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Jesse White’s TV ad

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This ad is all over the place now. Rate it.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 26, 06 @ 1:48 pm

Comments

Rated: Average. He’s still playing off on his tumbling team-big deal. I find it interesting that whenever Senator Rutherford suggests upgrades to the SOS system, White’s spokeperson claims it just can’t be done. Well, maybe upgrades can’t be done with Jesse’s administration, but I’m betting Rutherford will hire the people to do it.

Comment by Walking Wounded Thursday, Oct 26, 06 @ 2:23 pm
Nice visuals, pleasant. How come the SOS offices around here don’t look quite like this? Are the tumblers supposed to entertain everyone waiting in the many long lines? [We haven’t heard much about how Jesse’s budget had been slashed by the Governor and the resulting loss/delay of service]

Comment by North of I-80 Thursday, Oct 26, 06 @ 2:26 pm
Ad is kinda ho humm but so is the office. At least he has not had any major scandals . . . that we know of. Rutherford would be a more dynamic manager and the office desperately needs to be more efficient.

Comment by Citizen A Thursday, Oct 26, 06 @ 2:55 pm
JW understands that, to stand out in this election season, you need to do something radically different. In this case that’s “air a positive ad.”

Insiders and political junkies might want something more edgy or substantive, but the secretary is more interested in impressing the voters. A very good ad — B+.

Comment by ChuckAmok Thursday, Oct 26, 06 @ 2:57 pm
A simple positive ad. That’s good. But, what kid is going to walk into a liquor store and show his under 21 card. Get real. Final Grade B.

Comment by Mr . Ethics Thursday, Oct 26, 06 @ 2:58 pm
But, what kid is going to walk into a liquor store and show his under 21 card?

Dan Rutherford.

Grade: A.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Oct 26, 06 @ 3:08 pm
Nice in that it’s different, but still kind of wierd in a “grandpa trying to be hip” sort of way.

One question: Are any of those kids in the ad on Jesse’s payroll?

Comment by Anon Thursday, Oct 26, 06 @ 3:33 pm
Maybe not the best ad of all time, but he will still be SoS as long as he wants.

And what is this about lines? I personally have seen a VAST improvement in the last few years. I used to DREAD a visit to the SoS office. Now I don’t need to take a day off, I can go over lunch time.

Comment by Pat collins Thursday, Oct 26, 06 @ 3:37 pm
I concur with Pat. I went a while back to replace my DL and zipped through that place so fast I decided to go back through and get a state ID ( I lose my DL, a lot and hate to carry my passport around as ID while waiting to get to the SOS office). In fact, I was so impressed, I called the comment number and sang their praises.

Comment by cermak_rd Thursday, Oct 26, 06 @ 3:52 pm
Unless Jesse White aspires to higher office, which I doubt, why is he even buyint TV time? Can’t he transfer some funds to Congressional races?

Comment by Patricia Thursday, Oct 26, 06 @ 4:07 pm
Still hanging on to past civic accomplishments & that’s fine. Still appears spry @ age 72. He’s had a very long run in public life. It’s his lack-luster performance in the SOS though leaves alot to be desired, especially over the last term. Recent events make one wonder if he’s got a handle still on things. The ad really doesn’t address his goals, real accomplishments in the office or future plans & those described are but a minute’ part of the office as a whole. The ad is “nice” but C– on effectivness, more of a recap of part of his life helping kids in the inner-city.

Comment by the old republican Thursday, Oct 26, 06 @ 4:10 pm
Patricia,

No he can’t. He’s running for a state office and congressional races are federal….no mixing of funds allowed.

Comment by Coloradem Thursday, Oct 26, 06 @ 4:13 pm
OK, I guess, but is JW running for SoS or to be coach of the team? What has/will he do?

Comment by downstater Thursday, Oct 26, 06 @ 4:21 pm
I agree with the old republican, this add doesn’t say what his goals are, what’s he going to do, etc. I’ve been reading a ton of information recently about Dan Rutherford and his plans for the SOS office. I must admit I am totally impressed by his plans. Personally, I think it’s time for a change.

Comment by 4th of July Kid Thursday, Oct 26, 06 @ 4:26 pm
one of the best ads of the season. Reminds people who he is (yea, the tumbler guy), uses a 90-10er polling issue (make kids take more behind the wheel instruction before they can get their drivers license–no booze fore kids), and does it in a creative way. I’ll bet anyone he is the highest statewide vote getter. I say hats off to the Jesse White campaign team.

Comment by Tom Thursday, Oct 26, 06 @ 4:42 pm
WOW, Jessie has done such a wonderful job. I was surprised he didn’t mention he also gave his daughter a 300% raise. Wouldn’t it be nice to be related to Jessie White or any other one of his cronies……Just another sad day for Illinois taxpayers.

Comment by MAC Thursday, Oct 26, 06 @ 5:15 pm
The kids are cool !! Actors I would assume….nobody “bops along” like that with a learners permit ; they’re usually freaking scared. And the kid in the liquor store was a little bogus. But, the bar keep was cool & on top of things…ID’d that fake ID in seconds !!!

Saving kids in the inner city…I’d grant you that & our hats off. The other claims ….little out there & pretty bold !! What about the rest of the SOS office…no info there .?? How about being State Librarian, keeper of the State seal, Archives ect. ect…no mention of any of that…it’s not just drivers licenses. Wonder how the rest of the outfit is running ???

Comment by annon. in the stykes Thursday, Oct 26, 06 @ 5:16 pm
I didn’t like the commercial.

I do like the JW Tumblers–why not have them perform at SOS Drivers License Facilities to make the time waiting pass faster?

I think the fighting scene with the teenage driver and her Dad sends the wrong message–if you fight with your parents and drive distracted, you to can be on TV. Wrong message.

And about the goofball in the liquor store–why did Jesse film this instead of trying to intervene? I’m sure the liquor store owner only turned the punk down because of the big camera in his face. Another blown sting operation.

And why didn’t JW tell this kid’s parents? He probably went down the street to the next liquor store without the camera, got the goods and partied all night.

Think of all the kids that may have been prevented from buying alcohol. They probably bought some dope where the dealer didn’t have warnings posted and probably didn’t even check the teen’s driver’s license.

Last and most importantly, the music was really weak. The commercial needed the “Let’s keep it right…” jingle, which is one of my favorites. If they’d fix that, it might be a decent commercial.

Comment by Sister Mary Elephant Thursday, Oct 26, 06 @ 5:46 pm
Why don’t we here Jesse White in these ads? Can he even complete a sentence or thought any more? Who is actually running the SoS office anyway?

Comment by MIDSTATE Thursday, Oct 26, 06 @ 5:48 pm
You mean we’ve had a Secretary of State for the past four years?

Comment by Left Leaner Thursday, Oct 26, 06 @ 5:55 pm
Let me start by saing I am a DANFAN but I will be fair. As the Senator says of Mr. White, wonderfully nice guy. I see the office as Status quo, go with the flow and don’t rock the boat. Efficiency is no better than it has benn for the past 8 years. The ne,biggest threat to Illinois residents today is identity theft. SOS has the data base with all this info at their finger tips and no one even has given this topic a sniff. Senator Rutherford has a plan to fix that. Jesse’ commercial, a C

Comment by Common Man Thursday, Oct 26, 06 @ 7:01 pm
Wow, The exact right ad for the right race. This is really no suprise since he’s polling an insane number of points up. The suprise would be if the ad were any different. Other that the Drivers services facilities, no one knows what he does for a living. And knocking him for the budget cuts (not at his control) and still being able to at least maintain service levels is a real trick.

He’ll win as he should. These ads are a refreshing change, especially in the Chicago market where it’s one negative ad after another on all the locals and cable.

Comment by Political Insider Thursday, Oct 26, 06 @ 8:10 pm
The commercial was OK but young people aren’t his only concern. What about the rest of us? The new 50 hours for young drivers was passed by the legislature not Jesse. Does he have any new ideas that he would like to share with us?

Comment by Central IL Lady Thursday, Oct 26, 06 @ 8:25 pm
If there is any problem in SoS you send out the tumblers and everything is ok.

Comment by kj Thursday, Oct 26, 06 @ 9:17 pm
All fluff-no substance!

Comment by Skeeter Thursday, Oct 26, 06 @ 9:32 pm
i would rate it a 65%…as in White 65%, Rutherford 35%

Comment by final Thursday, Oct 26, 06 @ 9:36 pm
some of the ad seems to have been cut from a bud or miller p.s.a. it’s weird, too, in a way that i can’t explain just yet. i wonder how old the footage is? anyone notice that white doesn’t talk at all in the ad? not even at the end in a “paid for by” portion. why IS he running ads anyway?

Comment by colt 45 Thursday, Oct 26, 06 @ 10:32 pm
But ChicagoJohn, Jesse needs to win so he and his chief of staff can maintain jobs for their relatives (Per Greg Hinz’s report). He’s been interviewed and finds nothing wrong with nepotism, so why should the voters mind?

Comment by Walking Wounded Thursday, Oct 26, 06 @ 11:05 pm
This is for “Midstate” and others: the Republicans have been spreading rumors about White’s mental accuity for years. None of it has ever been true. I’m pretty sure I’ve spent more time with him than you have. He appears to be as sharp as he was when he took office.

Vote the way you want, but these malicious rumors are wrong on many levels.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 27, 06 @ 1:14 am
Two points:

Great ad, because it stands out from others due to the style. Yes, no real substance, but leaves you with a positive feeling that you associate with Jesse White.

First rule of advertising: Good commercial advertising doesn’t sell a product, it sells a feeling. Good political advertising doesn’t sell ideas, it sells a feeling. About a product. The Candidate.

Secondly, to Rich’s point, the latest scientific research indicates that those who have regular physical exercise have sharper minds. The theory is that one of the waste proteins from physical exercise is a precursor for neurotransmitters. The more you exercise, the more precursors, the faster you can think.

Now, if you’ve ever shaken Jesse’s hand, you know he could kick the crap out of men atleast half his age. My bet is Jesse’s firing on all pistons.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Oct 27, 06 @ 1:34 am
The ad is at best thrown together. D- & that mostly for effort. The tumblers are a nice touch & appeals to people in Chicago area that know of them, though they’ve performed else where. I’m sure that was a lot of the intent to include. It’s too bad they have to run the tumblers team in the ad to make a connection to the name of the state’s SOS. They had to run something I guess to have a presence & look like they have an active campaign. JW’s campaign has “sprung to life” so to speak in the last week to 10 days. As someone else mentioned it’s NOT just drivers license stuff…the office is multi-faceted so what are the real accomplishments, goals, future plans of the office as a whole. The ad doesn’t touch on that at all, or in any series of ads. Tumblers, keeping kids from drinking & practicing driving longer to get a license..all but the tumblers, public acts of the Ill. Gen. Assy. As was also mentioned in an earlier post , JW is 72 now & though it’s not necessarily a question of mental acuity as I’m sure {and it appears} he’s “spry” at 72 ; I think he’s tired & putting a lot of faith in folks to run things that have not come through & let him down. It’s what’s going on over there & who is runnning the show is the question & has been for some time ala Cecil Turner. And this ad or any ad has really failed to point any of it out. Jesse has had a very long run in public life. Jesse is a great guy but maybe it’s time to enjoy his life & working with inner city kids & the causes as he enjoys.

Comment by annon. in central illinois Friday, Oct 27, 06 @ 6:11 am
AA
When you come on here and slam a guy like Jesse White it explains a lot about your partisanship and diminishes the credibility of your comments about other candidates.

Comment by Bill Friday, Oct 27, 06 @ 7:05 am
4th of July Kid -

I regret that I must say that Jesse has improved service up in Lake County (perhaps anticipating the election.

Is he running opposed? I have seen nothing from Rutherford.

SOS is a job which, if you get and do not screw up or aspire for higher office, can be yours for life. It represents a keystone race for the party which holds it — more name recognition than any other office. The Dems will be smart to keep him there for a long time. The Repubs will have to wait until he retires to make it a fair fight.

Comment by Truthful James Friday, Oct 27, 06 @ 8:21 am