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* We’ve seen a handful of very strong positive TV ads this cycle and we can probably add this next one to the list. From a press release…..

U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis’ (R-Ill.) campaign today released its fifth television ad for the 2014 general election.

The ad, titled “Harrison”, features Harrison Beler, a U.S. Army veteran from Springfield. In the ad, Harrison talks about the struggles our veterans are facing here at home and the work Rep. Davis is doing in Congress to help them, including legislation, the Hire More Heroes Act, he introduced to incentivize small businesses to hire more veterans.

Rep. Davis is a part of the No Labels Problem Solvers and has been named to the “Governing Caucus”, a coalition of 30 House Republicans willing to join a majority of House Democrats to pass major legislation, by the National Journal. Additionally, in the National Journal’s 2013 Vote Ratings, Davis was ranked the 220th most liberal and the 212th most conservative House member.

The ad begins today.

* The ad…

* Script…

Harrison: Veterans are the backbone of our country.

But I can see them, they are suffering.

Veterans don’t get the jobs, the medical care, the housing and the help they need.

Rodney Davis has seen this problem and he’s stepping up to the plate,

He’s coming out, helping the veterans.

He sponsored a bill to hire more heroes, put more veterans back to work.

The guys in Washington, they might not do nothing.

But our Congressman here does something.

VO: I’m Rodney Davis and I approve this message.

* Meanwhile, Charlie Cook has changed his rating on this race to “Likely Republican”…

IL-13: Rodney Davis - South central: Champaign, Decatur, Springfield

Likely Republican.

At the beginning of the cycle, Democrats couldn’t have been more excited when Madison County Judge Ann Callis jumped into the race. But Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn’s numbers are dreadful Downstate, and this race is slipping away too. A Public Opinion Strategies poll taken for Davis showed him up 55 percent to 36 percent, and Democrats’ House Majority PAC just cut its TV reservation here.

…Adding… From the Callis campaign…

The campaign of former Chief Judge and Congressional challenger Ann Callis criticized Congressman Rodney Davis for releasing a new TV ad today that doesn’t address his true record for veterans and military families, which includes damaging votes to shut down the government and pass the Ryan Budget. Instead, Congressman Davis’ primary claim in the ad for helping veterans is a bill that has not been signed into law.

“Judge Ann Callis has a proven record of helping veterans throughout her distinguished career in Madison County, earning national awards for her work to establish the first Veterans’ Court in Illinois. As the mother of an Army Ranger, this is something extremely personal and will be a priority for her in Washington. Congressman Davis likes to take credit for helping veterans, but he has actually voted to hurt veterans time and time again. His votes to start and continue the government shutdown put new veterans’ benefits claims at risk, slowed down existing claims for struggling veterans, curtailed veterans’ services, furloughed National Guard and civilian workers, and even threatened death benefits for the families of service members killed in action. Along with voting to cut nutrition benefits for military families, Congressman Davis’ actions clearly speak louder than words,” said Callis spokesman David Miyashiro.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 9:40 am

Comments

Great ad! Down to earth fellow with a strong message about something positive.

Comment by Sunshine Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 9:44 am
Very good Ad. Well done on many levels. “B+”

===…Democrats’ House Majority PAC just cut its TV reservation here.===

That’s not a “sign”, it’s a message; “We’re out”

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 9:48 am
its not a bad ad but Erika would be doing so much better in this race and her energy and electricity would be igniting races across the country. What a missed opportunity…

Comment by Champaign GOP Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 9:54 am
I know Harrison and see him almost everyday at the Springfield YMCA. He’s a very likable guy. He also is a Republican Springfield committeeman and a retired Federal Postal worker. When he told me that he cut a TV Ad for Cong. Davis, I urged him to join the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), so he could get paid Union Scale. We both laughed. Good Ad.

Comment by Louis Howe Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 10:01 am
Very good, it is nice to see a positive ad. B+.

Comment by Under Further Review Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 10:03 am
Champaign - while I agree, it’s time to “team up” and go to work.

If Congressman Schock can openly stump for Bruce Rauner, then Erika Harold’s and Tim Johnson’s supporters can stump for Rodney Davis.

Comment by Team Sleep Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 10:05 am
==its not a bad ad but Erika would be doing so much better in this race and her energy and electricity would be igniting races across the country. What a missed opportunity…==

Dear God just stop already. You lost. She would be doing better than a 19 point lead in a district drawn for Democrats? Wow. Seriously, just stop. With so much “energy” and “excitement” she….lost.

Comment by Anonymoiis Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 10:12 am
That’s a really good ad.

It is an issue that matters to many families.

It has a good positive message.

I give it an A-.

Comment by Gooner Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 10:35 am
Harrison is a great guy. This ad rings truth and sincerity. Good pick!

Comment by Joe Schmoe Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 10:41 am
Champaign, you kiddies can turn your electricity and energy to getting Timmy elected to the Board of Parkland College, if he throws his hat in the ring.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 10:44 am
Solid pass. Staying on message.

Comment by A guy... Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 10:59 am
I’m so mad that Rodney Davis, who helped bring us the government shutdown, is getting away with passing himself off as a moderate.

Comment by TooManyJens Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:00 am
We’ve see the Davis campaign put out a series of excellent ads that touch voters because they are generally positive, classy, and touch on issues that concern and worry real voters and real families. This is another one. A.

Comment by Responsa Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:03 am
Davis has ran an incredible race.
His ads have been first rate.
No one expected him to do that.
That is one of the reasons how this race ever got to be considered a toss up a year ago.

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:13 am
About Erika -
I wanted to see her run against Dick Durbin.
That is where the GOP needed a new star.
I would have loved watching Dick try to figure out how to defeat a young female conservative. It would have been a very interesting race.

Also - Erika’s move was another one that was brought on by politicians underestimating Davis.

Davis demonstrated that he is not to be underestimated. I think there will be a lot more caution shown by his political opponents in the future.

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:16 am
Davis supported the government shutdown, a default on our debt, the Ryan budget, and rolling back protections for patients with pre-existing conditions.

Hardly a moderate. This race is a product of off-year election. Time to look for 2016.

Comment by Mittuns Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:26 am
@Champaign GOP- Get over it. Erika lost. Where has she been during this election cycle? Which candidates is campaigning for this year? If Erika was sincere about running for office she would be working non stop to help the top of the ticket.

Comment by Apocalypse Now Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 1:53 pm
Good ad.

Re: Cook, Quinn isn’t the reason Callis is doing bad, it’s her terrible campaign.

==- VanillaMan - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:13 am:==

THe race was not considered a “toss up” because people thought Rodney Davis couldn’t put out decent ads. It was considered a “toss up” because he won by an extremely thin margin and the district has a nearly split partisan balance.

Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 2:47 pm