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YouTube

* Press release…

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin’s reelection campaign is releasing a new television advertisement highlighting Durbin’s efforts to provide rural fire and emergency medical services (EMS) agencies the critical funding they need to serve their communities.

Durbin’s legislation, the SIREN Act, authorized new funding for a federal grant program that supports rural EMS agencies in training and recruiting staff and purchasing equipment—for everything from opioid overdose treatment drug Naloxone and first aid kits, to power stretchers and new ambulances. The bipartisan bill was enacted into law as part of the 2018 Farm Bill.

“Now more than ever, we’ve got to stand up and support our first responders–and make sure our emergency services in rural Illinois have the resources they need,” said Durbin. “The SIREN Act helps firefighters and EMTs–who are struggling to keep up with COVID but also other issues like the opioid epidemic and the aging population in rural America. I’m proud to continue the fight to strengthen rural healthcare and emergency response.”

Local communities in Illinois are already taking advantage of the new grant program. The Ambulance & Fire Protection District of Amboy, Illinois was recently awarded $120,000 in funding, which they will use to train new EMTs and paramedics, and train their existing staff on telehealth for opioid care. The agency provides EMS services for a 200 square mile area in Lee County.

* The ad…

* Script…

MARK KENNEDY, EMT, NAUVOO, IL:

When it comes to medical emergencies, out here, every second counts.

Delays can be fatal.

So I asked Senator Durbin to help EMTs and firefighters to save our rural communities.

He listened, and led the fight to pass the SIREN Act–to recruit and train first responders, to buy the equipment we need to save lives.

My community counts on me. It’s good to know that we can count on Senator Durbin.

NARRATOR:
Dick Durbin, a Senator for times like these.

DICK DURBIN:
I’m Dick Durbin, and I approve this message.

* The Question: Your rating? Make sure to explain. Thanks.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 1:22 pm

Comments

That’s a solid ad. This is a great example that, despite all of the noise of politics, there are important things an elected official can do to help communities in tangible, meaningful ways.

It’s not sexy, it’s just someone doing his job without pretense or much fanfare. He’s in the minority party yet can still get things done for Illinois, which is a rare skill these days.

It’s classic Durbin and that’s why this ad will work in Chicago or any media market in the state. It’s not about rural Illinois per se, it’s about listening to people and solving problems. I think that’s a big part of the Durbin brand.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 1:31 pm
B+/a. Its just refreshing to see a positive sometimes. Sidenote, has his opponent run any ads? I’ve yet to see one.

Comment by Imaginary brass rings Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 1:31 pm
I give the Ad an A. He’s showing he’s senator to all of Illinois.

Comment by PublicServant Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 1:32 pm
A. I think this should be aired in Chicagoland as well to show what it looks like to have leadership that represents all corners of this diverse state.

Comment by NIU Grad Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 1:35 pm
A - works upstate/downstate.

Simple message - “I had a need for my community” My Senator helped fix it.

The finer details of the add…

The speaker is from Nauvoo - but Durbin is holding an Amboy firemans hat - and the EMS bus is from New Berlin.

Looks like the video over all is fresh of the ambulance, drone shot is of corn and soybean fields nearing harvest. That part I like. Just not some stock footage from May or June.

Comment by Cool Papa Bell Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 1:48 pm
Homerun.

A reminder that, party affiliation aside, Illinoisans are in this together.

Comment by Anyone Remember Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 2:00 pm
B-

“Politician is pro-firefighter” ain’t quite “the audacity of hope,” so I can’t justify giving it an A+. It’s definitely effective in that its positive tone might stand apart from the other negative noise to which we’ve all grown so accustomed. Also effective in that it demonstrates what kinds of tangible things a Senator can accomplish on Capitol Hill — something that can easily become drowned out in today’s cable news environment.

Comment by Sensitive Nancy Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 2:01 pm
An effective ‘feel good’ ad that really does not speak to major issues such as economic development, taxes, immigration, etc.

Comment by Unconventionalwisdom Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 2:13 pm
A+

Really like that firefighter’s voice as a narrator. Think it’s better than the actual voice-over artist’s at the end of the ad.

“A senator for times like these” is a good tagline too.

Wonder if this will get into my TV market’s rotation soon. Only other Durbin ad I have seen this cycle was in the last week or so with the brew-pub guy who is pro-Durbin. That commercial always seems to come on right before or after the anti-fair tax ad with a different restaurant owner.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 2:16 pm
A+ only we could do more…very nice add. Will bring some relief from all negatives

Comment by Annonin' Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 2:21 pm
A+. Like the brew pub small biz owner, the firefighter tells you Durbin delivers for Illinoisans.

Comment by Scott Cross for President Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 2:33 pm
It’s an “A”

Short, simple, sweet, first responder, solved a constituent problem, “here for us”

Textbook.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 4:11 pm
A+. I spent 10 years as a Volunteer Firefighter in a small department down in the Metro East area. We had very little money and answered a lot of calls. It would’ve been great to have the help of Senator Durbin back then. This shows he’s not just a big city guy and helping those in the small towns who can use the funds.

Comment by Club J Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 4:16 pm
Wow. Am I too accustomed to negative advertising? That was one of the best positive, 30 second ads I’ve seen in… ever…? Finding something to nitpick is difficult.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 4:51 pm
Great Ad. It affects everyday people.
Perfect example of: “All Politics Is Local”.

Comment by Chris Waller Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 7:04 pm
I don’t like Durbin, haven’t for many, many years (it’s personal and political), so I find it hard to say anything nice about him. But he did deliver in this case, and his people know how to produce good ads.

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 10:32 pm
Dick Durbin is such a great guy and I am proud to call him my Senator.

Comment by Saluki Babe Friday, Oct 9, 20 @ 3:17 am