Alexi Giannoulias’ Democratic campaign for Illinois secretary of state will launch two television spots Wednesday, both linking him to former President Barack Obama, with one of them criticizing former President Donald Trump.
Both ads show Giannoulias playing basketball with children in a gymnasium, a nod to his days playing overseas in Greece. In one, he explains how he was inspired to become a politician by Obama, whom Giannoulias refers to as his “basketball buddy.”
In the other ad, he makes a reference to Trump and his efforts “to overturn the last election” while saying he wants to use the secretary of state’s office to make it easier to register to vote. The ad noted the importance of protecting voting rights, expanding voter registration and encouraging vote by mail.
“When I played pro ball, we practiced to make the game easier. When I’m secretary of state, I’ll do the same. We’ll never let anyone stop you from casting your vote,” he says in that ad.
In fact, while other states’ secretary of state’s offices play an integral role in elections, in Illinois the office plays only a small role in helping the public register to vote.
* Full response from Anna Valencia campaign manager Cheryl Bruce…
“Alexi Giannoulias has spent the last decade helping rich people get richer while wealth director for a Wall Street bank with close ties to the gun industry, coal companies and even North Korea. He has pledged transparency, but he’s hiding from voters who exactly he’s been working for during his time as a Wall Street banker.
“Funded in part by family loan of nearly $1 million, he’s now trying to paper over his shady history: he was senior loan officer for a bank that loaned money to convicted mobsters, he engaged in reckless lending practices that led authorities to seize his family bank, and he lost millions of dollars in college savings for thousands of Illinois families.
“Illinoisans rejected Alexi when he lost Barack Obama’s Senate seat. Then, he endorsed a Republican with an anti-choice voting record and urged us to rally behind Donald Trump’s presidency. Now, Alexi on the ballot risks losing Jesse White’s Secretary of State office, too. That’s why Secretary White endorsed Anna to succeed him. Anna was raised by working class parents in a union household and has delivered bold and innovative ideas as Chicago City Clerk, and she fought for our communities during the Rauner and Trump administrations. Illinois voters know that Anna will always fight for them.”
If you lose to Alexi, it will again, prove positive, that when campaigns sorely lack, getting out-maneuvered and out-worked is a *choice* by extremely poor campaigns.
Every single day I’m less impressed by anything, and I do mean anything, this Crew is doing, has done, or even more comical, “plans to do”
Alexi is a terrible candidate, who is bad for the ticket, and could win because… well… the campaign lacks.
To the ads?
They’re a B-, they lack depth, and mirror the real lack of depth Alexi has, but work because being superficial in :30 ads helps.
It also helps that the Valencia Crew seemingly refuses to… run an actual campaign when Alexi is doing just that.
They are B-, but are out there.
Valencia letting Alexi define himself constantly and continually make B- ads… stronger.
===if you have to invoke Obama’s names to strengthen your candicacy then you’re doomed===
LOL
You gotta be kidding me.
If you can credibly invoke Obama’s name in a statewide Illinois Democratic primary, you’re not doomed, Einstein. It’s way too early to be that stinking drunk.
-if you have to invoke Obama’s names to strengthen your candicacy then you’re doomed.-
This is Illinois. Most voters do like Obama (Barack and Michelle). Alexi isn’t running in Texas.
- The Most Anonymous - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 9:43 am:
Huh? They’re packing a lot on screen and in the script. I can’t process unless I watch it multiple times and pay close attention. Nice to make him seem relatable and laid back because Valencia doesn’t seem to have that in her. B-
Seems like Valencia’s team missed a great opportunity to hit back on the basketball theme. If they had the resources, for example, they could do a 30 second ad titled, “Turnover” about Alexi losing Obama’s seat.
They could do a spot called “Traveling” detailing Alexi’s wealthy, out of touch lifestyle. They could do one called “Goaltending” about his endorsement of Tom Cross. They could do one called “Airball” pointing to Alexi’s lack of substance or one called “Point Shaving” about Broadway Bank.
Now that Alexi decided to use basketball to define himself, all of this is in play and a smart campaign would tattoo him with his own branding.
At least, that’s how I’d play this game.
- Back to the Future - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 9:48 am:
Give both Ads an A.
They keep your attention and the reference to President Obama is a high plus in a Democratic Primary election.
If you think putting Obama in a Democratic primary campaign ad is desperate, you should give up lol. And people seem to be missing the basketball part, taking Obama out of it. There’s a big correlation between being a basketball fan and being a Democrat.
Terrific spot if Lexi’s goal was to get those kids to vote for him for class president. Anything higher gets D- or F. It reminds the ‘Riffie team has lined up a former USA to smack him around in the fall.
These ads don’t help me. I am a reliable democratic voter - there are so few republicans who I would consider voting for that I can name them on one or two hands. ( we all can just about name them on a national level). So I need to know which Dem to vote for. This does not give me any information at all.
- Steve - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 9:25 am:
I’d give “Assist” an A. Very effective on making the point of making things easier.
- Pundent - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 9:30 am:
I’d give both ads an A for their brevity, simplicity, and message. Might not exactly align with the Alexi many of us know, but very good ads.
- Observer - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 9:30 am:
I think these ads will resonate very well with dems. Anna V. better step it up.
- Noah - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 9:31 am:
Line-Up is just a lie, so like, D? D-?
- McGuppin - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 9:31 am:
I think these a really good ads. They show the human side of the candidate very effectively. Solid A.
Now, of course, the Alexi hater crowd will instinctively give them low marks because….it’s ALEXI!! But I think that ads are solid and very well done..
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 9:32 am:
C-. I’ve order my last three stickers and my last DL online. What else you got?
Dude makes a marshmallow seem substantial.
- Jilted - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 9:35 am:
Big old f…if you have to invoke Obama’s names to strengthen your candicacy then you’re doomed.
- Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 9:36 am:
They’re not bad, particularly “assist.” Solid B.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 9:37 am:
===Full response from Anna Valencia===
This made me spit out my coffee.
Dear Valencia Crew,
If you lose to Alexi, it will again, prove positive, that when campaigns sorely lack, getting out-maneuvered and out-worked is a *choice* by extremely poor campaigns.
Every single day I’m less impressed by anything, and I do mean anything, this Crew is doing, has done, or even more comical, “plans to do”
Alexi is a terrible candidate, who is bad for the ticket, and could win because… well… the campaign lacks.
To the ads?
They’re a B-, they lack depth, and mirror the real lack of depth Alexi has, but work because being superficial in :30 ads helps.
It also helps that the Valencia Crew seemingly refuses to… run an actual campaign when Alexi is doing just that.
They are B-, but are out there.
Valencia letting Alexi define himself constantly and continually make B- ads… stronger.
- Noah - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 9:37 am:
also did he mix up the names of the ads? why is the one about waiting in line not called line-up?
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 9:38 am:
===if you have to invoke Obama’s names to strengthen your candicacy then you’re doomed===
LOL
You gotta be kidding me.
If you can credibly invoke Obama’s name in a statewide Illinois Democratic primary, you’re not doomed, Einstein. It’s way too early to be that stinking drunk.
- Steve - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 9:41 am:
-if you have to invoke Obama’s names to strengthen your candicacy then you’re doomed.-
This is Illinois. Most voters do like Obama (Barack and Michelle). Alexi isn’t running in Texas.
- The Most Anonymous - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 9:43 am:
Huh? They’re packing a lot on screen and in the script. I can’t process unless I watch it multiple times and pay close attention. Nice to make him seem relatable and laid back because Valencia doesn’t seem to have that in her. B-
- Justintime - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 9:45 am:
C on both. Did he really drop a “g” on living? He does bare a resemblance to a young Rauner.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 9:47 am:
Seems like Valencia’s team missed a great opportunity to hit back on the basketball theme. If they had the resources, for example, they could do a 30 second ad titled, “Turnover” about Alexi losing Obama’s seat.
They could do a spot called “Traveling” detailing Alexi’s wealthy, out of touch lifestyle. They could do one called “Goaltending” about his endorsement of Tom Cross. They could do one called “Airball” pointing to Alexi’s lack of substance or one called “Point Shaving” about Broadway Bank.
Now that Alexi decided to use basketball to define himself, all of this is in play and a smart campaign would tattoo him with his own branding.
At least, that’s how I’d play this game.
- Back to the Future - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 9:48 am:
Give both Ads an A.
They keep your attention and the reference to President Obama is a high plus in a Democratic Primary election.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 9:58 am:
Tumbling, hold my ouzo, because here comes me and basketball. Feels forced. C.
- Torco Sign - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 10:02 am:
If you think putting Obama in a Democratic primary campaign ad is desperate, you should give up lol. And people seem to be missing the basketball part, taking Obama out of it. There’s a big correlation between being a basketball fan and being a Democrat.
- SubRosa - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 10:04 am:
Can’t stand the guy, but it’s a solid ad. Disgruntled A.
- uialum - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 10:10 am:
===way too early to be that stinking drunk===
I guess it’s 5 o’clock somewhere.
Impressive that it took less than 8 seconds to get Obama into both ads. B+
- Baloneymous - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 10:10 am:
Both are decent ads, but I’m downgrading the 2nd one because no one stands with their knees bent and back arched like that when they’re dribbling.
- zatoichi - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 10:21 am:
They OK ads. At least they are not the typical “I’ll fight for”, “work for”, “…for the people” statements that most political ads have.
- Raising Kane - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 10:29 am:
I would rather have one Jesse White add than 20 of these.
- Rabid - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 10:34 am:
B did anyone ask Obama before he got dragged in
- B Team - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 11:27 am:
I’d give these ads an A. Shows a personal and likable side of AG.
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 11:34 am:
Terrific spot if Lexi’s goal was to get those kids to vote for him for class president. Anything higher gets D- or F. It reminds the ‘Riffie team has lined up a former USA to smack him around in the fall.
- SmoDaddy - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 11:39 am:
I’ve played in that gym before. Once with Alexi.
- Cheryl44 - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 11:47 am:
Wait, what? I have to pay attention to sports in order to vote for a Dem now?
The ads are okay. I still don’t want to vote for him.
- Banish Misfortune - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 11:50 am:
These ads don’t help me. I am a reliable democratic voter - there are so few republicans who I would consider voting for that I can name them on one or two hands. ( we all can just about name them on a national level). So I need to know which Dem to vote for. This does not give me any information at all.
- Dotnonymous - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 12:11 pm:
“if you have to invoke Obama’s names to strengthen your candicacy then you’re doomed”
Get out of your Facebook bubble…and visit with the real World.
- Uptown Progressive - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 12:12 pm:
I imagine myself sitting in my local. TV over the bar. No sound, just images. A for the ads. Obama, kids, Darth Vader, BB.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 2:54 pm:
===Terrific spot if Lexi’s goal was to get those kids to vote for him for class president. Anything higher gets D- or F.===
- Annonin’ -
He mentions Obama. He’s bouncing a ball.
You need to factor this in.
:)
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 2:56 pm:
Also, - 47th Ward -
I like where your head is at.
My question continues to be, why are they so absent, is there no sense of engaging in a campaign?
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 3:06 pm:
===why are they so absent===
It’s a slam dunk, right?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 3:09 pm:
=== It’s a slam dunk, right?===
It works, even from Downtown
- Soxfan - Wednesday, Apr 6, 22 @ 9:59 pm:
Simple, to the point, easy to understand, and (as someone mentioned earlier) if you watch without the sound, it’s Barack and Alexi. Easy A.
- Heather - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 10:27 pm:
Definitely an A. Postive message, timely and shows a very likeable candidate