Rate the new cable ad
Monday, Feb 24, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From a press release…
Republican 11th Congressional District candidate Bert Miller has launched his first television commercial, designed to better acquaint voters with his background and policy initiatives. The positive ad focuses on Miller’s background as a manufacturer and job creation.
“I’m Bert Miller,” the 30 second ad begins. “I manufacture plastic lids right here in Naperville.” His business, Phoenix Closures, makes plastic lids and caps for bottles and jars. He goes on to point out that all of the raw materials his company uses are from North America.
“After experiencing what Washington has done to make it harder for businesses to create jobs, I decided to run for Congress,” Miller states in the commercial. “I may not be a slick politician, but I know a thing or two about what it takes to put Americans back to work.”
The commercial will air on cable television channels reaching homes in the 11th Congressional District. Miller is seeking the Republican nomination to run against Democratic incumbent Bill Foster in November.
* Rate it…
Miller is running against state Rep. Darlene Senger, Ian Bayne, Craig Robbins and Chris Balkema for the right to challenge incumbent Democrat Bill Foster.
Also, there’s no relation between myself and Miller. We merely share a very common surname.
- wordslinger - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 11:57 am:
Very nice spot for a GOP Congressional primary. Hits a lot of fiscal notes.
Plus — he asks for the vote. So many candidate talking-head spots do not. They get so busy talking about how great they are, they don’t humble themselves to ask for the vote.
Always ask for the vote.
- Just Saying - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 12:00 pm:
Like the American-made angle. Nice change form the usual dark side of politics.
- Jerry Hubbard - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 12:02 pm:
Miller has shown ability to raise money, while the others in the race have not. The ad is very good considering the targeted audience, and assuming he goes unopposed on cable tv, Miller has a chance to get more votes than Darlene Senger.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 12:03 pm:
Solid “A”,
Good intro, “local” (Naperville), plain speaking, asks for your vote, and no hyperbole so you take him seriously as the 30 seconds roll by.
Good visual at workplace, and workplace “backdrop” continuing through the 30 seconds kept the focus on the message. Nothing is worse than “work, play, family, handshake” foursome motif in 30 seconds; at work, period.
Solid “A”
- Siriusly - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 12:04 pm:
positive, good looking ad - I give it an A-
of course Foster will seize on this in the general because Miller is a polluting plastics manufacturer
- Matlock - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 12:05 pm:
Initially mistook it for one of those Fred Thompson reverse mortgage ads. I just can’t get enough of old guys talking straight to camera. Snoozer.
- wordslinger - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 12:08 pm:
–Initially mistook it for one of those Fred Thompson reverse mortgage ads.–
When you consider the most loyal demographic in a GOP congressional primary, that’s not a negative.
- Sunshine - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 12:09 pm:
Nice ad.
I do notice, however, that a lot of people mention “American made” rather than made in the US of A. That is because ‘American’ encompasses North America, including Canada, South America, and Central America.
Just an observation because, though we mine a lot of raw material, we still get a lot from our neighbors in “America.”
- Just Saying - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 12:10 pm:
Matlock: The average age of a voter in a Republican Primary is 58+ years old. I think those who made this spot know that.
- Concerned Voter - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 12:13 pm:
A political ad without an attack or a backhanded compliment, a nice change of pace.
- Samurai - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 12:16 pm:
An “A” He comes across well, and tells us who he is and what he’s about. “I am Bert miller and I manufacture plastic lids.”
- Anonymous - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 12:17 pm:
Good ad. Straightforward. No blatant attack strategy. Most importantly, he makes a good appearance.
- Matlock - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 12:17 pm:
I get demographics, but he ain’t selling reverse mortgages. His pitch is that he can go and fix things. This ad isn’t full of energy, IMHO
- Wumpus - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 12:19 pm:
Not wacky enough ,reasonable and compentent F–! Hmm, gay marriage is greenlit and then some guy names Miller gets promoted by Rich Miller! Hmmm! (Only a joke, not a mean spirited insult).
- Smoggie - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 12:25 pm:
I also give it an A.
Nice local approach and a nice reference to why he’s running.
- OneMan - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 12:42 pm:
Nice ad..
He hands out caps with his name on them with a york peppermint patty inside to play to the lid thing.
Have to say he comes across much better than Senger in person. He seems genuinely happy to see talk to you where you kind of get a vibe from her that she is kind of annoyed she has to campaign.
- Formerly Known As... - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 12:42 pm:
Good visuals, clear message, explains why he’s running and asks for the vote.
A solid and confident ad. One of the better ones seen this cycle in Illinois.
Bert Miller gets an A on this one.
- Mokenavince - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 12:43 pm:
Great ad told you what he stands for, and did not
knock his opponents.
I’d vote for the guy.
- Dan Q. Public - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 12:43 pm:
I didn’t know Pat Quinn was running for Congress! JK, but seriously he sent me a mail piece with him and Pat Quinn in the same picture and it was mindblowing. I can’t look at him without thinking of PQ, he even likes the same lame striped ties.
- just me - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 12:50 pm:
It’s all about the message, made in the USA, and putting people to work. He is a gentleman and a successful businessman, could we be that lucky? He’s for real.
- MissSmartyPants - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 12:52 pm:
Very well done without any negativity against fellow R’s. Well done.
- Will Caskey - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 12:56 pm:
Not a bad ad at all.
- Down the Middle - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 12:57 pm:
Perfect tone; likable guy; really well lit. Anyone know who produced it?
- Anon - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 12:58 pm:
I think the most critical question is whether or not the peanut butter he’s holding is crunchy or creamy…
- Priceless... - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 1:02 pm:
I like the ad, it’s positive and to the point. Seems like a likable guy.
I looked him up and like his profile too… a non-politician, with real life experience in creating jobs, past chairman of the Illinois Manufacturers Association and a board of director with the National Association of Manufactures. DC could use a guy like this.
- John Lennon - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 1:43 pm:
The commercial is tough to swallow, like when I spoonful peanut butter and it gets lodged somewhere in my esophagus. I only say that because all political commercials are tough to swallow.
- A guy... - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 2:03 pm:
I trust this guy enough to buy a lid from him.
A.
- Anonymous - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 2:06 pm:
Good Job
- Big Muddy - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 2:14 pm:
Foster, Senger and Miller. Could this race not find ANYONE with some energy? Snoozefest… and a boring ad to answer the post.
- wordslinger - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 2:23 pm:
–I trust this guy enough to buy a lid from him.
A.–
A line worthy of Harold Ramis!
- anonymoose - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 2:42 pm:
Lacks energy…but he looks good. Give it a B. Put Mr. Bert Miller and incumbent Mr. Foster (the zzz-scientist)in a debate, I volunteer to go up on stage and hold a mirror under their noses to see if I need to notify next-of-kin.
- Walker - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 2:51 pm:
Good intro.
- West Side the Best Side - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 3:49 pm:
He is a businessman people can relate to because he makes real objects that require workers, as oppossed to a vulture capitalist who just makes money without regards for creating or destroying real workers’ jobs. Now that I got that rant out of the way, good ad.
- W.S. Walcott - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 4:19 pm:
Anyone, I know, who has met Bert, thinks he’s genuinely a good guy. If he gets some traction out of this I expect someone to bring up that his business is essentially fleeing Illinois (unions) and expanding in other states (non-union). That’s likely not an issue in the primary, but he ought to be careful portraying himself as a businessman/job creator - when some would say he’s been doing most of his job creating elsewhere…
Overall he seems straightforward and above the madness, which is accurate, and nice to see from a candidate, republican or democrat.
- A guy... - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 4:25 pm:
Thanks Slinger. If we keep being this civil, people will begin to talk. Invading the old Yugoslavia did turn out to be easier than raiding Wisconsin.
- wordslinger - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 5:17 pm:
– If we keep being this civil, people will begin to talk. Invading the old Yugoslavia did turn out to be easier than raiding Wisconsin.–
I’m always civil, daddio.
But facts are cool, as is empirical knowledge, and my opinions are informed by them.
- Timmeh - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 5:38 pm:
I don’t think energy would help this ad much. This guy seems cool and collected. Pumping it up more might take him off his game and make it seem insincere.
- wordslinger - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 6:44 pm:
It’s a great intro ad for a amiling, Fox Valley GOP businessman who wants to talk about business and budgets, and not what’s going on in the OB/GYN studio or bedroom.
I can dig that. That’s the Illinois GOP guy I grew up with. That’s the Illinois GOP I want to come home to.
- Jack - Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 8:24 pm:
Warm and friendly message, however I consider Chris Balkema a more solid candidate to replace Foster.
- Elaine - Tuesday, Feb 25, 14 @ 8:51 am:
This guy is pro-abortion, pro-tax increases, and pro-Obama. He even gave money to Obama and Blagojevich to get them in Office! And he wants Republicans to vote for him because he puts up a boring ad about plastic lids? Unfortunately for him, we are not as dumb as he seems to think we are.