Click here to listen to "Taxes Hurt."

A new radio ad chastising former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D) is the target of a complaint filed last week by the New Hampshire Democratic Party with the Federal Elections Commission. State Democrats allege that the nonprofit group Americans For Job Security has violated elections laws by disguising itself as an issues organization while running political advertisements on behalf of Shaheen's opponent in the Senate campaign, incumbent John Sununu (R). Americans For Job Security President Stephen DeMaura called the claims "completely baseless."

"Shaheen pledged to oppose any new taxes," an announcer says in "Taxes Hurt" (subscription), "but she broke her pledge and proposed millions in new taxes -- taxes that hurt New Hampshire, taxes that hurt families, taxes that have cost New Hampshire jobs." Another announcer urges viewers to call Shaheen and "tell her to oppose higher taxes on New Hampshire families."

This is the first race the group has engaged in for this election season, but it is looking at "multiple" contests throughout the country, DeMaura said.

Click here to listen to "Independence."

Partisan fighting stymied efforts on the Hill aimed at addressing rising gas prices this month. Now, as lawmakers head home for July 4 recess with nothing to show constituents on the issue that tops most voters' priority lists, politicians are playing the blame game on oil prices.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is hoping to capitalize on what it bills as Republicans' refusal to compromise on energy policy. The DCCC launched radio ads in 13 congressional districts today, targeting GOP incumbents who, according to a release, "stand with George Bush and Big Oil while America's middle class families are being squeezed by the highest gas prices in history." The ads will play throughout the July 4 weekend.

The ads feature a Bush impersonator leaving a message on an answering machine for each of the targeted Republicans, thanking them for cooperating with his "Big Oil energy agenda." "Hayes-ey, Dubya here," begins a North Carolina version (subscription) aimed at Rep. Robin Hayes. "'Preciate you voting to keep giving billions in tax breaks to the big oil companies," the Bush sound-alike says.

Continue reading "Gas Gouging" »

Click here to watch "Purpose."

In a new ad released today, "Purpose" (subscription), John McCain continues his theme of energy independence as a quest not unlike the mission to the moon in the 1960s.

"American technology protected the world. We went to the moon, not because it was easy, but because it was hard," an announcer says in the ad. "John McCain will call America to our next national purpose: energy security."

On Wednesday, McCain finally put a name to the energy plan he has been shaping -- the Lexington Project -- and asserted that it will overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles, just like John F. Kennedy's call for a moon mission did nearly half a century ago. The ad reflects McCain's call for "domestic drilling" and "energy alternatives."

The ad never mentions the Republican senator's party affiliation. Perhaps in an attempt to target independent voters -- who are going for Democrat Barack Obama in several swing states, according to new polling -- the announcer stresses that it's a "bipartisan plan."

Click here to watch "Lifetime Of Service."

Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., a former congressman appointed in December to fill the seat of retiring Sen. Trent Lott, faces a strong challenger in the race to secure the seat for the remainder of Lott's term -- until 2012. Former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove's run represents the best chance Mississippi Democrats have had in two decades to wrest a Senate seat from the GOP.

Wicker certainly does not seem to be taking anything for granted in his contest with Musgrove, establishing an early fundraising lead and putting it to work on the airwaves. He has already released three TV ads, all of which target the Gulf Coast region -- an area where he is seeking to build name recognition, since he represented the northeast corner of the state in the House.

His first two ads, "Friend Of The Coast" (subscription) and "Fighting For Our Coast" (subscription), highlight Wicker's efforts in securing "billions" of dollars for reconstruction after Hurricane Katrina decimated the area in 2005. Both ads cite a headline from the Biloxi Sun Herald claiming, "We already owe Roger Wicker a debt of thanks." "Fighting For Our Coast" shows Wicker talking with local leaders Biloxi Mayor A.J. Holloway and General Joe Spraggins about the after-effects of the storm. "You and Senator [Thad] Cochran did a fantastic job to get things pushed through for us," Spraggins proclaims.

Continue reading "Magnolia State Matchup" »

Click here to watch "Truth."

How desperate is Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., to disassociate himself from the GOP brand this year? His latest ad features words of praise from none other than Barack Obama.

In response to attack ads from an outside group, Smith released a new TV spot (subscription) Tuesday claiming that he and Obama worked together in the Senate to raise fuel standards for American cars.

"Who said Gordon Smith helped lead the fight for better gas mileage and a cleaner environment? Barack Obama," an announcer says. The spot goes on to claim that Smith and Obama together "broke through a 20-year deadlock to pass new laws which increase gas mileage for automobiles." It also cites Gov. Ted Kulongoski's (D) praise for the two senators' "bipartisan partnership on this critical issue." At the end of the ad, Smith appears onscreen to deliver the same tagline that has close his previous ads: "I’m Gordon Smith, and I approve working together across party lines and this ad."

Continue reading "Obamacans For Senate" »

Click here to watch "Desert."

That's the message Rep. Tom Udall has for Washington in a new ad, "Desert" (subscription), released today. The Democrat is up against GOP Rep. Steve Pearce in the race for the Senate seat of retiring Republican Pete Domenici.

Shown in an arid region of the state, Udall says in the 30-second spot that "people in Washington think New Mexico is nothing but desert. They don’t think about our people and our jobs." He goes on to recount the ways he has helped the state in Congress, including issues related to defense and energy research.

New polling suggests Pearce is facing a steeper and steeper climb against Udall after his narrow primary victory in May over rival Rep. Heather Wilson. After trailing by 16 points in May, the Republican now faces a gap nearly twice that.

Click here to watch "Truth."

After enduring a slew of attacks from his GOP gubernatorial primary opponent, state Treasurer Sarah Steelman, on everything from fiscal responsibility to Viagra (subscription), Rep. Kenny Hulshof went up with a response ad over the weekend. In "Truth" (subscription), Hulshof contends that Steelman has distorted the facts of his voting record to portray him as a "far-out left-winger."

"It's clear Sarah Steelman doesn't have any ideas or visions to present, so she's been trying desperately to take this campaign into the mud," said Hulshof spokesman Scott Baker. "The nature of our response is to just have Kenny on screen looking into the camera saying that he's going to do everything he can to elevate the discussion and talk about Missouri's future."

After asserting his conservative credentials, Hulshof concludes the ad by saying, "Sarah can spend all the money she wants on phony attack ads. I'll spend my time talking about Missouri's future."

Baker said Steelman has been criticized by members of the Missouri delegation for her attacks on Hulshof. Another ad released last week by a new 527 group calling on Steelman to stop the attacks reiterates how low the Steelman campaign has stooped in the campaign, Baker said. Responding to the accusation that the group behind the ad, Americans For A Better America, is somehow tied to the Hulshof campaign, Baker brushed it off as "nonsense."

Click here to watch "Words."

Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words... can get you in a pretty big mess too. Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain is up with a new Web ad today that attacks Democratic rival Barack Obama for his decision to opt out of the public finance system. The ad, called "Words," uses Obama's against him in an attempt to show that the Illinois senator flip-flopped on his position supporting the system.

The spot highlights various speeches and interviews Obama has given, including those where he pledged to work with the Arizona senator, as well as the video message he sent out informing supporters of his decision to forgo public financing. The ad repeats a clip of Obama saying "don't tell me words don't matter" while displaying various media reports chastising him for his change in positions.

Even though the two raised roughly even amounts of money in May, Obama has continually surpassed McCain in his fundraising efforts, which could help explain some of his reasoning for opting out. With his campaign raising a record-breaking amount nearing $300 million so far -- far more than the meager $84 million specified in the public finance system -- clearly Obama doesn't need the taxpayer help.

Click here to listen to "Pat."

From traffic congestion and gas taxes to sexual predators and foster care, one conservative organization is keeping busy berating Washington state Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) on a host of issues.

The latest round of radio ads from the Olympia-based group It's Time For A Change is designed to pull at voters' heartstrings, claiming Gregoire has failed to help resolve the state's problems on two emotionally charged issues involving children.

In "Pat" (subscription), Patricia Gibbs of Tacoma says that after her granddaughter was sexually assaulted, the perpetrator got off with "5 1/2 months in jail" and "counseling." An announcer adds that "hundreds of dangerous child predators have eluded justice" in Washington state on Gregoire's watch. "The governor has made it easier for these perpetrators to get away with what they want to do," Gibbs concludes. "I don't know how she can go to sleep at night."

In "Mary" (subscription), former court-appointed special advocate Mary Radcliffe tells the story of a family of foster children living in poverty, and an announcer complains that Gregoire has vetoed millions of dollars in funds to the state foster care system. "I think Governor Gregoire has failed," says Radcliffe.

Continue reading "Looking Out For The Kids" »

Click here to watch "Missouri Values."

Missouri Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R) is getting some help in his gubernatorial primary bid against state Treasurer Sarah Steelman from a new 527 group -- whether he planned on it or not.

The Missouri-based Americans For A Better America launched a new ad, "Missouri Values" (subscription), that criticizes Steelman for her attacks against Hulshof. The ad triggered a lawsuit filed on behalf of a Steelman supporter who claims the organization violated Missouri's campaign finance law by not filing certain papers by required deadlines.

"Sarah Steelman is in full attack-and-mislead mode," an announcer says in the ad. "But her attack ads don’t change the truth, just confirm who we can trust as our next governor -- Kenny Hulshof."

Continue reading "The 'Values' Of Litigation" »

Click here to watch "Country I Love."

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is up with his first TV ad of the general election today. The spot, "Country I Love," is a reintroduction to the candidate after the long primary campaign. It focuses on patriotism and seeks to strike back at charges of elitism by painting him as a regular, hard-working American with traditional values.

The spot begins by discussing Obama's family and upbringing, being "raised by a single mom and my grandparents." Against a background of soothing guitar music, the Illinois senator stresses that they were not wealthy, but "they taught me values straight from the Kansas heartland," including "self-reliance" and "love of country."

Continue reading "Meet Barack" »

In broadcast ads launching this week in the Washington metro area, the United Commercial Food Workers union urges viewers to take a critical look at the pork industry. The group isn't targeting the culture of earmark spending on Capitol Hill, but rather the treatment of workers at the Smithfield Packing plant in North Carolina, according to the Raleigh News & Observer.

In one of the spots, a former pig herder tells of being trampled by hogs at Smithfield's plant, the largest meat-processing plant in the world. "Don't buy Smithfield pork; it's packaged with abuse," an annoucer warns. The union hopes that the ads will lead people to think about what brand of pork they buy, but the company calls the ad blitz "desperate" and warns that it will only hurt workers by costing the industry jobs.

In another intersection of food and politics, the presidential race is pervading promotions for products like Unilever's I Can't Believe It's Not Butter margarine spread. A new series of ads shows the brand's female cartoon mascot running for president of the refrigerator, the New York Times reports. Svedka vodka is also trying to seize on the hype with a wonky campaign that includes ads like this one.

A Dallas-area Kia dealership, meanwhile, used a Barack Obama impersonator in a recent television spot, U.S. News & World Report writes. Jon Stewart last week poked fun at the commercial, which plays on Obama's "Yes We Can" catchphrase.

In other advertising news:

Continue reading "Outside The Spotlight: Food For Thought" »

Click here to watch "Comes Through."

President Bush, Arizona Sen. John McCain and a slew of other Republican lawmakers are calling to lift the ban on offshore drilling, but that's not the only place they're hoping to uncover oil. Some Rocky Mountain states, including Wyoming, Utah and Colorado, are also under the spotlight after Bush pushed Wednesday to harvest oil from shale found in the region.

Just the thing to add fuel to the fire in a heated race between the two Colorado Senate candidates, former congressman and current energy executive Bob Schaffer (R) and Rep. Mark Udall (D). The League of Conservation Voters, an environmental advocacy group, is up with a new ad (subscription) scrutinizing Schaffer's track record with oil companies.

"In Congress, Bob Schaffer voted to give $13 billion in tax breaks to gas and big oil," an announcer says in the ad. "Schaffer then became an executive at a big oil company and went to Iraq to secure a contract for Iraqi oil. So it’s no surprise that Schaffer’s campaigns have taken $150,000 from gas and big oil." The 30-second spot reiterates claims the organization put forth in another ad (subscription) at the end of May.

Continue reading "Bob's Big Oil Record" »

Click here to watch "Hulshof's Viagra Vote."

Who cares about having faith in God, supporting family values, banning partial-birth abortions or other traditionally conservative issues when you've got Viagra to fight about?

That's what the two GOP candidates in the Missouri governor's race think is important as they take jabs at one another's voting records on this atypical, albeit stimulating, election topic. State Treasurer Sarah Steelman and Rep. Kenny Hulshof each claim the other has supported legislation that would use taxpayer money to fund Viagra pills. The quarrel was initially confined to their recent debates. But the Steelman campaign has taken it one step further with the new ad (subscription) it released Tuesday.

"Viagra. That little blue pill used to enhance recreational sex. If you’re on Medicaid or Medicare, the federal government pays for it," an announcer says, while highlighting Hulshof's voting record on the issue. The ad then contrasts the position of current Gov. Matt Blunt, who the ad quotes as opposing a "frivolous use of taxpayer dollars." The announcer concludes, "Congressman Hulshof disagrees. His Washington thinking? Viagra for all, and taxpayers pay for it."

The new ad is Steelman's second attack on Hulshof's voting record. The other one (subscription), released June 11, sticks to a more PG-rated topic, calling him out more generally regarding his "wasteful spending record" in Congress.

Click here to watch "Millions."

The Alliance For Climate Protection, former Vice President Al Gore's green advocacy group, has launched the latest TV ad (subscription) in its "We" campaign, a $300 million effort to mobilize public opinion on climate change. While previous ads (subscription) run by the group feature big names, the new spot shows average Americans who claim to disagree on many fundamental issues, but who have been united by their common desire to fight the effects of global warming.

"We are more than a million strong, from across America," the announcer proclaims. Six pairs of people come to sit down together on the couch that has appeared in each of the "We" campaign ads, each holding signs that express their differences. "Burgers" and "tofu," reads one pair, while others highlight "blue collar" and "white collar," "East Coast" and "West Coast." The pairs are physically very different, as well, and the spot closes with a young white boy and an older black woman sharing a sign that simply says: "We." "You can’t solve the climate crisis alone, but together, we can," the announcer concludes, urging viewers to visit the organization's Web site.

“This new ad speaks to the momentum we are already seeing, as everyday people from vastly different backgrounds come together to speak out for change. The movement is building and the word is spreading," AFCP CEO Cathy Zoi said in a press release announcing the ad. The group's Web site currently boasts 1,328,618 members.

Click here to watch "Guts And Independence."

In a new TV ad released Monday, Oregon Sen. Gordon Smith is sticking to a strategy common among Republican incumbents this cycle: avoiding any mention of party ID. "Guts And Independence" (subscription) features two local Democratic leaders endorsing Smith instead of Democratic challenger Jeff Merkley, and Smith is never labeled as a Republican.

State Sen. Avel Gordly and former Rep. Elizabeth Furse sit side by side and speak straight to the camera, offering their reasons for supporting Smith in his re-election bid. They cite Smith's opposition to the Iraq war and willingness "to stand up to George Bush and other Republicans" as evidence of his "independence." They pledge to voters: "You can trust him. We do." Smith appears on screen at the end to place his stamp of approval on "working together across party lines," a tagline borrowed from his first general election ad, Middle Ground" (subscription), which also stressed the senator's bipartisan approach.

With President Bush's job approval sinking to record lows, it's no wonder that GOP leaders from Washington are taking pains to distance themselves from the party and its figurehead. Meanwhile, Democrat Barack Obama is running ahead of John McCain in the presidential contest in Oregon, according to recent polls, meaning that it could prove harder for a Republican to win in a downballot race. But Smith maintains a significant fundraising advantage over Merkley, who has yet to go up with any TV ads in the general.

Click here to watch "Not Alex."

It may not be a Super Tuesday in the traditional sense, but it sure is one busy day for John McCain. He's touting his commitment to the global warming fight in a new ad (subscription) while calling for domestic drilling to lower gas prices in a speech today in Houston. Meanwhile, another ad (subscription) launched today attacks the presumptive GOP nominee for his willingness to stay in Iraq for "100 years."

MoveOn.org and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees' political action committee jointly released the new 30-second nationwide spot, which intends to tug at voters' heartstrings. In "Not Alex," a mother holds her infant child and says, "So, John McCain, when you said you would stay in Iraq for 100 years, were you counting on Alex? Because if you were, you can’t have him."

"McCain has tried to give voters the impression that he is a critic of the war in Iraq," said Eli Pariser, executive director of MoveOn.org, adding that the Arizona senator's voting record shows that he "has been with [President] Bush every step of the way" in supporting the war. "Our new ad sets the record straight and speaks for the millions of Americans who don't want to see another quagmire in Iraq by a President McCain."

Continue reading "Super Tuesday" »

Click here to watch "Crush."

With the bitter GOP primary battle finally over in the New Mexico Senate race, the general election campaign for the seat of retiring Sen. Pete Domenici (R) between Reps. Steve Pearce (R) and Tom Udall (D) has commenced.

Pearce will have to play catch-up to Udall, who coasted through the primary season, running unopposed. He capitalized on his head start by releasing two debut ads (subscription) last month with an eye toward the general election.

Udall, who represents the state's 3rd District, is now up with another ad, "Crush"(subscription), which blames President Bush for high gas, food and health care costs that an announcer says are "crushing America." After touting alternative energy and his plans to revolutionize health care, Udall concludes by asserting that "we have to make the economy work for the middle class again."

Campaign spokeswoman Marissa Padilla said Udall's voting record differs from Pearce's in key areas, such as the war in Iraq, which Udall does not support, but that the campaign is focusing on what Udall can offer the state rather than comparing the two. "Udall has a strong record as a prosecutor and an attorney general and a congressman, and we're working to highlight his record," Padilla said.

Click here to watch "Afford."

Former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D) and incumbent John Sununu (R) made their rematch for the New Hampshire Senate seat official over the last week. Sununu stressed in comments to reporters on Tuesday that he has broken from the Bush administration on several important issues and become an "independent voice" in the Senate. But Shaheen has gone on the offensive, launching the second TV ad of the race on the same day Sununu officially announced his re-election bid, seeking to tie him to Bush on everything from Iraq to the economy.

In "Afford" (subscription), Shaheen implies that Sununu is doing the bidding of special interests in Washington and claims that she will stand up for "New Hampshire families who are struggling."

The spot shows Shaheen speaking with voters at a gas station. "The price of fuel, it's just impacted everything," one man laments, and Shaheen says, "I think we need a senator in New Hampshire who's going to represent families in New Hampshire and not the oil companies." An announcer describes her plan to "crack down" on price gouging and end tax breaks for "big oil," while emphasizing that Shaheen "doesn't take money from oil company PACs."

Shaheen lost to Sununu by just 20,000 votes in 2002; this year, Democrats consider him to be one of the most vulnerable GOP senators up for re-election, and recent polls show him trailing.

Click here to watch "Hulshof's D.C. Record."

Things are getting a bit messy in the Missouri governor's race. From trashing each others' voting records to fighting over the "values" mantle, the two GOP contenders are going to great lengths to distinguish themselves from each other despite touting many of the same conservative views.

Rep. Kenny Hulshof and state Treasurer Sarah Steelman are both up with new ads. In "Values" (subscription), Hulshof emphasizes how his career as a prosecutor demonstrates that he knows the "value of hard work," "life" and "moral clarity," while Steelman is busy assailing the congressman's voting record, contending in her new ad (subscription) that Hulshof has "voted for 11,000 wasteful earmarks" and that "conservative groups give him a failing grade on wasteful spending."

Continue reading "Clashing Over Votes And Values" »

Click here to watch "John Cusack Gives The Bush-McCain Challenge."

MoveOn.org has gone Hollywood. In its latest TV ad, actor John Cusack quizzes voters on the differences -- or lack thereof -- between the presumptive GOP nominee and the current president. "Think you can tell President Bush apart from John McCain? Really?" asks Cusack in the ad (subscription). He then fires off a series of questions relating to the two politicians' stances on the Iraq war, health care and Social Security, which the ad contends are virtually identical. "Bet you can't tell them apart," Cusack says.

This is the second ad MoveOn.org has released in its "Bush-McCain Challenge" campaign, which also includes an online game and events around the country intended to draw parallels between the two Republicans. The first spot, released at the end of May, sent the same message but with a more satirical, less earnest tone.

Ilyse Hogue, communications director for MoveOn.org, said it "seemed natural" to work with Cusack on the ad since his take on the election is "really closely aligned" with MoveOn.org's: that a McCain administration would amount to another four years of President Bush's policies.

Continue reading "Lights, Cameras, (Political) Action" »

Click here to listen to "Cuba Prisoners."

John McCain is continuing his quest to close in on the solid lead Barack Obama has garnered among Latino voters.

Fresh on the heels of two Spanish radio ads the presumptive GOP nominee released last week in Nevada and New Mexico, the campaign launched another (subscription) in South Florida on Tuesday that focuses on Cuba. The 60-second spot features Roberto Martin Perez, who was a Cuban political prisoner for nearly three decades, relating to McCain's experience as a POW and taking a veiled shot at Obama, who has said he would meet with Cuban President Raul Castro. "As someone who has survived the harsh conditions of the Vietnamese prisons, John McCain knows that freedom in Cuba won't be achieved with concessions to dictatorships," Perez says in Spanish.

Continue reading "Operation Hispanic Vote" »

Click here to watch "Respected."

Colorado Rep. Mark Udall (D) isn't afraid to talk about the war on terror. During his bid to represent Colorado in the Senate, that's meant taking jabs at his GOP opponent, former Congressman Bob Schaffer, for "rubber-stamping" the Iraq war, showing his support for the 21st Century GI Bill on the steps of the state Capitol and, most recently, outlining his plans to protect the country in two new TV ads.

"It isn't just something you see; security is something you feel," Udall says in "Respected" (subscription), which began airing Tuesday in Denver. "That's why we've got to defeat al-Qaida where they're based -- in Afghanistan -- and finally hunt down Osama bin Laden."

Udall's other recent spot (subscription), released May 30 throughout Colorado, touches on his plans to revamp the military. "These days, maybe you're wondering, isn't there a better way to protect America?" Udall says in the ad. "I think so. Add an entire new division to our Army. Do right by our veterans."

Continue reading "One-Two Punch In Colorado" »

Click here to watch "Both."

What's the most effective way to attack a Republican candidate this election year? Judging by recent ads from MoveOn.org, Americans United for Change and a slew of other liberal groups, Democrats think the answer to that question will be much the same as it was in 2006: tie the candidate to the policies of President Bush.

The Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund, an environmental advocacy organization, is the most recent group to take up this line of attack, releasing its second ad of the New Mexico Senate race against Republican Rep. Steve Pearce. Pearce, who represents the state's 2nd District, is vying for the open Senate seat against Democratic Rep. Tom Udall.

"Both" (subscription), which was released Friday, is the first ad of the general election, which began last week when Pearce narrowly beat out Rep. Heather Wilson for the GOP's nomination. "Call Steve Pearce and tell him we need lower fuel costs, not more support for George Bush and Big Oil," urges the ad's announcer. The spot cites congressional votes suggesting that Pearce and Bush support tax breaks for oil companies and oppose increasing fuel mileage standards.

Continue reading "Attack Ads 101: The Bush Analogy" »

Click here to watch "The McCain File."

Scrutiny surrounding John McCain's ties to various lobbyists continues, as nonprofit group Campaign Money Watch launched a TV ad today in conjunction with a complaint to the Federal Election Commission.

"The McCain File" (subscription) delves into the presumptive GOP nominee's role in awarding an Air Force contract to "a French company" -- Airbus -- instead of "an American company," Boeing. An announcer claims that "seven of McCain's staff and fundraisers lobbied for Airbus," whose "U.S. executives" contributed more to McCain "than any other politician." "And guess what?" the announcer continues. "John McCain intervened, which helped Airbus get that Pentagon contract."

Continue reading "McCain's Lobbyist Problem, Revisited" »

Click here to watch "Safe."

In John McCain's first major ad buy (subscription) of the general election, he highlights his family's tradition of military service while distancing himself from hawks who would talk "tough or romantically about war." The ad debuted Friday in nearly a dozen crucial battleground states, where McCain hopes to woo former supporters of Hillary Rodham Clinton before party lines reharden.

The ad maintains an appropriately somber tone throughout, positioning McCain's face in shadows and showing black-and-white images of his family in war over a soundtrack of mournful strings. It stresses that military experience -- something the GOP has repeatedly said its young Democratic opponent lacks -- is crucial to lead a country during a time of war. "I hate war. And I know how terrible its costs are," McCain says near the end of the spot. "I'm running for president to keep the country I love safe."

Continue reading "Playing It 'Safe' In The Swing States" »

In the lead-up to both states' primary contests last week, California and New Jersey were hotbeds of political attack ads as candidates for local and national offices dug up dirt in last-minute efforts to win over voters.

While vying for the Democratic Senate nomination in New Jersey, incumbent Frank Lautenberg and Rep. Rob Andrews traded TV ads about clean energy and the Iraq war that, as the Cherry Hill Courier-Post put it, "stretched veracity." Lautenberg easily held off Andrews' challenge in Tuesday's election.

And in Atlantic City's Democratic mayoral primary, "spin, distortion and half-truths... seeped into last-minute campaign advertising," the Press of Atlantic City wrote.

Meanwhile, on the West Coast, California state Assembly candidate Richard Holober complained that Philip Morris, Chevron and Blue Cross were funding a "last minute smear campaign" against him in the Democratic primary. At the same time, however, the San Mateo County Times reported that Holober's opponent, Jerry Hill, was also targeted with "below the belt" attack ads funded by the California Nurses Association, which supported Holober. Hill prevailed in the three-way primary.

In another Assembly race, former Rancho Cordova Mayor David Sander sent out a flier publicizing opponent Paul Hegyi's 2004 arrest for "prowling" at a state capital post office, the Stockton Record reported. Both Republicans were defeated in the primary by former Lodi City Councilman Jack Sieglock.

The Press-Enterprise of Riverside, Calif., noted that candidates for local posts produced numerous "ugly and mean" ads during the primary season, including one depicting a politician as a pig at a trough.

And the Los Angeles Times reported on 11th-hour "attack brochures" exchanged among candidates for the 2nd District seat on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

In other advertising news:

Continue reading "Outside The Spotlight: Knee-Deep In Mud" »

Click here to watch "Budget Mess."

Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore (R), briefly a candidate for president in 2007, barely beat out state Rep. Bob Marshall at the state Republican Convention last Saturday to earn his party's nomination for the Senate seat being vacated by John Warner (R) in November. That Gilmore had so much trouble defeating the little-known Marshall bodes ill for his chances in the fall, when he will face another former governor, Mark Warner (D), extremely popular in much of the state.

Warner holds a significant fundraising advantage over Gilmore and put it to use the very day Gilmore became the GOP nominee, releasing the first TV ad of the race. "Budget Mess" (subscription) features state Democrats and Republicans recounting Warner's success in turning "the worst budget shortfall in Virginia history" in 2001 -- which it is implied Gilmore helped create during his tenure -- into a surplus.

Continue reading "Commonwealth Race Commences" »

Click here to listen to "Economy."

In his first ads of the general election campaign, John McCain is directing his attention to the economic struggles of Hispanic voters in the Southwest.

The Spanish-language radio ad (subscription), which began running in Nevada and New Mexico on June 4, tout McCain's plans to revive the economy -- such as his proposed federal gas-tax holiday -- with an emphasis on bipartisanship.

"When we are filling up the gas tank, we are not Republicans, Democrats or independents," an announcer says in Spanish. "We are Hispanics, and we all are hurting together in this uncertain economic time."

"We need someone that has a good economic plan," he adds, "and that is John McCain."

These will be the first of several McCain spots to come, after his campaign recently bought a reported $3 million of airtime in both large and small markets in states such as Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Click here to watch "Increase Pressure On Iran."

The Middle East has been in the limelight this past week as top world and national leaders gathered for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's annual conference in Washington, D.C. Among those who spoke on Israel and peace in the Middle East were Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert [PDF], as well as presidential candidates Barack Obama, John McCain and Hillary Rodham Clinton. One topic has received particular scrutiny at the conference -- Iran and the threat of nuclear weapons.

Nonprofit group The Israel Project released two TV ads on Sunday that capitalize on the attention Israel has been receiving amid the conference, which concluded Wednesday. The first ad (subscription) urges U.S. involvement in Iran. "Isn't it time for the U.S. to use strong economic diplomacy to peacefully stop Iran's nuclear program?" an announcer insists.

The second ad (subscription) focuses on rocket attacks launched against Israel by "Iran-backed Hamas." "Israeli families are being targeted and killed. Children run from playgrounds to bomb shelters," an announcer says. "When will the rockets stop so both sides can live in peace?"

Continue reading "All Eyes On Israel & Iran" »

Click here to view "Not Listening" [PDF].

Barack Obama can't rest easy just yet. Having fought Hillary Rodham Clinton across some 56 contests, he now faces the unenviable task of winning over her most ardent supporters. In addition to the demographic blocs that have provided her an enduring base from primary to primary, Clinton has been able to draw on support from political organizations and wealthy donors, who have continued buying pro-Clinton ads well into the final contests.

Even as late as Tuesday, her allies were still investing in last-minute advertising on her behalf. The day of the final primary votes, WomenCount Political Action Committee published a new print advertisement [PDF] in response to the Democratic National Committee's decision Saturday to reinstate Florida and Michigan delegates with half-votes.

The ad, which ran in USA Today and the New York Times, takes issue with those who would overlook Clinton's support and suggests the resistance that Obama might face as he tries to unite an emotionally raw party. "You're still not listening," reads the ad. "Our votes are our voice." Clinton would make much the same point in her speech later that night, when she said, "I want the nearly 18 million Americans who voted for me to be respected, to be heard and no longer to be invisible."

Continue reading "Solidarity Till The End" »

Working mother Pam Pugel from Seattle and small-business owner Jackie Richter from Eastern Washington are not happy about how much they're paying for gas -- and they're pointing fingers at Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) in two new radio ads released Monday.

With Gregoire having barely won the 2004 election after two recounts and with only a 130-vote lead over Dino Rossi (R), this year's rematch is gearing up to be another close and contentious battle.

The ads, released by the Olympia-based conservative organization It's Time For A Change, berate Gregoire for signing into law the "largest gas tax increase in state history" in 2005. "Under Gov. Christine Gregoire, traffic congestion on our highways has increased by 35 percent, while state transportation taxes have gone up nearly $400 per family," an announcer claims in the first ad, "Pam" (subscription).

Continue reading "Gas Tax Woes In Washington State" »

Click here to watch "Melting."

In what is shaping up to be one of the year's most intense debates on Capitol Hill, Senate Democrats are pushing climate change legislation that could upend the way the country regulates greenhouse gases. The Climate Security Act (also known as the Lieberman-Warner bill) calls for a 70 percent cut in emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050 and would set up a cap-and-trade system for businesses, which would now have to pay the government for polluting.

Few actually expect the bill to pass this year. But the debate which began on Monday could set the stage for the 111th Congress and a new president to take action early in 2009. And special interests are lining up on both sides of the aisle.

The Club for Growth is spending $250,000 to run TV and radio ads opposing the bill in four key states. The ads target Sens. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Max Baucus, D-Mont., whom a spokesperson said were chosen to represent a cross-section of legislators who have not denounced the bill.

Continue reading "Climate Crusades" »

Click here to watch "Break -- Lampson."

Less than a week after Americans United for Change ran ads (subscription) criticizing four Republican lawmakers for their stance on a proposed expansion of the G.I. Bill, the liberal advocacy group is on the air in four more House districts, this time with a sunnier spot intended to boost freshman Democrats.

"Break" (subscription) debuted yesterday in the local media markets of Texas Reps. Ciro Rodriguez and Nick Lampson -- both of whom lost their seats following the notorious 2003 state redistricting only to win them back in 2006 -- as well as the districts of freshman Democrats Carol Shea-Porter in New Hampshire and Kirsten Gillibrand in New York. (Campaign finance restrictions prohibit groups like AUC from advertising during the 90 days before a primary election, limiting the potential scope of the organization's ad campaign.)

Continue reading "Freshman Dems Get Extra Credit" »

Click here to watch "Innovation."

Although he has yet to go on the air, New Hampshire Republican John Sununu has received a boost from conservative nonprofit Citizens United as he attempts to defend his Senate seat from former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D).

“Who could have guessed how the Internet would change our lives?" an announcer asks in the new ad, "Innovation" (subscription), which hit New Hampshire airwaves late last week. "Fortunately, Senator John Sununu leads the battle in Washington to defeat Internet taxation schemes."

The ad concludes by highlighting Sununu's efforts in Congress, such as sponsoring a measure that would permanently free the Internet from taxes.

"Citizens United is an org