Titled “Tough,” the 30-second spot will begin airing Monday as part of a large, nearly $750,000 ad buy of broadcast Chicago TV stations.
Showing images of Emanuel talking and greeting people around the city as part of his five-week ramp-up to the mayoral run he formally announced Saturday, Emanuel narrates, saying Chicago is “at a crossroads” and needs a mayor to make difficult but necessary decisions.
* Axelrod on whether Obama will campaign for Rahm Emanuel for mayor: “Well, the president has made clear what his view of Rahm is. He said he was an excellent chief-of-staff, thought he would be an excellent mayor. Whether he involves himself actively in this campaign is a matter that we haven’t yet decided. But I think his view of Rahm is very clear.”
I didn’t like the ad at all.
The voice seemed completely disconnected from the visuals. It seemed odd.
And Rahm’s voice also came off as clipped and uncomfortable and the music is completely disconnected from everything else.
Watching it a second time, the camera work is also odd.
Strange to watch and to listen to.
YOu can sure tell while his name my still be on the door, Axelrod isn’t around. That was one weak spot. Filmed while it was warm out, now it’s cold so it’s hard to relate. He waves across a street like he is a movie star. The voice over is weak. The music is way to soft for a tough city like city. I have to say, I thought it made him look soft. If they are trying to soften him up, it would work.
The font Emanuel is using is quite a bit narrower than Gotham.
I though it was a good lead-off ad that hit all the right notes. Of course, it doesn’t address the meat of the City’s problems. But, of course, it doesn’t intend or pretend to.
Methinks Obama will have his hands full in the forseeable future dealing with a majority of hostile congress critters…anyways, he should not campaign for Emanuel for a compelling number of reasons including: It won’t help either man to acheive the independent of each other status perception that could be useful right now, and neither needs to be seen as the architect of further potential blunders…a bit of distance would be a very good thing…
BTW, according to the NYT this morning, it was the presence of Larry Summers in the WH that contributed to a less than concilatory/successful economic team in the Obama WH in the first two years.
Obama and Emanuel don’t need to meddle in each other’s sphere of implied or real influence at this critical juncture in their political careers…
I liked it. I thought the stated message really hit one of Emanuel’s strengths — that he’s perceived as being tough. But the unstated message of the visuals was that he also is committed to the retail politics, baby-kissing and hand-shaking that hasn’t always been a part of his portfolio. I thought it was warm and likable — a good intro spot.
Good intro spot. “Frank talk” feel to it, while also portraying Rahm as warm and friendly, concerned about the Chicago he will leave to his kids. Nothing flashy, no fancy overproduction necessary. B+/A-
Our choice: a great city or a second tier city? Powerful language that says it all. I thought it was a good start as an introductory ad for Rahm. I seriously wonder how many people outside of political junkies really know that much about him or about the alleged Rahmbo image. Was he not fairly well accepted/respected by his constituents when he was a congressman? Being chief of staff to a president is a whole different job, which calls into play rather different relationships, temperament and “skills” than those he would use as a big city mayor.
(Disclosure-I cannot vote in this mayoral election)
Axelrod just presided, for the president, over one of the worst Dem. Party butt-kickings in decades.
But now Old Droopity Dawg is trying to bigfoot the Chicago mayoral from his West Wing office.
Get rid of him now at the White House. He’s been in way over his head. Obama cut taxes, TARP got paid back, GM and Chrysler are back on the move etc., and this guy can’t sell any of it. He can’t beat the Michelle Bachmans of the world.
W, if you read his book, is a lot better salesman for Obama than Axelrod.
Wordslinger: I couldn’t agree more…Axelrod IS in way over his head…he belongs back in Chicago running campaigns…not advising the Prez…it’s been fun Dave, but Barack cannot “afford” anymore of your policy expertise…Axelrod’s whole look and mo just doesn’t work in DC…
Well, if we’re discussing weak Chicago “advisors” doing mis-advising in the West Wing, and who really need to come home, I would have to single out Valerie even more so than Axelrod. Dave at least can speak/spin cogently about policy on the Sunday morning shows. Valerie cannot, and to my knowledge has not been allowed to appear on TV in that format in several months.
RE appears soft and caring, just what he wants us to believe! Maybe his expertise he developed in DC (i.e., making deals) will serve him well in Chicago politics. No doubt he’s already promising each interest group what he would do for them if they help him get elected.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, Nov 15, 10 @ 4:57 pm:
Bad ad.
And I’ll tell you why.
Forget the crappy voice-over, disconnected from the images on screen.
Forget that nobody wants to listen to Rahm talk for 30 seconds.
The underlying message of the ad is that if you want to keep Chicago heading in the same direction, you should vote for Rahm.
WHAT?!?
Rahm, I know you’ve been in DC for two years, but folks don’t love Mayor Daley like they used to.
People want CHANGE this year, and the candidate that best speaks to that will win.
If South Park was making their musical movie, “Bigger Longer and Uncut” today, they would have Rahm Emanuel doing the “Uncle F***ka” song in the opening scene, wouldn’t they?
Because when I see this guy, I can just hear him singing, “Shut your f***** face, you Uncle F***ka!” while dancing in the middle of Lake Shore Drive.
Meeks, please. I’ll take the Reverend if Chicago is supposed to have a prayer in our future.
- State Sen. Clay Davis - Monday, Nov 15, 10 @ 12:02 pm:
Sure looks like the Obama for America font right?
Good intro ad. It nails the key issue to me: Will we continue to be a great city, or a second-tier city?
- JakeCP - Monday, Nov 15, 10 @ 12:04 pm:
It’s a good commercial, very positive.
- Jeff - Monday, Nov 15, 10 @ 12:08 pm:
Rich - will we start seeing candidate filings on the board of elections websites today?
- Bardo2 - Monday, Nov 15, 10 @ 12:14 pm:
I’d give it a C, at best. It seems bland to me. But, it’ll beat what the others put on the air….. which is likely nothing.
- Skeeter - Monday, Nov 15, 10 @ 12:17 pm:
I didn’t like the ad at all.
The voice seemed completely disconnected from the visuals. It seemed odd.
And Rahm’s voice also came off as clipped and uncomfortable and the music is completely disconnected from everything else.
Watching it a second time, the camera work is also odd.
Strange to watch and to listen to.
- Ann - Monday, Nov 15, 10 @ 12:23 pm:
It seems to me that the smartest thing it does is take his biggest negative–that he’s a thug–and spin it to a positive.
- Skeeter - Monday, Nov 15, 10 @ 12:24 pm:
Is there a link to see who has filed? I searched the Chicago Board of Elections site and could not find one.
Just got an e-mail from Fioretti’s people though. He filed for Alderman.
- Tom - Monday, Nov 15, 10 @ 12:26 pm:
YOu can sure tell while his name my still be on the door, Axelrod isn’t around. That was one weak spot. Filmed while it was warm out, now it’s cold so it’s hard to relate. He waves across a street like he is a movie star. The voice over is weak. The music is way to soft for a tough city like city. I have to say, I thought it made him look soft. If they are trying to soften him up, it would work.
- dave - Monday, Nov 15, 10 @ 12:36 pm:
I thought it was weak. Good message, but bad production. It isn’t convincing to me at all.
- MrJM - Monday, Nov 15, 10 @ 12:42 pm:
@State Sen. Clay Davis
The official font of the Obama campaign was Gotham: http://www.helveticafilm.com/newblog/2008/02/19/a-font-we-can-believe-in/
The font Emanuel is using is quite a bit narrower than Gotham.
I though it was a good lead-off ad that hit all the right notes. Of course, it doesn’t address the meat of the City’s problems. But, of course, it doesn’t intend or pretend to.
– MrJM
- Niles Township - Monday, Nov 15, 10 @ 12:48 pm:
Good intro ad, especially for Rahm. Nice and soft.
- Loop Lady - Monday, Nov 15, 10 @ 1:07 pm:
Methinks Obama will have his hands full in the forseeable future dealing with a majority of hostile congress critters…anyways, he should not campaign for Emanuel for a compelling number of reasons including: It won’t help either man to acheive the independent of each other status perception that could be useful right now, and neither needs to be seen as the architect of further potential blunders…a bit of distance would be a very good thing…
BTW, according to the NYT this morning, it was the presence of Larry Summers in the WH that contributed to a less than concilatory/successful economic team in the Obama WH in the first two years.
Obama and Emanuel don’t need to meddle in each other’s sphere of implied or real influence at this critical juncture in their political careers…
- soccermom - Monday, Nov 15, 10 @ 1:22 pm:
I liked it. I thought the stated message really hit one of Emanuel’s strengths — that he’s perceived as being tough. But the unstated message of the visuals was that he also is committed to the retail politics, baby-kissing and hand-shaking that hasn’t always been a part of his portfolio. I thought it was warm and likable — a good intro spot.
- Ray del Camino - Monday, Nov 15, 10 @ 1:29 pm:
Good intro spot. “Frank talk” feel to it, while also portraying Rahm as warm and friendly, concerned about the Chicago he will leave to his kids. Nothing flashy, no fancy overproduction necessary. B+/A-
- JCIII - Monday, Nov 15, 10 @ 1:37 pm:
So no one else thinks its odd that McKenna is backing Meeks?
- Rich Miller - Monday, Nov 15, 10 @ 1:46 pm:
===So no one else thinks its odd that McKenna is backing Meeks? ===
McKenna was a top backer of Meeks’ school reform bill.
- Responsa - Monday, Nov 15, 10 @ 1:59 pm:
B+
Our choice: a great city or a second tier city? Powerful language that says it all. I thought it was a good start as an introductory ad for Rahm. I seriously wonder how many people outside of political junkies really know that much about him or about the alleged Rahmbo image. Was he not fairly well accepted/respected by his constituents when he was a congressman? Being chief of staff to a president is a whole different job, which calls into play rather different relationships, temperament and “skills” than those he would use as a big city mayor.
(Disclosure-I cannot vote in this mayoral election)
- soccermom - Monday, Nov 15, 10 @ 2:39 pm:
I also like the understated, people-oriented way it sets up the rest of the campaign — schools, mass transit, public safety. Nice.
- wordslinger - Monday, Nov 15, 10 @ 3:08 pm:
Axelrod just presided, for the president, over one of the worst Dem. Party butt-kickings in decades.
But now Old Droopity Dawg is trying to bigfoot the Chicago mayoral from his West Wing office.
Get rid of him now at the White House. He’s been in way over his head. Obama cut taxes, TARP got paid back, GM and Chrysler are back on the move etc., and this guy can’t sell any of it. He can’t beat the Michelle Bachmans of the world.
W, if you read his book, is a lot better salesman for Obama than Axelrod.
- Loop Lady - Monday, Nov 15, 10 @ 3:36 pm:
Wordslinger: I couldn’t agree more…Axelrod IS in way over his head…he belongs back in Chicago running campaigns…not advising the Prez…it’s been fun Dave, but Barack cannot “afford” anymore of your policy expertise…Axelrod’s whole look and mo just doesn’t work in DC…
- Responsa - Monday, Nov 15, 10 @ 4:34 pm:
Well, if we’re discussing weak Chicago “advisors” doing mis-advising in the West Wing, and who really need to come home, I would have to single out Valerie even more so than Axelrod. Dave at least can speak/spin cogently about policy on the Sunday morning shows. Valerie cannot, and to my knowledge has not been allowed to appear on TV in that format in several months.
- ChicagoDem - Monday, Nov 15, 10 @ 4:43 pm:
RE appears soft and caring, just what he wants us to believe! Maybe his expertise he developed in DC (i.e., making deals) will serve him well in Chicago politics. No doubt he’s already promising each interest group what he would do for them if they help him get elected.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, Nov 15, 10 @ 4:57 pm:
Bad ad.
And I’ll tell you why.
Forget the crappy voice-over, disconnected from the images on screen.
Forget that nobody wants to listen to Rahm talk for 30 seconds.
The underlying message of the ad is that if you want to keep Chicago heading in the same direction, you should vote for Rahm.
WHAT?!?
Rahm, I know you’ve been in DC for two years, but folks don’t love Mayor Daley like they used to.
People want CHANGE this year, and the candidate that best speaks to that will win.
- VanillaMan - Monday, Nov 15, 10 @ 10:07 pm:
If South Park was making “Bigg
- VanillaMan - Monday, Nov 15, 10 @ 10:14 pm:
If South Park was making their musical movie, “Bigger Longer and Uncut” today, they would have Rahm Emanuel doing the “Uncle F***ka” song in the opening scene, wouldn’t they?
Because when I see this guy, I can just hear him singing, “Shut your f***** face, you Uncle F***ka!” while dancing in the middle of Lake Shore Drive.
Meeks, please. I’ll take the Reverend if Chicago is supposed to have a prayer in our future.