52 Comments - Anon - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 12:20 pm: Not bad, but he sounds like a child. - OneMan - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 12:21 pm: Have to say I like it, also tweaks the ‘Andy is the only businessman’ thing a bit. - downstate hick - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 12:25 pm: Better than the McKenna and Hoffman adds. I rate it a B-. - Will County Woman - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 12:25 pm: I like this ad. I’ll give it an A- on substance and appearance. According to the most recent poll reform/corruption were very low (e.g., 3%) on the totem poll of voter concerns. So, maybe Adam should not have ended his ad on that message. - chitownhv - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 12:31 pm: Well executed, right up until you hear his voice. yikes! Sounds like he hasn’t even hit puberty. Does election law require him to speak the “I approve this ad”? - 47th Ward - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 12:38 pm: He almost had me with the Herscher roots part, a great little town filled with good people. And the Corn Bowl. But running for Governor the first time out of the block? Maybe a lower Constitutional office would have been a better fit for him. New ideas from new people? Blah. Carrying the flag like Superman? Ugh. Visually appealing, but not much substance. 5/10. - John Bak - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 12:38 pm: He’s got an impressive platform of job creation, budget reform, education and healthcare improvement. I like the pictures, the voice, what they say and his history of job creation stressed in this ad. I think they should do a similar one with city pictures because most of these pictures are by grain elevators and other farm-related backgrounds… - Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 12:39 pm: 8/10 Maybe speaking a little too quickly at the end. - Anon - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 12:43 pm: Is this on the air anywhere? Overall, I think the theme and ideas are good, but the execution is pretty amateurish. The flag thing is just ridiculous. And what’s his message? It’s all rushed - trying to fit too much into a short add and losing any point in the process. I get “Hersher” out of the ad. I guess if you’re from DuPage and want people to think you’re not from Chicagoland, that would be a decent message. Like the idea; Horrible Execution. C- - Will County Woman - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 12:43 pm: “Carrying the flag like Superman?”—47th Ward right on that. I’m lowering my grade on his ad to a B. - just sayin' - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 12:44 pm: I like the youngster. Just wish he had started with an office he could realistically win. Like all candidates he’s got an ego and I think it got the best of him. I think he’s headed for a funk on the day after, on Feb 3rd. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 12:50 pm: Stick to the question, please. - I'm just saying - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 12:54 pm: The flag bit was obviously put together as an afterthought and I thought it looked really stupid….. - John Bambenek - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 12:54 pm: Yeah, carrying the flag, yuck. Now if he was carrying Jim Edgar, THAT would be something! - cassandra - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 12:57 pm: C-. And I really like him. I’d love to see him as governor although maybe he aimed too high on the political food chain, given his lack of a famous political family name. Only the Madigans and Strogers can walk right in. But anyway, the ad seemsa bit bland to me. Pep it up and add some humor. Stick with the positive though. - Mountain Man - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 1:00 pm: Not the best ad I’ve ever seen. I’ve lived in rural Illinois and I’ve never seen anyone walking down a country road carrying a flag. He’s taking the very controversial position of wanting more jobs for the state….that’ll lose him some votes. Finally, he sounds like a muppet…. - Skeptical Cynic - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 1:05 pm: Could someone do a side by side of the Obama 08 logo and Andy A’s orb type logo? Do they look similar? - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 1:05 pm: I should’ve put this at the top, but try watching it with the sound turned off. - I'm just saying - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 1:09 pm: I did as per your advice on the other one, I didnt’ care for it…… - Big Policy Nerd - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 1:13 pm: B. Would have been a B+ if he didn’t wave the flag at the end of it. But I guess that appeals to the Illinos Review and the tea party crowd. Maybe… This guy is actually running a campaign. He has been running ads on Fox News and has got a field office in Oak Park. The problem is he looks so damn young. As an old man, I wouldn’t vote for him because the ad makes him look more like a guy who is more ready to run for president of Bradley University (nothing against Bradley University) rather than someone who has enough experience to actually be Governor. These ad’s are definitely better than McKenna’s. Simply running against Blago ain’t going to win you a GOP primary or the election. - A Citizen - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 1:14 pm: Sound off - Shazam! Where’d the flag come from? He’s bloody magic. - JonShibleyFan - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 1:15 pm: Sheesh, ragging on the dude’s voice? I think using stills is often a decent alternative to having low-production video. BUT…two things cross my mind: 1) the stop-motion animation thing…it’s kind of distracting - and a little cheesy 2) where are other people? I see Adam on a farm, but no farmer. I see Adam talking about a small town, but no small town residents. I see Adam talking about jobs, but no workers. It’s all about Adam. And the flag thing is cheesy as heck - even for a Republican campaign. - JonShibleyFan - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 1:16 pm: “Now if he was carrying Jim Edgar, THAT would be something! ” Lol. - Obamas' Puppy - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 1:28 pm: ==Could someone do a side by side of the Obama 08 logo and Andy A’s orb type logo? Do they look similar?== Almost identical. Don’t tell any of the Hannity wannabes about this revelation. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 1:28 pm: ===Sheesh, ragging on the dude’s voice?=== It’s why Peter Fitzgerald didn’t speak in his TV ads. - Middle of the Road - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 1:41 pm: Proof positive that helium is the second most abundant element in the universe. - curtis - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 1:44 pm: He looks small and weak in this ad. His squeaky voice adds to that perception… - Nick - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 1:50 pm: I think the flag part was a little much but not bad. 6/10 How much money does he have behind this ad? Dillard only has like $100 grand right? If its only that much than it will be worth about as much as Dillards, nada. - too soon - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 1:52 pm: Wasn’t he just a salesmen for his company and not the manager? - Obamarama - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 1:54 pm: ===He looks small and weak in this ad. His squeaky voice adds to that perception…=== Agreed. He looks and sounds like a gubernatorial candidate’s kid. He had a good idea by showing he came from a small town and took a business and made it successful. But as was previously mentioned, the ad was better envisioned than it was executed. Lose the flag carrying sequence–he doesn’t need anymore help coming off as a bit odd–and throw in a picture/clip with some PEOPLE or his family. 6.5 - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 1:55 pm: ===I think the flag part was a little much but not bad.=== Considering that the ad is running exclusively on Fox News cable, I think, the flag is probably a good idea. - JonShibleyFan - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 1:59 pm: I actually think his voice sounds like a pitchier version of Rod. - KeepSmiling - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 2:04 pm: 8. I like it. I even think the flag works fine in the overall context of a small town guy who has succeeded in the American Dream and now… now he wants to give back by serving as Governor. However, his voice in the ad is somewhat ear-piercing (could he please redo, speaking a little lower?) and his name is a little hard on the ears. Overall, its a clean, classy ad potraying a clean, classy heartland guy. - Carl Nyberg - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 2:05 pm: He’s moved from his one-note goo-goo campaign to talking about jobs and the economy. It’s better than the other ads running in Illinois this cycle. Not especially memorable, but not offensive or bad. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 2:06 pm: Very nice, rural market ad that goes over the top at the end with the flag. One should respect the flag enough not to wrap themselves in it for partisan purposes. It’s shown earlier in the spot, already. The aspirations for prosperity and respectability are very strong. Well chosen words. You can quibble about selection of music and voiceover, but the production values are strong. I give it an 8 out of 10. But, all due respect, that last name is a mouthful. He needs a nickname, like Adam Andy, something like that. - curtis - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 2:10 pm: To date, as a whole, the advertising for the Republican candidates running for Governor has been a huge disappointment… Tell me, what’s worse: McKenna (the best creative money can buy) comes up with: ‘hair’ and ‘I’m an outsider’… Andrzejewski says, ‘no, I’m the outsider’… Schillerstrom’s ridiculous ‘I’m the most interesting leader’… Or Dillard, who’s unique selling proposition is… ‘I worked with Edgar’??? - John Bambenek - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 2:13 pm: What’s the point of a nickname if it isn’t on the ballot? For instance, come Feb 2nd, voters aren’t going to see “Jim Edgar’s Chief of Staff”… - shore - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 2:19 pm: when you are behind like he is you need something that will stick. I don’t see this or his campaign sticking past february 2. But he’ll always have warsaw. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 2:22 pm: Interesting to see the commercials listed the way curtis did in his post. Thought that came to mind: McKenna’s and Schillerstrom’s obviously have a recurring theme (kind of risky, maybe, if the theme fails). - 10th Indy - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 3:13 pm: I always do a sound off review - and this ad looks great - a solid B. The flag was a little hokey but the overall image presented is down-to-earth, good looking, ernest and well, wholesome. Just the message for the audience he is targeting. - Easy - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 3:32 pm: do these politicians believe Republican primary voters only and exclusively watch FOX news? this buying strategy by AA and KD is absolutely freaking nuts - wordslinger - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 3:42 pm: –do these politicians believe Republican primary voters only and exclusively watch FOX news?– No. But, unfortunately, they know it’s a pretty effective buy. The GOP is going to have to work that out one way or the other some day. - nortsider - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 4:07 pm: Adam’s target is conservatives Fox is the perfect venue to reach them.I havw also heard Adams on Rush between the two he hits a big part of his target, the “Moderates” have to have a larger demo and have to spend huge amounts on network media and in other markets. As far as Adambeing behind we’ll see if he hit his target, Brady can’t go on the air so the conservative vote is all Adams. - Steve - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 4:12 pm: I haven’t been to Hinsdale in a while, how’s their corn crop doing this year? Standing in front of a flag waving in the background: fine. Holding the flag…on a pole…by yourself: weird. Adam would have helped himself by not speaking in this commercial. - David Ormsby - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 4:58 pm: Visuals good. Voice bad. Really bad. - CircularFiringSquad - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 5:49 pm: The little Martian voice kinda grows on you What happened to the earlier comment that found this ad superior to OutsiderAndy & Mutt Murphy hairball stuff? - Responsa - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 8:11 pm: Just a gentle reminder that there’s lots of “downstate” in Illinois and there’s lots of Republicans downstate. He will probably have several ads out during the election cycle. But if one views this particular ad as being created for the Primary and for a “beyond Chicago” target audience, it is pretty good. Should not be seen as too worrisome for him that a Lakefront high rise dwelling Democrat might find it sappy and unsophisticated. It is what it is and I give it an 8 out of 10. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 8:17 pm: I thought Adam A. out in the cornfields was a whole lot more interesting than Andy McKenna walking around aimlessly in the Loop. Where is he going, anway? Both McKenna and Hoffman seem intent on trying to win their nominations without any interaction, even staged, among any of Illinois’ millions of citizens. It’s very odd to have two of them doing it at the same time. - Levois - Wednesday, Dec 2, 09 @ 8:53 pm: The photography at the end hasn’t been seen since the 1980s. I think I like the message so I would give him at least a B-. - MY 2 CENTS - Thursday, Dec 3, 09 @ 6:25 am: I think using “conservative” in place of republican would be a good idea; the two arent the same anymore. People cringe when they hear Republican, they seem to light up when they hear conservative. Republican seems to mean = “lying moron” Conservative seems to mean =”tax cutting, job creating, freedom” my 2 cents - VanillaMan - Thursday, Dec 3, 09 @ 9:17 am: Its totally predicable. It is one thing to carry a flag down a rural road - it is another to be seen walking down Michigan Avenue carrying a flag. If this guy wants to make a statement, he needs to do it right. Finally, who is this guy? I’m not voting for a newby. How about running for a local office first? - T.J. - Thursday, Dec 3, 09 @ 9:45 am: I’m seriously thinking of supporting him, which I wouldn’t have believed several months ago. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.