* Democratic attorney general candidate Aaron Goldstein hasn’t raised much money on his own ($6500 last quarter), but he did loan himself $185,000 and now he wants to spend it…
Aaron Goldstein’s campaign for Illinois Attorney General has released a preview of its new television commercial, entitled “Standing Next to You.” It is part of an aggressive $100,000 ad campaign which will be seen on broadcast TV, cable TV and digital media throughout the entire state beginning today. The commercial will air on CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS and NBC as well as local media in markets in all of Illinois, such as Rock Island, Champaign, Carbondale, Chicago, Springfield and many more.
“We want people throughout the state who are frustrated with the status quo—politics dominated by big money, big corporations and political insiders, at the expense of everyday Illinoisans—to understand our bold progressive message,” said Goldstein. “Our campaign is about returning power to those who haven’t had a voice, and bringing fairness and justice to everyone, not just powerful special interests. I will be the People’s Defender. I will stand with the people of Illinois.”
The ad features Goldstein, who is a career public defender and civil rights attorney with the most trial experience in this race, representing clients who feel the legal and criminal justice system is rigged against them. The ad also shows Goldstein with his family: his wife Nicole, also a public defender, and their two lovely daughters.
Goldstein is running for Illinois Attorney General on a platform that includes reforming the criminal justice and police systems, including legalizing marijuana and ending the racist drug war, fighting big-money politics and public corruption, and defending Illinois against the extremist right-wing policies of the Trump administration. As Attorney General, one of his first actions will be to establish a Public Integrity Bureau within the Attorney General’s office, whose sole function will be to investigate governmental corruption and hold accountable those public officials who exploit and manipulate the system for the select few.
Sorry, but a $100,000 statewide media buy is in no way, shape or form “aggressive.” $100,000 in this state will not even have the impact of spitting into the wind.
He might’ve done himself more good by holding a press conference to give that $100K to charity
“Standing Next To You” is a far too easy for his opponents to use against him. All they need is a picture of him standing next to Blago regardless of Goldstein’s assertion that everyone deserves to be defended. https://tinyurl.com/yb23rtzd
This ad is awful, in an 8-way race and with very limited resources you need to really stand out and that ad completely fails to do that. This is the worst ad since Chuy standing in the snow.
And…the ad isn’t bad at all. It’s better than the early efforts of many others, including JB’s. That amount of money just doesn’t get it done. But the ad is a strong pass. It introduces an interesting guy with a beautiful integrated family and some strong statements. As Sling said, many aren’t relevant to the job, but they are agreeable stands and views.
- Just Observing - Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:38 am:
I always feel terrible when candidates that have no chance spend that kind of money.
{Sigh} That ad does nothing to motivate voters… He should have used that piece as a social media intro piece and saved the $100k media buy for a more effective ad.
Aaron has a message and a visual image he wanted to put out there. Yeah, at that level of buy it’s not going to be seen by very many voters. But give the guy a break. In the annals of intro ads it’s a decent intro ad. B.
So bad. He’s a decent guy but this ad is so awful. And isn’t it the same guy at :17 looking sad and shaking his head who looks happy while nodding at :21. Just weird.
Whomever produced this add owes Goldstein a full refund. Thank God he only wasted $100,000 on this & nobody will ever remember seeing it. “Aggressive?” Lordy, Lordy…
Surprised at some of the comments, I thought the ad was different, not your typical super polished political ad. I liked it. Not sure if he has enough money to win but I think it’s a smart move to go on TV now before the Pritzker-Rauner avalanche.
Someone just sent me a link to this and said it was fantastic, I thought so to. Tired of whatever Madigan wants to shove down our mouth. Go get em Mr Aaron.
Solid ad from lefty Goldstein. Simple message, he is a defender. Can a defender when the AG race? That will be difficult but I like the aggressiveness in spending first. Ad, 8 of 10.
- Jack Kemp - Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:08 am:
That is a really, really bad ad.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:09 am:
Godawful ad. Dan Proft quality, even.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:12 am:
Didn’t he get robbed while filming this? Now that would be compelling video. Too bad they didn’t get that on camera.
Also, I think they stole his camera so this is probably the only ad they can run.
- Anonish - Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:17 am:
Where do you look up info on ad buys?
- SammyG - Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:22 am:
I like it. Basic intro, keeps on message, and more interesting than the usual trite catchphrases.
The music was a little loud, but I’m sure they’ll fix that on the second run.
- Anon221 - Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:25 am:
“Standing Next To You” is a far too easy for his opponents to use against him. All they need is a picture of him standing next to Blago regardless of Goldstein’s assertion that everyone deserves to be defended. https://tinyurl.com/yb23rtzd
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:26 am:
Not a bad intro. The AG office doesn’t really have anything to do with what he’s talking about, but that’s standard in Illinois campaigns.
$100K isn’t going to buy much name recognition.
- AdGuy - Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:28 am:
This ad is awful, in an 8-way race and with very limited resources you need to really stand out and that ad completely fails to do that. This is the worst ad since Chuy standing in the snow.
- A guy - Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:35 am:
He’s buying his way into 8th place.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:36 am:
Running that ad downstate with the Chicago skyline, city streets and talk of Chicago public schools…prolly not the most persuasive visuals, lol.
- Bad Ad - Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:36 am:
So generic. Was one of the candidate’s children playing the piano?
This one was like missing a free throw shot or the kick for the extra point after a touchdown. Instantly forgettable.
- Just Observing - Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:37 am:
=== “Standing Next To You” is a far too easy for his opponents to use against him. All they need is a picture of him standing next to Blago… ===
His opponents would be doing him a favor my giving him the attention he otherwise will not be receiving in the race.
- A guy - Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:38 am:
And…the ad isn’t bad at all. It’s better than the early efforts of many others, including JB’s. That amount of money just doesn’t get it done. But the ad is a strong pass. It introduces an interesting guy with a beautiful integrated family and some strong statements. As Sling said, many aren’t relevant to the job, but they are agreeable stands and views.
- Just Observing - Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:38 am:
I always feel terrible when candidates that have no chance spend that kind of money.
- SaulGoodman - Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:40 am:
I like the message a lot… but the production is poor, and the ad is pretty boring.
Also - if this ad went up in a month, no one would be talking about it. But he got his own post, so it bought him something.
- Ron - Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:41 am:
Why is this guy even running?
- Sigh - Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:41 am:
{Sigh} That ad does nothing to motivate voters… He should have used that piece as a social media intro piece and saved the $100k media buy for a more effective ad.
- Responsa - Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 10:51 am:
Aaron has a message and a visual image he wanted to put out there. Yeah, at that level of buy it’s not going to be seen by very many voters. But give the guy a break. In the annals of intro ads it’s a decent intro ad. B.
- Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 11:06 am:
So bad. He’s a decent guy but this ad is so awful. And isn’t it the same guy at :17 looking sad and shaking his head who looks happy while nodding at :21. Just weird.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 11:13 am:
===But give the guy a break===
Why?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 11:16 am:
The CFE Rule is in full effect here.
If you have less money in your account then Citizens for Edgar and you’re running statewide, I can’t take you, even in passing, seriously.
He’s on the ballot. Good for him.
- Boone’s is Back - Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 11:34 am:
===He might’ve done himself more good by holding a press conference to give that $100K to charity===
LOL
- stargril - Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 2:23 pm:
Aaron is a great guy but this was a terrible ad. That money could have been spent better. Poor quality production.
- Patronize - Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 2:59 pm:
Seems to me that he is trying to exploit his family. Vote for me because my wife and adopted daughters are African American.
- McLovin' - Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 4:39 pm:
Whomever produced this add owes Goldstein a full refund. Thank God he only wasted $100,000 on this & nobody will ever remember seeing it. “Aggressive?” Lordy, Lordy…
- BeCool - Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 7:35 pm:
Surprised at some of the comments, I thought the ad was different, not your typical super polished political ad. I liked it. Not sure if he has enough money to win but I think it’s a smart move to go on TV now before the Pritzker-Rauner avalanche.
- 49th Ward - Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 9:55 pm:
Someone just sent me a link to this and said it was fantastic, I thought so to. Tired of whatever Madigan wants to shove down our mouth. Go get em Mr Aaron.
- Justlooking - Tuesday, Jan 23, 18 @ 11:39 pm:
I don’t know, I kind of liked the ad. It does feel diffrent. Never heard of Aaron.
- Bernie S. - Wednesday, Jan 24, 18 @ 1:40 pm:
Solid ad from lefty Goldstein. Simple message, he is a defender. Can a defender when the AG race? That will be difficult but I like the aggressiveness in spending first. Ad, 8 of 10.