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Halvorson’s new ad

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* It’s a pretty tiny buy, but the DCCC is reportedly spending $39,000 or $46,000 on this TV ad for Sen. Debbie Halvorson…

* Martin Ozinga’s campaign unleashed an attack on the ad that probably has all the negative talking points they’ll use in the campaign…

1. As hundreds of longtime civil servants were being laid off, Halvorson got her 23-year-old daughter a $40,000-per-year job with Rod Blagojevich.

2. As working families were struggling, Halvorson voted to raise her salary and Rod Blagojevich’s salary.

3. As electricity bills were set to skyrocket, Halvorson opposed the electric rate freeze after taking $20,000 from the big utility companies.

4. As voters were demanding ethics in government, Halvorson voted to forgive her own campaign finance fines that she had received for violating election law.

5. As taxpayers were being squeezed, Halvorson accepted illegal campaign contributions from a taxpayer-funded park district.

6. As Illinois was reeling from Rod Blagojevich’s failed agenda, Halvorson stood with Blagojevich every single time to curry his favor and climb the political ladder. She voted for his job-killing Gross Receipts Tax, opposed and bottled up the ethics reform bill, sabotaged the recall amendment, and voted with him to raid veterans’ home funds.

Oy.

* The Politico comments…

It’s only the second ad the DCCC has aired so far this election. The decision to go up so early with a positive spot suggests that Halvorson’s campaign could use a re-branding. She’s been taking her share of hits – fueled by the state GOP – for her connections to ethically-troubled Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

* Notice that the ad never mentions her experience as an Illinois state senator or her Majority Leader job…

“The Middle Class is getting squeezed. Debbie Halvorson knows we’re working harder and getting less, that’s why she led the fight to lower prescription drug costs for Illinois seniors, and Halvorson helped give thousands of children and working families affordable health insurance. Now she wants to take our fight to Congress. She’ll take on George Bush’s Policies. And bring common sense back to our government. Debbie Halvorson, a fighter for us.”

* The very early DCCC spending and the possible “rebranding” could mean some polling weaknesses, particularly against Martin Ozinga. Back to the Politico piece…

Her opponent, GOP concrete magnate, Marty Ozinga has already been up with two television ads of his own defining himself as an independent politician.

* And Ozinga’s campaign is slamming Halvorson for her fundraiser tonight with embattled Congresscritter Charlie Rangel, and mixes in the House GOP “debate” on oil prices…

How can Debbie Halvorson claim – with a straight face – that she’s looking out for the middle class if she’s happily lapping up campaign cash from the same people who have shut down Congress while working families are struggling with high gas prices?

Halvorson has never demonstrated a penchant for standing up to Rod Blagojevich or big-money special interests in the state Senate. But we remain optimistic she’ll do the right thing in this case – an election tends to bring out the best in politicians with guilty consciences.

One thing is certain: If Debbie Halvorson doesn’t find the courage to stand up for working families now, then she needs to find something else – a job other than “Representative.”

* Meanwhile, what does it say about our national political discourse when a woman best known for a leaked porn video releases a mock political ad that’s more statespersonlike than either presidential candidate? [Just kidding… kinda]

* And what does this say about our national reporters?….

After this morning’s campaign event here with Sen. Barack Obama, this state’s junior senator [Sen. Evan Bayh, who has been suggested as a possible running mate for Obama] lingered to shake hands with supporters and graciously took a couple questions from this reporter….

What did you pick up from the body language today?

“I don’t know how to comment on that. I’m not an expert on body language,” he said.

Body language? I hope that was snark.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 12:21 pm

Comments

Does the ad writer realize that if elected, Halvorson will be taking on George Bush’s Policies for about 17 days? Or is he assuming that John McCain will win and Halvorson will be taking on a 3rd term of George Bush Policies?

Comment by Downers Delight Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 12:29 pm
LOL, DD. Good point.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 12:36 pm
The DNCC has placed another buy on cable that will start in mid-October and run through the election. The schedule is about $75,000.

Comment by Hanging Chad Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 12:37 pm
I was about to ay that 46K doesn’t seem like a lot, but with a 75K buy (and no doubt targeted on cable) that is a fair amount.

Esp since with You-tube a good ad can get lots of “free” air time. Not that I think that ad is at all YT quality….

Comment by Pat collins Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 12:42 pm
PC, I totally agree about the cost effectiveness and targetability of cable, and not because they’re advertising here. In fact, I’m the one who suggested to them that they needed to get their message out about how effective they could be for campaigns.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 12:47 pm
DD…I totally agree

Comment by scoot Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 1:09 pm
Obama may choose Bayh for VP…he almost can’t choose another woman, (HRC supporters would foam at the mouth) and IN is an important state for BO to claim on 11/4…

Comment by anon56 Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 1:13 pm
===HRC supporters would foam at the mouth===

I’m just not buying that. Maybe a tiny handful, but they’re probably not gonna be with him anyway.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 1:15 pm
This is not a good ad. Let me tell you why…

==“The Middle Class is getting squeezed. (Insert Candidate’s name here) knows we’re working harder and getting less, that’s why she led the fight to lower prescription drug costs for Illinois seniors, and (Insert Candidate’s name here) helped give thousands of children and working families affordable health insurance. Now she wants to take our fight to Congress. She’ll take on George Bush’s Policies. And bring common sense back to our government. (Insert Candidate’s name here), a fighter for us.”==

This ad is forgettable, but Debbie Halvorson is not. Is this what the DCCC does? Injects unfamiliar staffers into a local campaign and places ads that could have been made anywhere for any Democrat? It looks like her own new staffers don’t know who Debbie Halvorson is themselves!

Debbie has issues that voters in the 11th know she needs to address. Running a national campaign a-la-DCCC isn’t going to address those issues in a way to get her that win in November.

It is ridiculous for her staff to shy away from her political accomplishments. When ads like this are ran, they play into Ozinga’s hand strengthening his campaign’s focus on local and state issues and his accusation that Debbie is nothing but another politician. What Halvorson needs to do is define herself positively as a successful state leader. Voters want power too, and she has it. She needs to tell them how she has made her political success work for them, and how she will use her political power in Washington to help them next year. She needs to define herself and not let Ozinga do it instead.

And enough with “George Bush’s Policies”. Bush hatred is so 2006. He isn’t running and voters are looking forwards. This is another take on why the DCCC is not working for Debbie like they should.

These people are tone-deaf and mailing it in from the Beltway, when she needs to stay in peak condition. This is no way to pick up a congressional district.

Ozinga needs to cool his jets too. The momentum is on his side and he needs to be careful not to appear a bully against a nice lady. Voters like underdogs. When Ozinga pounces on Halvorson like he is doing here, he runs the risk of turning her into that “fighter for the little people”, by belittling her.

Andy Sere needs to be cognizant of the public image of Halvorson. She is a nice lady. Play nice. When you hit, ensure you do so a-la-Durbin, (eyes bowed, mushy-mouth, appear apologetic), so that you don’t come off as an oaf. While she is a professional politician, and can knife-fight as well as anyone else, her image strength is that of a nice mommy - no one wants to see mommy roughed up.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 1:17 pm
The DCCC is not spending any money on a photo shoot. A cheap ad with photos and B roll is all they have here.

Comment by Uh, wait a second? Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 1:27 pm
Seems to me that Ozinga’s poll numbers are poor and that is why he has decided to put out the first negative ad against Halvorson.

I also agree with vanillaman’s point regarding all politics being local. If the DCCC is indeed calling the shots on Halvorson’s campaign and is not listening to local input she is making a very grave mistake.

Comment by stones902 Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 2:09 pm
Stones902 - Ozinga has not put out a negative ad against Halvorson…

Comment by SalukiDog Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 2:35 pm
Right-o.
Ozinga has put out two really well done ads about him.

Nothing negative on Halvorson.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 4:08 pm
I’m thinking Paris Hilton for governor.

Comment by Vote Quimby! Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 4:21 pm
Couldn’t possibly be worse.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 4:23 pm
BREAKING NEWS: Lead political blogger Rich Miller endorses Paris Hilton for Governor.

You would probably have more competition….

Comment by Vote Quimby! Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 4:50 pm
Wow, Ozinga for IL GOP State Chair! Somebody please take a note as Ozinga seems to have a good ad at least and is hitting Halverson where it hurts and people can relate to.

Comment by Wumpus Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 6:39 pm
Watched the Ozinga and Halvorson ads. Both lame. Deb’s is just a shade better, uninspired, but indicating some experience on the job. Ozinga’s “not a politician” theme could easily become “not ready for the job.”

Liked Hilton’s position on energy, but it mirrors Obama’s current position. Her people need to move faster to keep up. Also, at 27, she can be a Congresswoman (House), but not President. She is old enough to hold any of Illinois’ constitutional offices.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 11:27 pm
Halvorson probably will still win on coattails, but this race is a golden opportunity I never would have expected.

Comment by T.J. Thursday, Aug 7, 08 @ 1:45 am
If we elect Paris Hilton gov then she can hook up with KFan and IL can have its own brangelina style power couple….

Comment by Ghost Thursday, Aug 7, 08 @ 8:28 am
This seems to be a pure name ID play.

Comment by Jimmy Thursday, Aug 7, 08 @ 10:01 am