I grew up right here in this neighborhood.
That’s the apartment we brought our kids home to.
I’ve seen gun violence outside my home.
Like every parent, I worry about my two kids.
So when I was asked to fill Barack Obama’s seat, I started our work.
Tougher laws for reckless gun dealers, keeping kids safe from online predators, and reforming the criminal justice system.
I’m Kwame Raoul.
This is the work of my life…and I’m just getting started.
* The Question: Your rating? Don’t forget to explain.
Articulate, ticked of the Obama box, ticked off the father concerned about his sons box, and proposed new laws guaranteed to tick off Todd. I give it an A.
Excellent introduction piece. It shows that he has knowledge and understanding about the issue. His name recognition is pretty high, and he comes off as a serious individual who has reasons to care. A- Could have been a little longer, and covered a few more issues.
It’s a very effective ad. It highlights his role as a father, and it says, I’ve stayed here to improve things. The Obama reminder probably isn’t necessary there, but it works fine for him and it’s a fact. Good ad.
He “was asked” to fill Barack Obama’s seat? Since when do party committeemen fill GA vacancies with the same sort of anonymous, merit based selection process that is used to name MacArthur Fellows?
Watched without sound. He lives in a city and has posed for a photo with Barack Obama is all I take from this ad. Kinda weak.
I like Kwame but I am tired of hearing about him filling “Obama’s seat.” I wouldn’t vote for Trump just because he filled Obama’s seat in the White House.
I live in his State Senate district, and I doubt I’m voting for him (not ruling it out, but not my first choice at the moment), but that was a good ad.
Invoking President Obama is a good move in Illinois, his awareness of gun violence (even though the AG doesn’t do much on that issue) scores points, mentioning his kids and the challenges raising them is good.
Would love to know his position on legalization. For that matter, have the AG candidates been asked? I bring it up because it’s central to criminal justice reform/ removing profit from gangs. Solid Ad.
wordslinger, I’d say Obama’s approval rating is certainly around 90% among dem primary voters. But I also give voter’s enough credit to think that they can parse “when I was asked to fill Barack Obama’s seat” does not mean “Barack Obama has endorsed me for AG”. It’s verbal gymnastics that makes it seem disingenuous, and could turn people off. After hearing it repeatedly I’m certainly turned off by it at this point.
– It’s verbal gymnastics that makes it seem disingenuous, and could turn people off. After hearing it repeatedly I’m certainly turned off by it at this point.–
Uh huh. And I guarantee you that if any of the other candidates could make the same claim, they would.
Well the ability to make that claim sure didn’t scare off many opponents. So it’s not a silver bullet. Maybe Pat Quinn should start running ads from when Obama endorsed him?
I think I remember highly rating a Kwame “intro” ad last week or the week before. With this, I’m not sure he needs another such similar intro ad as much as he needs ones that would better flesh out his story and provide an outline about his goals/plans if he is elected Illinois AG. The ad itself is fine, but in the crowded field he needs to do more at this late date than again rely so heavily on the Obama hook. Grade B.
- PublicServant - Tuesday, Feb 20, 18 @ 3:24 pm:
Articulate, ticked of the Obama box, ticked off the father concerned about his sons box, and proposed new laws guaranteed to tick off Todd. I give it an A.
- Retired Educator - Tuesday, Feb 20, 18 @ 3:25 pm:
Excellent introduction piece. It shows that he has knowledge and understanding about the issue. His name recognition is pretty high, and he comes off as a serious individual who has reasons to care. A- Could have been a little longer, and covered a few more issues.
- Blue dog dem - Tuesday, Feb 20, 18 @ 3:27 pm:
More than likey helpful with a state that is full of voters who think BO did great things. Me. Not so much.
- Blue dog dem - Tuesday, Feb 20, 18 @ 3:30 pm:
Oops. Grade B+.
- Shytown - Tuesday, Feb 20, 18 @ 3:30 pm:
Enough about being “asked” to fill BO’s seat like that somehow makes him the Obama heir. Not even close.
- Pritzker Plumbers Inc. - Tuesday, Feb 20, 18 @ 3:30 pm:
Just getting started? Kwame has been in Springfield since 2004. Talk about a late bloomer…
- A guy - Tuesday, Feb 20, 18 @ 3:38 pm:
It’s a very effective ad. It highlights his role as a father, and it says, I’ve stayed here to improve things. The Obama reminder probably isn’t necessary there, but it works fine for him and it’s a fact. Good ad.
- Southside Markie - Tuesday, Feb 20, 18 @ 3:40 pm:
He “was asked” to fill Barack Obama’s seat? Since when do party committeemen fill GA vacancies with the same sort of anonymous, merit based selection process that is used to name MacArthur Fellows?
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Feb 20, 18 @ 3:46 pm:
Filled Obama’s seat but not his shoes. He’d have done better not to invoke the Messiah’s name.
- hisgirlfriday - Tuesday, Feb 20, 18 @ 3:46 pm:
Watched without sound. He lives in a city and has posed for a photo with Barack Obama is all I take from this ad. Kinda weak.
I like Kwame but I am tired of hearing about him filling “Obama’s seat.” I wouldn’t vote for Trump just because he filled Obama’s seat in the White House.
- Mel Tsnow - Tuesday, Feb 20, 18 @ 3:46 pm:
Great commercial. Hits all the right notes. Side note, it’s been airing for 2 weeks though.
- Gooner - Tuesday, Feb 20, 18 @ 3:50 pm:
I live in his State Senate district, and I doubt I’m voting for him (not ruling it out, but not my first choice at the moment), but that was a good ad.
Invoking President Obama is a good move in Illinois, his awareness of gun violence (even though the AG doesn’t do much on that issue) scores points, mentioning his kids and the challenges raising them is good.
It is a very nice intro ad.
Solid A.
- TopHatMonocle - Tuesday, Feb 20, 18 @ 3:56 pm:
==I wouldn’t vote for Trump just because he filled Obama’s seat==
Hilarious.
I doubt that line goes over as well as he thinks it does.
- Biker - Tuesday, Feb 20, 18 @ 4:00 pm:
Would love to know his position on legalization. For that matter, have the AG candidates been asked? I bring it up because it’s central to criminal justice reform/ removing profit from gangs. Solid Ad.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Feb 20, 18 @ 4:00 pm:
==I wouldn’t vote for Trump just because he filled Obama’s seat==
Hilarious.
I doubt that line goes over as well as he thinks it does. –
Really? What do you think Obama’s approval rating is among likely Illinois Dem. primary voters? Less than 90%?
Solid spot. A regular family guy driving around his neighborhood talking about real issues.
- Biker - Tuesday, Feb 20, 18 @ 4:07 pm:
Found it, looks like they are all supportive: http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/evanston/news/ct-evr-attorney-general-candidate-forum-tl-0118-20180117-story.html
- TopHatMonocle - Tuesday, Feb 20, 18 @ 4:15 pm:
wordslinger, I’d say Obama’s approval rating is certainly around 90% among dem primary voters. But I also give voter’s enough credit to think that they can parse “when I was asked to fill Barack Obama’s seat” does not mean “Barack Obama has endorsed me for AG”. It’s verbal gymnastics that makes it seem disingenuous, and could turn people off. After hearing it repeatedly I’m certainly turned off by it at this point.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Feb 20, 18 @ 4:16 pm:
===It’s verbal gymnastics that makes it seem disingenuous, and could turn people off===
I think you’re thinking too much.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Feb 20, 18 @ 4:18 pm:
– It’s verbal gymnastics that makes it seem disingenuous, and could turn people off. After hearing it repeatedly I’m certainly turned off by it at this point.–
Uh huh. And I guarantee you that if any of the other candidates could make the same claim, they would.
Because it turns voters off so….
- Amalia - Tuesday, Feb 20, 18 @ 4:26 pm:
it would be an A, except that he uses the Obama crutch, over and over. sounds like an endorsement when it is not.
- TopHatMonocle - Tuesday, Feb 20, 18 @ 4:26 pm:
Well the ability to make that claim sure didn’t scare off many opponents. So it’s not a silver bullet. Maybe Pat Quinn should start running ads from when Obama endorsed him?
- Anon - Tuesday, Feb 20, 18 @ 4:30 pm:
I wish we could have a drinking game for whenever Raoul or Ruiz invoked Obama’s name, but we’d all be too drunk to get our work done.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Feb 20, 18 @ 4:35 pm:
–Well the ability to make that claim sure didn’t scare off many opponents–
LOL, lame strawman. What claim would? In a year when the incumbent steps down?
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Feb 20, 18 @ 4:41 pm:
Doesn’t his repeated “I was picked to fill Obama’s seat” smack of being an insider?
- Responsa - Tuesday, Feb 20, 18 @ 4:56 pm:
I think I remember highly rating a Kwame “intro” ad last week or the week before. With this, I’m not sure he needs another such similar intro ad as much as he needs ones that would better flesh out his story and provide an outline about his goals/plans if he is elected Illinois AG. The ad itself is fine, but in the crowded field he needs to do more at this late date than again rely so heavily on the Obama hook. Grade B.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Feb 20, 18 @ 5:04 pm:
Repeating the Unique Selling Point is kind of a thing in advertising.