Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Rate Kwame Raoul’s first TV ad

Posted in:

Illinois
YouTube

* Press release…

Raoul’s AG Bid Takes Message to the Airwaves, touts latest congressional endorsement
First Raoul ad states he’s just getting started

CHICAGO – IL Sen. Kwame Raoul’s campaign for Illinois Attorney General debuted its first television ad of the campaign season today.

In the ad, entitled “Call on me,” Sen. Raoul chronicles what’s at stake in the race to replace Attorney General Lisa Madigan and why he’s ready and able to get the job done. The ad cites varying problems facing Illinoisans, how Sen. Raoul has stepped up to confront them during his career in public service and his desire to continue his advocacy as the people’s attorney. […]

Raoul also announced the endorsement of Congressman Danny Davis today.

“This ad is a testament to Kwame’s ability to win on behalf of victims and our communities,” Congressman Danny Davis said. “With so much on the line for families and neighborhoods across the state, we need an attorney general who is ready, willing and able to get the job done,” Congressman Danny Davis said.

The Raoul campaign also enjoys the support of Congresswoman Robin Kelly.

“Since filling President Obama’s seat in the state senate, Kwame has fought tirelessly to pass laws to keep us safe and reform our criminal justice system. Kwame’s work has led to laws which modernize our juvenile justice system, place tougher accountability measures on police, strengthen the state’s gun laws and prioritize prosecuting violent criminals instead of locking up low-level non-violent offenders,” said Congresswoman Robin Kelly about the ad.

The ad will air on broadcast and digital platforms.

Kwame Raoul was born on the South Side of Chicago to Haitian-born immigrants. As a lifelong resident of Illinois, Kwame is committed to safe neighborhoods. In 2004, Kwame was appointed to fill the vacancy left in the 13th Legislative District by former State Senator Barack Obama’s election to the U.S. Senate. Kwame quickly gained the confidence of leaders to handle difficult negotiations and landmark legislation including the abolition of the death penalty, expanding access to healthcare and the strongest voting rights protections in the country.

To date, his attorney general bid has been endorsed by organized labor organizations including Illinois AFL-CIO and the Chicago Teachers Union. His campaign has also received the support of local Democratic activists across the state representing Cook, Kankakee, Madison and St. Clair counties.

* Rate it…

* Transcript of Raoul’s narration…

Crime.
Gun violence.
Whole communities left behind.
As a prosecutor, I saw the pain it causes.
When Barack Obama was called up to the U.S. Senate, I was called upon to fill his seat.
So I did what I knew: protect people and their rights, reform the criminal justice system to keep people safe and crack down on online predators who prey on our children.
This is the work of my life…and I’m just getting started.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 8:59 am

Comments

Nice ad to introduce the candidate.

So when does Pat go up with his?

Comment by m Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:05 am
Abolition of the death penalty was a good thing?

Comment by Blue dog dem Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:06 am
So that’s what all that big tobacco money can buy.

Comment by Trump2020 Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:09 am
It’s quite good. Raoul’s problem is not when he’s packaged, it’s how he reacts in unscripted settings like the Tribune forum.

Comment by DarkHorse Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:09 am
It’s a good ad. Solid first piece.

Comment by A guy Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:11 am
Quinn should air the video of Barack, Michelle and Joe Biden endorsing him at big public events.

I’ve always heard that PBO was never a huge fan of Kwame.

Comment by Sugar Corn Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:11 am
the ad seems a little rushed but otherwise good. He should switch out death penalty with his work passing conceal carry for a downstate ad.

Comment by #UnionVoter Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:13 am
Good opener, but will he have enough in the tank to overcome the Pat Quinn name ID? A lot of candidates in that race and Quinn is number one on the ballot.

Comment by DuPage Bard Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:15 am
It’s pretty Kool.

Comment by City Zen Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:16 am
It is in this primary, Blue Dog.

Comment by Conn Smythe Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:29 am
Well played, CityZen @ 9:16. Very well played.

Comment by Northsider Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:30 am
Death penalty isn’t mentioned in the ad.

Comment by Can Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:33 am
Don’t put opaque text over a bright white background (at second 24)! Otherwise pretty good.

Comment by WSJ Paywall Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:37 am
–Death penalty isn’t mentioned in the ad.–

Don’t feed the troll. He’s desperate for any attention.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:38 am
I give the ad a B-. It’s better than his online roll out, but I still think it leaves much wanting.

If you watch the ad with the sound off all you see is pictures of Barack Obama. I’m not sure if this is enough to break through the white noise of the primary. What’s his message? That he filled Obama’s State Senate seat?

Comment by Boone's is Back Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:39 am
– What’s his message? That he filled Obama’s State Senate seat?–

He’s the only one who can say that. It’s his USP in a very crowded Democratic primary field.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:41 am
My bad. To the post,

Pretty good first ad. The non-Quinn voters are going to have to get behind one non-Quinn candidate. We’ll see if Kwame can be that candidate.

Comment by Can Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:42 am
A-.

Wraps himself up in Obama. Smart. With respect to Boone 9:39, I think you are looking at it too logically, rather than visually.

Says he is against online predators. Who isn’t but still smart for an intro ad.

Only quibble: I think I would have started with the Obama shot rather than “prosecutor” - seemed like every scene of the ad was superior to the first shot.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:44 am
I don’t think I’m that much of an outlier, but the only place I see these ads is here. If I have the tv on, it’s either WTTW or Netflix/Amazon. I think campaigns are going to have to address that fact, because I’m not the only one.

Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:49 am
Death penalty?

If anything, the ad portrays him as more of a “law-and-order” candidate than anything else, which I find a bit surprising. (Maybe his polling shows Dem primary voters respond more positively to tough-on-crime messaging than some might think?)

Solid B. I like the “just getting started” tagline.

Comment by Roman Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:50 am
He forgot the part where he takes campaign money from tobacco companies and helps Madigan draw up gerrymandered districts.

Comment by Avery Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:58 am
He’s going to need more than “I filled Obama’s seat” because Trump can say the same thing. Pat Quinn is still the favorite in this race.

Comment by Glass half full Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 10:05 am
Excellent ad. It hits on all the key points and brings up Obama who is the most popular figure in Illinois.

Comment by Tom Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 10:08 am
Good ad. Ties him to Obama. Reaches for fear of online predators. Plays well in Chicago and suburbs.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 10:08 am
It’s too bad the AG doesn’t deal with all that stuff he touts in the ad. Looks nice, though.

Grade: B.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 10:11 am
C- for being misleading. The Attorney General’s Office does not do much in terms of criminal prosecutions (sometimes, yes, but not too often as the office’s primary function is different) that is the job of the State’s Attorneys. Raoul, whose law practice had been in Evanston, actively sought to replace Obama in the State Senate and made generous contributions to the ward committeemen choosing a replacement. It is a stretch to say that he was called upon when he solicited for it.

Comment by Skeptical Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 10:24 am
- Arthur Anderson - and - Skeptical -

True, the AG is not really much of a prosecutor. I’m just relieve we have a candidate who is not spitting out the ol’ “fight corruption” cliche. The AG’s office has very little to do with that too, but that never stops the candidates from pretending like they’re running for US Attorney.

Comment by Roman Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 10:40 am
C-; strange that Raoul is going with the “prosecutor” story. There are three fed prosecutors in this race. By using this storyline, Raoul has ceded the message to them, generally, and Drury, specifically. Raoul’s generic message - beyond highlighting his inexperience- will not win the day.

Comment by Disgruntled Laborer Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 10:44 am
That’s a very good ad.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 10:55 am
He zones in on sexual predators as his main talking point. That’s a Lisa Madigan tactic for sure.

Comment by State worker Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 11:37 am
Not a bad short intro ad. As others have mentioned, Kwame talks about issues of public concern some of which are not necessarily in the AG’s wheelhouse. But candidates do that all the time in ads. The Obama seat reference and picture was a good choice for the intro. B grade.

Comment by Responsa Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 2:10 pm
It’s so obnoxious that Kwame compares himself so often to Barack Obama. Obama, you’re not, sir.

Comment by Anon Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 3:40 pm
I guess that’s what big tobacco money can get you. Most voters are uniformed about his HUGE conflict of interest. This ad is decent but he’s got a ways to go.

Comment by Powerpuff Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 3:44 pm
Glass Half Full, you raise an excellent point.

Comment by Soccermom Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 4:40 pm
7 of 10 which is good for his introduction to a few million folks that have never heard of him.

Comment by NorthsideNoMore Friday, Feb 2, 18 @ 9:07 am