Today, Nikki Budzinski, Democratic candidate for Congress in Illinois’ 13th Congressional District, released her 4th and final TV spot of the campaign.
Titled, “Work for a Living”, the spot focuses on Republican Regan Deering’s recent announcement of support for making cuts to social security and Medicare. The TV and matching digital ads will run on broadcast television in the St. Louis, and Springfield, Decatur, and Champaign markets. Budzinski was the first candidate in the race to begin paid communications and has significantly out-communicated Deering in every platform. The ad can be viewed here.
Nikki Budzinski made the following statement: “I am proud of the issue-focused campaign that we have run. I want to go to Congress to fight for working families and protect them from people like Regan Deering that would cut Social Security and Medicare. We cannot afford to send Regan Deering to Congress.”
Times are tough. Especially if you work for a living.
But Regan Deering – the wealthy heiress who inherited millions – doesn’t get it…
Deering wants to slash the Social Security and Medicare you paid into.
Cutting the retirement benefits you earned.
Regan Deering’s not for us.
Nikki:
I’m Nikki Budzinski. I grew up middle class and the only thing I inherited was my mom’s common sense.
I approve this message because I’ve spent my life fighting for working people.
…Adding… Whitney Barnes…
Hey, Rich. I wanted to personally respond to the most recent hypocritical, sexist (and boringly unoriginal) campaign ad from the Budzinski camp.
Regan was adopted into a loving family and is proud of her career giving back to her community as a science teacher, small business owner and advocate.
Nikki Budzinski campaigned and worked for heir to the Hyatt fortune Gov. JB Prtizker and now, in an overwhelming display of sexism and hypocrisy, she’s spending millions of her special interest dollars painting Regan as an ‘heiress’ because apparently to Nikki, inherited wealth is only ok if you’re a man.
She’s desperately trying to use Regan’s finances to distract from a week of bad press around the fact that she can’t answer simple questions like, “What services did you provide as a consultant to lobbyists and special interest groups to earn half a million dollars?”
‘Working people’ in the 13th District can generally say what they do for a living, and I assure you their response is never, ‘I followed all ethics laws.’
Nikki is out-of-touch and out of time and the people of the 13th Congressional District are not going to be fooled by her sexism or lies.
It’s amazing someone can spend their whole career around politicians (Budzinski) and still not know what to do with their hands when speaking. She looks awkward - end should have just been shoulders up to camera.
I feel like it’s pulling it’s punches. Deering’s only real qualification is her wealth and I feel like this could have hit harder on that but I’m not the target audience so maybe this will resonate.
Concept is an A. This is exactly the message I suggested Democrats pivot too. Execution is a C. Best part is when she speaks to camera if anyone’s still paying attention. So overall grade is a B.
It’s confusing. Physically these candidates look like clones. The basic idea is good, but too much emphasis on Deering’s photo.
- Back to the Future - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 11:35 am:
According to the BGA investigation she was working to promote the interests of Centene, a state vendor, while on the payroll of a Pritzker (a personal investor in Centene) private company and also on the State’s payroll.
When I read the BGA story I googled Centene to see what came up. Not good stuff as they were in trouble in other states and had big fines.
The Ad seems to fly in the face of her work in government as outlined in the BGA story. I am sure that their is more to her life than carrying water for Centene, but the Ad doesn’t mention anything specific.
Grade-D
She hits on social security and medicare (which every Dem in the country should be running on, btw) and the closing line is clever and I think will stick in middle-class voters minds.
Really, really good. The production quality is only thing keeping it from an A+ imo.
Ha. That was exactly my first reaction as well. Perhaps if Nikki had offered some/any proof of her claim that Deering was going to slash Social Security and Medicare it would be believable. But she can’t. This is not my district but it sure seems like a waste of money ad. C.
Not sure why everyone is down on this ad. It hits Republicans where they are most disliked: cutting social security and Medicare. It also paints her as a wealthy elite without going too nasty negative.
I remain annoyed at the DCCC dumping a D.C. consultant on this Central Illinois district but would still vote for Budzinski if I lived in her district for the reasons noted in this ad - wanting to protect Medicare and Social Security.
I am confused by the Deering camp’s claim that the ad is sexist. Would the ad be more acceptable to them if it called her an heir instead of heiress?
And most importantly I find it noteworthy there is no denial from Deering’s flak that she will slash Medicare and Social Security. Take note, voters.
This ad is exactly what it needs to be. Just the right amount of gloom over Deering, poll tested issues, and a contrast of the two. Budzinski is a breath of fresh air as a human and a candidate and this ad expresses that. Is it phenomenal or creative, no. But voters sometimes just need the basics. I give it a solid B.
If this is the best for a district created for a democrat, I give this a D at best as I see nothing that says this may not become Republican. The rebuttal was an interesting read, I give it a B+.
She begins her closing ad by empathizing with her audience, admitting people are worried, letting them know she is on their side, and then very clearly and specifically tells you that Regan Deering is on the other side and is going to make things worse.
I would have liked it better as a 30 second ad that was split down the middle to feel like two ads running back-to-back.
In a Hope v Fear election, You can end with a 100% positive GOTV ad, but Nikki and other Democrats are counting on fear of Trump/Bailey to drive turnout and they need to stay negative.
GOP is in. trickier position because they need a negative message to drive out their base, but that also runs the risk of keeping undecideds home, and right now the GOP needs a lot of undecided voters to show up on el3ction day and break their way in th3 voting booth.
- Hahaha - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 11:01 am:
It’s amazing someone can spend their whole career around politicians (Budzinski) and still not know what to do with their hands when speaking. She looks awkward - end should have just been shoulders up to camera.
Other than its boring and standard - grade C
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 11:03 am:
It’s a C+, and that’s a “gift” of a grade.
It’s forgettable.
A closing ad that’s forgettable
C+, a gift.
- knownothing - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 11:06 am:
I feel like it’s pulling it’s punches. Deering’s only real qualification is her wealth and I feel like this could have hit harder on that but I’m not the target audience so maybe this will resonate.
- It's me - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 11:15 am:
Nikki must be in trouble if her closer is negative/compare. She gets a B+ for the negative.
- New Day - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 11:16 am:
Concept is an A. This is exactly the message I suggested Democrats pivot too. Execution is a C. Best part is when she speaks to camera if anyone’s still paying attention. So overall grade is a B.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 11:24 am:
D.
It’s confusing. Physically these candidates look like clones. The basic idea is good, but too much emphasis on Deering’s photo.
- Back to the Future - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 11:35 am:
According to the BGA investigation she was working to promote the interests of Centene, a state vendor, while on the payroll of a Pritzker (a personal investor in Centene) private company and also on the State’s payroll.
When I read the BGA story I googled Centene to see what came up. Not good stuff as they were in trouble in other states and had big fines.
The Ad seems to fly in the face of her work in government as outlined in the BGA story. I am sure that their is more to her life than carrying water for Centene, but the Ad doesn’t mention anything specific.
Grade-D
- huh - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 11:46 am:
I guess I am in minority here but I give this A-.
She hits on social security and medicare (which every Dem in the country should be running on, btw) and the closing line is clever and I think will stick in middle-class voters minds.
Really, really good. The production quality is only thing keeping it from an A+ imo.
- Gohawks123 - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 11:49 am:
C-….. this is your closing ad? Give me a little bit better here
- Responsa - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 12:33 pm:
=Physically these candidates look like clones.=
Ha. That was exactly my first reaction as well. Perhaps if Nikki had offered some/any proof of her claim that Deering was going to slash Social Security and Medicare it would be believable. But she can’t. This is not my district but it sure seems like a waste of money ad. C.
- Incandenza - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 12:36 pm:
Not sure why everyone is down on this ad. It hits Republicans where they are most disliked: cutting social security and Medicare. It also paints her as a wealthy elite without going too nasty negative.
B+
- hisgirlfriday - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 1:15 pm:
I remain annoyed at the DCCC dumping a D.C. consultant on this Central Illinois district but would still vote for Budzinski if I lived in her district for the reasons noted in this ad - wanting to protect Medicare and Social Security.
I am confused by the Deering camp’s claim that the ad is sexist. Would the ad be more acceptable to them if it called her an heir instead of heiress?
And most importantly I find it noteworthy there is no denial from Deering’s flak that she will slash Medicare and Social Security. Take note, voters.
- Day Late - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 1:42 pm:
This ad is exactly what it needs to be. Just the right amount of gloom over Deering, poll tested issues, and a contrast of the two. Budzinski is a breath of fresh air as a human and a candidate and this ad expresses that. Is it phenomenal or creative, no. But voters sometimes just need the basics. I give it a solid B.
- Lurker - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 1:45 pm:
If this is the best for a district created for a democrat, I give this a D at best as I see nothing that says this may not become Republican. The rebuttal was an interesting read, I give it a B+.
- Joe Schmoe - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 1:47 pm:
The Deering camp just needs to take Whitney Barnes’ comments and use them for their closing ad….
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 1:48 pm:
====The rebuttal was an interesting read, I give it a B+.===
Narrator: No one is likely going to see a written rebuttal to an ad airing on television
- Pundent - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 1:49 pm:
I’d give the ad a C+. It’s actually a winning message for any Dem candidate, but the delivery falls flat.
- Thomas Paine - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 1:56 pm:
I think its a B+/A- ad.
She begins her closing ad by empathizing with her audience, admitting people are worried, letting them know she is on their side, and then very clearly and specifically tells you that Regan Deering is on the other side and is going to make things worse.
I would have liked it better as a 30 second ad that was split down the middle to feel like two ads running back-to-back.
In a Hope v Fear election, You can end with a 100% positive GOTV ad, but Nikki and other Democrats are counting on fear of Trump/Bailey to drive turnout and they need to stay negative.
GOP is in. trickier position because they need a negative message to drive out their base, but that also runs the risk of keeping undecideds home, and right now the GOP needs a lot of undecided voters to show up on el3ction day and break their way in th3 voting booth.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 2:01 pm:
===the delivery falls flat.===
It’s a forgettable ad.
A closing argument ad… that’s forgettable.
It’s not even “blocking and tackling”, non-closing argument-like.
- Bunga - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 2:11 pm:
==Narrator: No one is likely going to see a written rebuttal to an ad airing on television==
Also, Regan Deering doesn’t want to spend money on TV as well
- Arsenal - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 2:50 pm:
All I need to know about the ad is in Deering’s camp whining to Rich.
A hit dog will holler.
- Surge voter - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 3:19 pm:
I give it an A-. Great ad for great candidate. All the naysayers today seem to be the ones who are most positive about whatever the Gov. does. Weird.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 3:27 pm:
===I give it an A-. Great ad for great candidate===
… and…
===naysayers today seem to be the ones===
So, biased Budzinski supporter calls out others on alleged biases?
“Ok”
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 3:56 pm:
Barns is the deering campaign spokesperson. Statement is one their website.
- Shytown - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 4:25 pm:
I give Deering’s response a D.
- Here we go - Friday, Oct 28, 22 @ 4:26 pm:
Ha - rich of Nikki talking about middle class values coming from an elite consultant raking in half a million dollars in less than a year.