navigate to the holy land with zero success. Wow the GOP has troubles.
- CircularFiringSquad - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 11:59 am:
I knew TugBoatAndy was a buffoon, but the Amusement Park, Bozo the Clown as the lite gov pick and now the video really confirms it.
Maybe Tugboat Annie should reanmnounce for Gov.
I also with three relatives on the public dole the likelihood of education reform will be nil
Aside from the dullness, the lack of humor and the length, the real issue with this campaign piece and campaign fly-around is who is advising McKenna/Murphy that after waiting until the end of October, their announcement offers - TA DA - nothing. These guys have, presumably, seen what the other major candidates are offering (except maybe JRyan) and yet they have a completely vacant campaign announcement.
How about some meaty specifics? How about some differentiation? How about something that makes you different than all of the other GOP candidates running around? Instead, McKenna/Murphy have spent a great deal of time & money to offer nothing. Perfect launch, guys…
- Stuck with Sen. CPA - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 12:08 pm:
Wow, that was bad but not bad enough to be good.
My favorite part was the intro to McKenna where they spin him as a “doer” not a talker (so you know beforehand he can’t talk real good) and even then he underwhelms talking into the camera.
Spinning that he is a political outsider is, as has been said above many times, an absolute joke. Who is going to buy that?
In school, did you ever blow off an important assignment to the last second and then just turn in a POS just so it would be done? This has all the markings of that.
Stunningly bad concept, poorly executed, but not cheap, by the way.
Its about time that someone with real life experience who has successfully run a company and made money ran for office! I would much rather have an educated Governor with a graduate degree from a prestigious university and who has successfully run a business as Governor than some poorly educated, ignorant loud mouth politician!
Who does he think he is, playing us like that? This is a man who failed in his last statewide job, yet has the nerve to run for governor. He is a loser, but doesn’t know it. If he had an inkling just where he stands in the real world, he would have at least shown us some kind of ad countering his negative image.
McKenna is seriously out of touch, like the boss in “The Office”.
Anonymous 10:40, please find another handle. That one’s taken already.
I’d definitely get rid of the “hair” thing. As for the rest, the narrator’s voice, the swaying of people walking, and the music made my brain think of “wobbling” v. “moving forward”.
A bit more “action” and perhaps adding some upbeat music here and there could make the last part extremely effective.
anon 12:20….little andy had all the benefits his daddy could give him. His daddy is on the board of Notre Dame…junior gets in. His daddy owns a company….junior gets to work there. It doesnt make him a genius….it just makes him luck. Too bad his daddy doesnt own a video production company, he might even make him look like he had a little personality.
I agree, why is it that state politicians are incredibly poorly educated and have never successfully ran anything? Obama has proven that speaking skills do not equate the ability to govern. I would much rather have a soft spoken man of action than another politician full of hot air!
right side 12:23: I am glad he comes from a good family with good parents who raised him well. I’m sorry, but the governor’s race is not a personality contest; it is about ability to govern, which Mr. McKenna is clearly able to do. ps - if you are going to be jealous of those who are well-educated, and have money and good families you should go by the name “left side”
What kinda discount do you get when buying Blagojewigs in bulk? This is a terrible ad. Terrible. It seems more like an SNL skit in the last 10 minutes of the show.
- CircularFiringSquad - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 12:38 pm:
Could sumbody ask TugBoatAndy how he accepts StateWideTom’s endorsement after TC and Vandalia Frank sold out the GOPs for the gamblers in ‘08?
How is Mckenna able to govern? What examples do you have, his stellar performance at the State Party? If you are a Mckenna staffer (as I suspect) please, stop posting and go take that video down before you embarrass yourself and your candidate even more.
Tip for the new gimmick in the next McKenna video: Andy and Matt slice away at the Budget Monster with their laser cats. Yeah, laser cats! That’s the ticket!
haha, he couldn’t afford to hire me. Possibly because he has built a large multi-national company, definitely more than any of the other candidates can say.
- Will County Woman - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 12:48 pm:
You guys are way too mean. Some of you are reacting to Andy McKenna and not the ads.
The ads aren’t all that bad.
The hair ad is funny I give it 8/10. The outsider ad is okay, but a bit syrupy and long; and, it’s true he’s not a career politician, but he was a state party chair which hardly makes him an outsider. I give that ad 4/10
“loves solving unsolvable problems”
andy mckenna did not solve the IL republican party problems. the fact that there are like 8 candidates running for governor in an election year that should be bleepin’ golden for them, is just crazy and beyond ridiculous! mckenna did not solve the factured jumbled mess that is the illinois republican party, and that was solvable–especially with the fall of Blago.
the outsider ad stole one of the lines that I have been saving to use for Hynes. grrrrr!!!!!!
Matt Murphy’s career is over after this. McKenna is absolute awful and the fact that murphy would join this speaks to a lack of integrity on his behalf.
I don’t think Murphy’s career is over after this, even if he loses. But he might be having second thoughts about withdrawing and teaming up with Andy if this is the best they are going to do.
OUCH! Who cares how tall his running mate is? Who cares that the cadidate went to Notre Dame? In some circles that will work against you. Is was soft and fluffy. It attempted to poke fun at Blago, but lets remember that as a state we are still reeling from him, and maybe , just maybe we are sick of hearing about him. We need to move forward. The fact that this candidate chose to joke about Blago, makes me question many things including his judgement.
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that many rank and file republican-identifying voters have no idea about interparty politics. They don’t care about SB 600, don’t claim to know who was responsible for Alan Keyes and while they may have heard that McKenna was former GOP Chairman - they probably don’t see that role as being a Springfield insider.
They do know that democrats have been in charge for the past 8 years and that we are in an awful mess. If McKenna can spend a ton of dough to position himself as a thoughtful, successful businessman who can help us find a way out of the mess - he just might have a shot at the nomination.
um give credit where credit is due. this ad is by far the most creative & entertaining production the placid and relatively unexciting gubernatorial race has seen so far. Chop this bad boy into 30 second bites for TV and it’s sure to grab viewers’ attention and pique some interest in McKenna.
I thought these reviews were suppose to be about the ad, not analyzing McKenna’s education or family.
The ad was good and effective, as you can see from the comments - it got people talking and provoked interest in his candidacy. Sounds like a great start to me.
10th Ward-That is why he will lose no one does know him as party leader, he did nothing of note to stand out when he had the chance to do something about any of those issues good or bad.
I don’t think it’s accurate to call this an “ad.”
Surely he’s not going to do several minute media buys to run this thing out. My understanding is it’s to be played at announcement events, which don’t usually attract “regular” people.
Gee great, here’s an expensive “ad” telling you to get fired up about supporting a guy you already support.
And the claim of being an outsider is of the same credibility level as Blago’s claim of being an outsider.
If this airs, one of McKenna’s opponents can quickly turn it against him buy putting the same Blago hair on McKenna and run clips of Blago and McKenna both declaring themselves outsiders who’ll clean up Springfield.
It all reminds me of the guy who ran against Birkett in the primary who had the funny baby puking ads that the media went crazy over and thought surely this guys going to win.
The fact that I can’t remember his name should tell you (and Mr. McKenna) something.
Something about that hair portion seemed familiar to me, and now I know what it is: It sounded like one of those documentary-type videos you see at a museum. Sleep-inducing narration to what should be material to fire up voters.
Clearly this is not a :30 TV spot. I don’t know who said it was, but the question was to rate it, and that’s what people have been doing.
I think it’s awful. You begin with a joke that might be funny for a few seconds but beat it into the ground to the extent that the ad is a joke before you get to the introductory part about him.
Clearly, claiming to be an outside is utterly ridiculous. The son of the Chairman of McDonalds and part owner of the Bears an outsider? Get real.
They need to keep the stupid wig stunt out when they chop it up. Some of the Mckenna footage is ok. But the other stuff isn’t funny its just odd and awkward
The wig gig was a funny snippet. Doesn’t evoke the sort of gravitas I want in a chief executive, regardless of their party affiliation. Still, I don’t want to discourage it. Just want it to be legit 3rd party fun.
There’s plenty to criticize here but others have covered most of it. Instead, I offer this: having run a family business myself, I heard the line about making a payroll. It resonated for me. Enough to vote for Andy McKenna? Unlikely. But it was more than enough for me to forgive him for taking a helmet-headed gag too far.
- Continuity Director - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 8:33 pm:
McKenna wore four different ties during the video. Was he going into Starbucks and spilling hot joe on himself so he had to change his ties every 5 minutes?
Different. At first I didn’t like the “hair” theme, but it is an attention grabber. I couldn’t help but think that Senator Murphy will need to keep his dark hair short during the campaign.
Funny, hubby and I were just discussing how quiet Andy is. In this ad his marketing folks picked up on his quiet demeanor and included that in his first ad. Andy will need to seem walk and talk like a Chief Executive to win the primary.
- Springfieldwatcher - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:14 pm:
He was a poor choice for chairman what makes antbody think he ne a good choice for Governor
I know Andy is 52 but can’t he jog any better.
Matt Murphy is 6 foot 4 inches so is Andy a miget.
Andy has never run a business or created a job his father has.But what we all have learned is that some blood sucking consultants have found another sucker to scam.
I found the hair stuff funny and LOL’d in actuality at the golf ball. \\But I don’t think it works overall, and doesn’t transition well to the “serious” half.
If I were the media consultant, maybe I’d end that first half with a transition to a barber shop where the chair spins around and it’s Andy in it. The barber asks: “How do you want it?” And he comes back with a line about “I want it fixed. We need a lot of cutting. Cutting thru the gridlock and cutting spending, etc etc etc”) See, that could work like Hynes’ old “Ketchup” ad worked to give him a branding identity and a perception to voters that he had a personality.
I don’t think the hair thing works though, because by insinuating -everything” and -everyone- in Springfield is corrupt, he’s tarring his own guys with the same propecia applicator. After all, aren’t they the folks he has to work with to get anything done? weren’t they working with Blago all that time, or part of it? And aren’t some (dwindling) proportion of them Republicans?
So you produce a piece for the Republican Primary ignoring many Republicans downstate, dissing Springfield and wandering around the Chicago Loop (lot of Republicans there)looking at El trains. Take out the hair and I think it might work!
- StillLaughing - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:04 am:
Hair today, gone tomorrow?
Is this really going to be their campaign theme? I feel good about his chances of winning.
Maybe $8million this time, 5th place?
- dupage progressive - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:05 am:
The positive stuff on McKenna wasn’t bad, but the first half of the video on Hair was embarrassingly bad… With so much material, couldn’t they have done better?? Ridiculous. It makes it look as though they don’t take it seriously either…
- Dozer - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:06 am:
in the words of Bill the cat ack.. gag… barf
- corvax - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:06 am:
“outsider”?! LOL…the hair motif seems silly (and would only work for a candidate with male pattern baldness, but no such candidate ever has a chance again, as i’ve pointed out before).
interspersing some “hair” shots and references into the second and more serious part of this video made it even worse.
not sure how the Notre Dame reference resonates with non-domers.
- John Bambenek - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:08 am:
The irony of all the insiders like Tom Cross lining up to label a state party chairman as an outsider is delicious.
- right side - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:08 am:
The only word that comes to mind: ugh! Makes me wish for the Schillerstrom ads to make a comeback.
- GOP4EVER - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:09 am:
Great ad, had me interested the entire time and almost made me want to vote right now. However, i didnt know that Andy McKenna was an “outsider”?
- TTL, III - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:10 am:
This is why the IL GOP is such a mess.
- Pat collins - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:10 am:
Too long, too lame
- Anon - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:11 am:
So, the former head of the ILGOP during the Blago years is running as an outsider??
Ok, if you say so.
Frankly, Mckenna should have been Murphy’s Lt.Gov candidate.
- Red Ranger - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:12 am:
I would look to see if Bill Brady has a little spring in his step today. Wow! Money sure can’t buy talent, or personality for that matter.
- Watching closely - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:14 am:
It’s a good (re)intro piece that seizes on themes one might have thought would draw other candidates into this race. I’m inclined to cut them some slack on “the hair.” Plenty of time in the campaign to draw attention to the actual substance of our legitimate corruption crisis. At the end of the day, the video makes me wish that a stronger candidate with the charisma to back-up this message was the one behind it.
- Michelle Flaherty - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:15 am:
all that money and he couldn’t afford a good editor?
Six minutes. Really? This must the be the director’s uncut version. Some decent stuff in there, but each drags on for too long. In the hair bit it seems like the voiceover guy is even getting tired of talking.
- John Bambenek - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:18 am:
If it weren’t for Andy being in that commerical, I’d have thought it was a commercial for Adam Andrzejewski… the only one who can legitimately claim everything that was in that commercial.
- downstate hick - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:19 am:
Some good points, but all distorted by the ridiculous “Hair” analogy, parody, whatever.
- RobRoy - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:21 am:
Yaaawn…..oh is it over? Musta dozed off. Hair stuff is not funny, too long, overdone. Grassroots not interested in soft spoken, they want a puncher.
- yipes - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:21 am:
Shouldn’t McKenna have shaved all his hair off for this to make any sense?
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:24 am:
Awful.
- Deep South - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:25 am:
Culture of the hair? Someone must have been out of ideas that day!
- My Opinion - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:26 am:
Dumb. Very Dumb. Hair on the capitol? WTH?
- RJW - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:27 am:
Remember that anyone who says they are going to truly balance the budget by “slashing spending” and “holding the line on taxes” is lying. If the candidates don’t understand that none of them are getting my vote. Also, there was a lot of background shot in Chicago which, as a downstater, turns me off. Sure, include Chicago, but there are millions more square miles in the state.
- Bill - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:28 am:
I hope he wins the nomination.
- Highland, IL - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:28 am:
Too long..I stopped watching at the 3 minute mark.
- Dnstate - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:29 am:
So the leaders of the Republican Party are going to spend their money on someone who brings us the “Hair” rather then electing someone that can fix the problems of government, business and jobs, sad?
- John Bambenek - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:30 am:
I feel a John Travolta reference coming on.
- 10th Indy - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:32 am:
Not as bad as some are saying given its intended use as an intro piece with a sympathetic and hopefully laughing and groaning live audience.
There are some good hooks here. The quiet cure thing could work. I think voters are going to latch on to someone who appears serious and genuine. Get rid of the hair snark/silliness and McKenna does seem serious and genuine.
- dc - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:32 am:
After watching this video, I think having the campaign kickoff at Knight’s Action Park by the Go-carts and mini-golf makes more sense.
- right side - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:33 am:
I actually like McKenna but he should throw whoever was responsible for that video off of his campaign announcement plane….at about 3000 feet.
- ahoy - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:33 am:
He apparently has all this money and he puts out low budget crap?
Are we to take him seriously or is this all a big joke?
- Speaking at Will - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:34 am:
I feel like I just got done watching Ishtar.
McKenna an outsider? Maybe in the fact that he kept alot of good candidates “out” of office during his reign as State Party Chairman.
The whole thing seems grossly over congratulatory.
“That future has a name, (dramatic pause) Andy McKenna”
“Andy McKenna is the quiet cure, smart, decent caring, well educated at Notre Dame, with an MBA from Northwestern…”
I assume that McKenna is also an excellent ballroom dancer, and makes Julian Fries.
It becomes more obvious all the time why he finished 4th in a four man Senate Primary. I give it two thumbs down.
- Bill - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:35 am:
== but there are millions more square miles in the state.==
Unfortunately many of those square miles are not inhabited by a lot of voters. Cornstalks can’t vote.
- Bring Back Boone's - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:37 am:
I couldn’t figure out if it was a political ad or or a cialis ad.
- John Bambenek - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:37 am:
Cornstalks CAN vote as long as they reside within the City limits of Chicago.
- Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:38 am:
WOW. I’m still dumbfounded by how bad that ad is.
As someone who produces things like this I am just amazed. It’s like they had a really bad brainstorming session with a producer who was afraid to tell the candidate his ideas stunk.
Nominees for the worst part of this ad?
1) Two minutes of an unfunny (and expensive to produce) hair gag
2) The first face you see is the charismatic and reasonably attractive Matt Murphy.
3) That it took five minutes for McKenna to get on screen and when he did he was AWFUL.
BRUTAL.
- Don't Worry, Be Happy - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:40 am:
Bring back Henry Meers. Please. Pleeeeeeze!
- Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:40 am:
“He apparently has all this money and he puts out low budget crap?”
Ahoy, that is what makes that ad so pathetic. It was VERY EXPENSIVE TO PRODUCE. All the effects in the hair section alone must have cost a pretty penny. There were lots of shots. Lots of different setups. Lots of post-production. That ad was at least two or three days of shooting. It probably set him back almost $100,000.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:40 am:
The quiet cure? Really? I’ve never been more energized.
- John Bambenek - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:41 am:
This ad could have been spiced up if Smiling Bob did a cameo.
- JZ23 - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:41 am:
boring
- Speaking at Will - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:42 am:
I don’t often post twice on the same thread, but that ad is like getting “la bam ba” stuck in your head. Awful, just awful.
- Can't Take A Hint - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:45 am:
This ad is why McCain lost.
- Bob - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:46 am:
This could have been good but to long. 30 seconds is long enough
- Cranky Old Man - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:47 am:
Tripe. Maybe I’m biased sitting here in southern Illinois, but aside from from the “hair” people walking around the Cap bldg and the ONE farmer, it looks like he’ll make a great gov for the state of Chicago. I don’t care what the party affiliation is, have we learned nothing from our current state of affairs while being governed from Chicago?
- Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:50 am:
Shockingly Bad. Zero stars.
The Hair theme is lame, and if they were gonna use it, why not slap a couple rugs on Quinn and Burris in their cameo? (Calling Photoshop experts…)
Next, although Bill makes a good point, the Chicago-centric views aren’t helpful to the folks downstate who don’t know him.
Then, seems like forever before we see the candidate, hear his plans, and hear him talk.
Zzzzzzz…
In all, a platitudinous mess.
- Anon - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:55 am:
Hey now all they said prior to the announcement was that it would be “Epic”. Looking at Dictionary.com, Epic is defined as: of unusually great size or extent. So by that definition the video/hair piece movie was a success.
- OneMan - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:56 am:
Too long on the hair, also you need a VO for that part that gives a bit of the humor when showing people with ‘the hair’….
Also I get that Murphy is big but don’t put him next to Andy to much, he makes the guy look too small.
Finally
‘The Quiet Cure’ ….
yeah for insomnia
- Tom Joad - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:57 am:
i think we got the hair reference within a few seconds, the next two and one-half minutes were tedious. If this is to be run before McKenna speaks at every stop, the audience will be expecting a guy who can’t articulate what he wants to get across and has to have a commercial do it.
What exactly does Matt Murphy add to the ticket? Same area, same positions, outsized ego and he has the other governor candidates not trusting him to be on thier ticket. Dumb move by Murphy to tie himself to McKenna. But he was dying to run for something.
- Joe From Joliet - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 11:03 am:
The hair part was kinda catchy. But, man, when he started speaking, all I could think of was
“ULLLLLL”
- Jill - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 11:03 am:
Once again we have a gubernatorial candidate talking about “fixing Springfield.” Exactly when did Springfield become broken? I can’t speak for Chicagoans since I’m not from that area, but I know pretty much everyone downstate feels that the real problem with politics in Illinois is the Chicago machine and the politicians it’s churning out, and that’s been the problem for decades. So telling me about great events in Chicago is only going to convince me that he’s part of that same old machine.
- David Ormsby - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 11:05 am:
A gag posing as announcement.
- Conservative Republican - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 11:07 am:
The “Hair” motif tries to marry a comedy bit with a serious point, but I don’t think it comes off in the end.
That said, the piece relies too heavily on spin. I think it works best with folks who know absolutely nothing about our politics and recent history. To state it differently, the more educated you are on the facts, the more unconvincing this propaganda piece becomes. A smattering of examples: Dan Walker ran into trouble with the law while in business long after he was governor. If Blago constitutes the “fault line” of Illinois “corruption”, he’s out, and the Democratic party and its elected officials have been scrambling since last December to distance themselve from Blago — can McKenna really tarnish Quinn/Hynes with this approach? “Outsider”?-give us a break.
- Levois - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 11:14 am:
Artistically and messagewise I like the theme, but will it help McKenna? One thing I don’t like is that this feels like a puff vid. Not sure puff is appropriate in this instance.
- dupage progressive - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 11:17 am:
could be copyright issues with hair today/ gone tomorrow - a company in chicago… LOL
- Crush - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 11:20 am:
I am certainly not for McKenna, but I kind of liked the video. I’m surprised no one else does.
I think the outsider claim is ridiculous and the line about “impeccable integrity” is also a stretch when you consider how he used the Republican Party for its gain.
- John Bambenek - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 11:24 am:
He has no ties to Springfield and in less than 15 seconds, he is tying himself to a State Senator in Springfield. Cognitive Dissonance much?
(Yeah, Murphy’s new, but if you’re going to say no ties, you can’t really run around with your BFF state senator)
- lake gop - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 11:24 am:
Slow-motion train wreck. Was this a consultant gone mad or horrible staff work? Either way, Andy needs to fix it soon. And Matt should consider jumping ship.
- without sports we'd have to talk about politics - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 11:46 am:
I think the piece was long…if it were a commercial, however, it was not intended for that. The way i see it, is it was an introduction to McKenna-Murphy. After watching the video, I feel excited. I thought it has some great information, esp about the 1000 people convicted in the last 30 years?! Woah, had no idea.
its time we get a Gov that will listen and make changes instead of empty promises.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 11:48 am:
Shocking and bizarre.
Madcap farce combined with ominous narration, tear-jerking strings, yet, somehow, an allegedly optimistic point of view.
It makes you wonder what concepts were rejected before they decided on the “hair today, gone tomorrow.”
Zero.
- Skeptical Cynic - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 11:48 am:
Why is Andy wandering around the Loop in the middle of the day? Goofy imagery.
- Will County Woman - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 11:52 am:
Bill, you hope McKenna wins the republican nomination? I’m guessing that Mike Madigan wishes that too.
- just sayin' - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 11:53 am:
2 empty suits resorting to 3rd grade humor because they have no accomplishments and nothing real to offer.
Andy reminds me of the cartoon fish Nemo in that ad - running around trying to find his daddy.
Springfield and Blago are bad, but of course not a peep about McKenna family pal Mayor Daley. Right, Chicago is A-Okay.
- GOP has Troubles - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 11:59 am:
My cat glanced and tossed out a hairball. I rate that ad as one of the worst I have ever seen in Illinois. We have serious ethical and financial problems and McKenna wants to talk about hairdos. When the ad actually gets to substance, he is wandering around like Moses in the wilderness trying to navigate to the holy land with zero success. Wow the GOP has troubles.
- CircularFiringSquad - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 11:59 am:
I knew TugBoatAndy was a buffoon, but the Amusement Park, Bozo the Clown as the lite gov pick and now the video really confirms it.
Maybe Tugboat Annie should reanmnounce for Gov.
I also with three relatives on the public dole the likelihood of education reform will be nil
- anon - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 11:59 am:
Am I confused, is today April 1st?
- SangamoGOP - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 12:03 pm:
Aside from the dullness, the lack of humor and the length, the real issue with this campaign piece and campaign fly-around is who is advising McKenna/Murphy that after waiting until the end of October, their announcement offers - TA DA - nothing. These guys have, presumably, seen what the other major candidates are offering (except maybe JRyan) and yet they have a completely vacant campaign announcement.
How about some meaty specifics? How about some differentiation? How about something that makes you different than all of the other GOP candidates running around? Instead, McKenna/Murphy have spent a great deal of time & money to offer nothing. Perfect launch, guys…
- Stuck with Sen. CPA - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 12:08 pm:
Wow, that was bad but not bad enough to be good.
My favorite part was the intro to McKenna where they spin him as a “doer” not a talker (so you know beforehand he can’t talk real good) and even then he underwhelms talking into the camera.
Spinning that he is a political outsider is, as has been said above many times, an absolute joke. Who is going to buy that?
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 12:09 pm:
In school, did you ever blow off an important assignment to the last second and then just turn in a POS just so it would be done? This has all the markings of that.
Stunningly bad concept, poorly executed, but not cheap, by the way.
- Bill - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 12:11 pm:
WCW,
Yeah, I was hoping for Proft but this guy would be just as good, especially with Murph as court jester.
- fox40 - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 12:11 pm:
There will be plenty of time for specifics - still 3 1/2 months till the Primary.
I think the video was refreshing and very creative…
- Anon - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 12:20 pm:
Its about time that someone with real life experience who has successfully run a company and made money ran for office! I would much rather have an educated Governor with a graduate degree from a prestigious university and who has successfully run a business as Governor than some poorly educated, ignorant loud mouth politician!
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 12:21 pm:
Who does he think he is, playing us like that? This is a man who failed in his last statewide job, yet has the nerve to run for governor. He is a loser, but doesn’t know it. If he had an inkling just where he stands in the real world, he would have at least shown us some kind of ad countering his negative image.
McKenna is seriously out of touch, like the boss in “The Office”.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 12:22 pm:
Anonymous 10:40, please find another handle. That one’s taken already.
I’d definitely get rid of the “hair” thing. As for the rest, the narrator’s voice, the swaying of people walking, and the music made my brain think of “wobbling” v. “moving forward”.
A bit more “action” and perhaps adding some upbeat music here and there could make the last part extremely effective.
- right side - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 12:23 pm:
anon 12:20….little andy had all the benefits his daddy could give him. His daddy is on the board of Notre Dame…junior gets in. His daddy owns a company….junior gets to work there. It doesnt make him a genius….it just makes him luck. Too bad his daddy doesnt own a video production company, he might even make him look like he had a little personality.
- Anon - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 12:23 pm:
I agree, why is it that state politicians are incredibly poorly educated and have never successfully ran anything? Obama has proven that speaking skills do not equate the ability to govern. I would much rather have a soft spoken man of action than another politician full of hot air!
- Carl Nyberg - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 12:28 pm:
Who produced this ad? Who originated the concept? Who approved it?
Future GOP campaigns will want to know whom to contact (if they like the ad) or whom to avoid (if they didn’t like it).
- Anon - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 12:29 pm:
right side 12:23: I am glad he comes from a good family with good parents who raised him well. I’m sorry, but the governor’s race is not a personality contest; it is about ability to govern, which Mr. McKenna is clearly able to do. ps - if you are going to be jealous of those who are well-educated, and have money and good families you should go by the name “left side”
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 12:30 pm:
===I’m sorry, but the governor’s race is not a personality contest; it is about ability to govern===
You just moved here, right?
- Downstate weed chewing hick - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 12:37 pm:
What kinda discount do you get when buying Blagojewigs in bulk? This is a terrible ad. Terrible. It seems more like an SNL skit in the last 10 minutes of the show.
- CircularFiringSquad - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 12:38 pm:
Could sumbody ask TugBoatAndy how he accepts StateWideTom’s endorsement after TC and Vandalia Frank sold out the GOPs for the gamblers in ‘08?
- right side - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 12:41 pm:
How is Mckenna able to govern? What examples do you have, his stellar performance at the State Party? If you are a Mckenna staffer (as I suspect) please, stop posting and go take that video down before you embarrass yourself and your candidate even more.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 12:44 pm:
Tip for the new gimmick in the next McKenna video: Andy and Matt slice away at the Budget Monster with their laser cats. Yeah, laser cats! That’s the ticket!
So not ready for prime time.
- lake gop - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 12:46 pm:
Maybe this is just a brilliant plan to make his 2004 race look good by comparison.
- Anon - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 12:46 pm:
haha, he couldn’t afford to hire me. Possibly because he has built a large multi-national company, definitely more than any of the other candidates can say.
- Will County Woman - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 12:48 pm:
You guys are way too mean. Some of you are reacting to Andy McKenna and not the ads.
The ads aren’t all that bad.
The hair ad is funny I give it 8/10. The outsider ad is okay, but a bit syrupy and long; and, it’s true he’s not a career politician, but he was a state party chair which hardly makes him an outsider. I give that ad 4/10
“loves solving unsolvable problems”
andy mckenna did not solve the IL republican party problems. the fact that there are like 8 candidates running for governor in an election year that should be bleepin’ golden for them, is just crazy and beyond ridiculous! mckenna did not solve the factured jumbled mess that is the illinois republican party, and that was solvable–especially with the fall of Blago.
the outsider ad stole one of the lines that I have been saving to use for Hynes. grrrrr!!!!!!
“Hair today and gone tomorrow” is corny.
- shore - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 12:57 pm:
new cover, same book.
Matt Murphy’s career is over after this. McKenna is absolute awful and the fact that murphy would join this speaks to a lack of integrity on his behalf.
- Skeptical Cynic - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 1:24 pm:
I don’t think Murphy’s career is over after this, even if he loses. But he might be having second thoughts about withdrawing and teaming up with Andy if this is the best they are going to do.
- Say WHAT? - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 1:37 pm:
OUCH! Who cares how tall his running mate is? Who cares that the cadidate went to Notre Dame? In some circles that will work against you. Is was soft and fluffy. It attempted to poke fun at Blago, but lets remember that as a state we are still reeling from him, and maybe , just maybe we are sick of hearing about him. We need to move forward. The fact that this candidate chose to joke about Blago, makes me question many things including his judgement.
- 10th Indy - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 1:39 pm:
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that many rank and file republican-identifying voters have no idea about interparty politics. They don’t care about SB 600, don’t claim to know who was responsible for Alan Keyes and while they may have heard that McKenna was former GOP Chairman - they probably don’t see that role as being a Springfield insider.
They do know that democrats have been in charge for the past 8 years and that we are in an awful mess. If McKenna can spend a ton of dough to position himself as a thoughtful, successful businessman who can help us find a way out of the mess - he just might have a shot at the nomination.
- curtis - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 1:39 pm:
This is worse than the pathetic ‘Bob’s Most Interesting Leader’ ads… who’s advising these guys?
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 1:51 pm:
===I’m going to go out on a limb here===
That’s a pretty solid limb you’re on.
- Indy - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 1:53 pm:
um give credit where credit is due. this ad is by far the most creative & entertaining production the placid and relatively unexciting gubernatorial race has seen so far. Chop this bad boy into 30 second bites for TV and it’s sure to grab viewers’ attention and pique some interest in McKenna.
- WrigleyGOP - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 2:01 pm:
I thought these reviews were suppose to be about the ad, not analyzing McKenna’s education or family.
The ad was good and effective, as you can see from the comments - it got people talking and provoked interest in his candidacy. Sounds like a great start to me.
- JonShibleyFan - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 2:13 pm:
Thought the hair stuff was funny. For a minute. Not three. Good topic for an internet video, but too much…
And then shoot most of the rest in downtown Chicago. Really?
Matt Murphy’s qualified because he’s tall. OK. I think States Attorney Suffredin tried that message…oh, wait.
Could be better.
- Just wondering - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 2:23 pm:
They took my old handle. Even I thought it wasn’t timely anymore.
- Bubs - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 2:35 pm:
I actually like it, so put me in the minority, as usual. But I, too, am stunned by a past State Chair calling himself an outsider.
For example, what does that say about his term as State Chairman of the GOP? That he was a no-show?
- Dnstate - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 2:57 pm:
10th Ward-That is why he will lose no one does know him as party leader, he did nothing of note to stand out when he had the chance to do something about any of those issues good or bad.
- Michelle Flaherty - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 3:16 pm:
I don’t think it’s accurate to call this an “ad.”
Surely he’s not going to do several minute media buys to run this thing out. My understanding is it’s to be played at announcement events, which don’t usually attract “regular” people.
Gee great, here’s an expensive “ad” telling you to get fired up about supporting a guy you already support.
And the claim of being an outsider is of the same credibility level as Blago’s claim of being an outsider.
If this airs, one of McKenna’s opponents can quickly turn it against him buy putting the same Blago hair on McKenna and run clips of Blago and McKenna both declaring themselves outsiders who’ll clean up Springfield.
It all reminds me of the guy who ran against Birkett in the primary who had the funny baby puking ads that the media went crazy over and thought surely this guys going to win.
The fact that I can’t remember his name should tell you (and Mr. McKenna) something.
- Anon - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 4:58 pm:
Something about that hair portion seemed familiar to me, and now I know what it is: It sounded like one of those documentary-type videos you see at a museum. Sleep-inducing narration to what should be material to fire up voters.
Clearly this is not a :30 TV spot. I don’t know who said it was, but the question was to rate it, and that’s what people have been doing.
I think it’s awful. You begin with a joke that might be funny for a few seconds but beat it into the ground to the extent that the ad is a joke before you get to the introductory part about him.
Clearly, claiming to be an outside is utterly ridiculous. The son of the Chairman of McDonalds and part owner of the Bears an outsider? Get real.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 5:46 pm:
yawn!
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 6:25 pm:
=====
Chop this bad boy into 30 second bites for TV…
=====
Yup. That might work, too.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 6:27 pm:
Anon, 5:46: a new handle…please!
- lake gop - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 6:48 pm:
They need to keep the stupid wig stunt out when they chop it up. Some of the Mckenna footage is ok. But the other stuff isn’t funny its just odd and awkward
- Suzanne - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 7:18 pm:
The wig gig was a funny snippet. Doesn’t evoke the sort of gravitas I want in a chief executive, regardless of their party affiliation. Still, I don’t want to discourage it. Just want it to be legit 3rd party fun.
There’s plenty to criticize here but others have covered most of it. Instead, I offer this: having run a family business myself, I heard the line about making a payroll. It resonated for me. Enough to vote for Andy McKenna? Unlikely. But it was more than enough for me to forgive him for taking a helmet-headed gag too far.
- Continuity Director - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 8:33 pm:
McKenna wore four different ties during the video. Was he going into Starbucks and spilling hot joe on himself so he had to change his ties every 5 minutes?
- short guy - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 9:24 pm:
Hey Murphy. Who cares that you’re 6′4″? Plummer is 6′8″ and it’s still an irrelivant fact.
- Will Girl - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:06 pm:
Different. At first I didn’t like the “hair” theme, but it is an attention grabber. I couldn’t help but think that Senator Murphy will need to keep his dark hair short during the campaign.
Funny, hubby and I were just discussing how quiet Andy is. In this ad his marketing folks picked up on his quiet demeanor and included that in his first ad. Andy will need to seem walk and talk like a Chief Executive to win the primary.
- Springfieldwatcher - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:14 pm:
He was a poor choice for chairman what makes antbody think he ne a good choice for Governor
- Chas - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:23 pm:
I know Andy is 52 but can’t he jog any better.
Matt Murphy is 6 foot 4 inches so is Andy a miget.
Andy has never run a business or created a job his father has.But what we all have learned is that some blood sucking consultants have found another sucker to scam.
- Gregor - Tuesday, Oct 27, 09 @ 10:43 pm:
I found the hair stuff funny and LOL’d in actuality at the golf ball. \\But I don’t think it works overall, and doesn’t transition well to the “serious” half.
If I were the media consultant, maybe I’d end that first half with a transition to a barber shop where the chair spins around and it’s Andy in it. The barber asks: “How do you want it?” And he comes back with a line about “I want it fixed. We need a lot of cutting. Cutting thru the gridlock and cutting spending, etc etc etc”) See, that could work like Hynes’ old “Ketchup” ad worked to give him a branding identity and a perception to voters that he had a personality.
I don’t think the hair thing works though, because by insinuating -everything” and -everyone- in Springfield is corrupt, he’s tarring his own guys with the same propecia applicator. After all, aren’t they the folks he has to work with to get anything done? weren’t they working with Blago all that time, or part of it? And aren’t some (dwindling) proportion of them Republicans?
- Robo - Wednesday, Oct 28, 09 @ 5:04 pm:
So you produce a piece for the Republican Primary ignoring many Republicans downstate, dissing Springfield and wandering around the Chicago Loop (lot of Republicans there)looking at El trains. Take out the hair and I think it might work!