Click here to watch "DeSoto."

Missouri gubernatorial candidate Jay Nixon (D) invites viewers of his new ad (subscription) to ride along with him through his hometown of DeSoto, Mo. The 60-second biographical spot is the state attorney general’s first ad of the election; he’s been watching from afar as Rep. Kenny Hulshof and state Treasurer Sarah Steelman squabble in the increasingly bitter GOP primary. (Steelman fired another volley (subscription) today.)

Continue reading "There's No Place Like Home" »

Click here to watch "Ethanol."

The mudslinging continues between Missouri gubernatorial hopefuls Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R) and state Treasurer Sarah Steelman (R) in a pair of new ads.

Steelman's "Ethanol" (subscription), released Monday, underscores the candidate's changed position on the state's ethanol mandate, enacted in January, which requires stations to sell fuel with 10 percent ethanol as long as it isn't more expensive than regular gasoline. Earlier this year, she tentatively supported the law, but now says she believes ethanol, which is derived from corn, is part of the cause for high food and gasoline prices. In the ad, an announcer takes a jab at Hulshof for supporting the mandate, quoting him as saying, "The idea of high corn prices is appealing to me."

Hulshof's latest ad (subscription), launched Thursday, opens with a splatter of mud, as an announcer says, "Sarah spends all her time attacking Kenny Hulshof. She won't talk about her own record." He then compares Steelman to state Attorney General Jay Nixon, who is running for governor on the Democratic side.

Continue reading "Corn, Mud Fuel GOP Battle" »

Click here to watch "Indian Gaming."

For Seattle basketball fans, things are even gloomier than usual in the rainy Northwest -- the SuperSonics are picking up and leaving for Oklahoma City. While voters may not list sports as a high-priority issue in this year's governor's race between incumbent Christine Gregoire (D) and return challenger Dino Rossi (R), it evidently is for the pro-Rossi group It's Time For A Change.

In one of its latest attacks against Gregoire, the Olympia-based group released a radio spot (subscription) last week blaming her for the team’s departure. It opens with sounds of a large crowd. "Listen up, Sonics fans, the 2009 season’s almost here," a sports announcer says. "This talented young team will be a force for years to come and can only be seen right here in… Oklahoma City." The spot's sarcastic opening gives way to a narrator explaining how, rather than working with investors to ensure the team stayed in Seattle, the governor did nothing and let it go. "Gregoire sat at the end of the bench and accepted defeat. Now the clock has run out and the real losers are you, the fans," the narrator says.

Continue reading "Rossi Backers Crash The Boards" »

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 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 "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 "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" »

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 "Moral Clarity."

Rep. Kenny Hulshof, who this weekend received the endorsement of Sen. Christopher (Kit) Bond, R-Mo., in the Missouri governor's race, is a former prosecutor -- and proud of it. The Republican released a new ad last week in which he attempts to distinguish himself from his opponents by highlighting his past career as a prosecuting attorney.

"I learned here that leadership requires unshakable moral clarity," Hulshof says in "Moral Clarity" (subscription), while standing in a courtroom. A newspaper headline on screen indicates that Hulshof "has sent four to death row." "I know there's a bright line between right and wrong," he says, "and I'll never be afraid to stand up and say so."

Hulshof, Missouri's 9th District representative, is running against State Treasurer Sarah Steelman in the GOP primary. The two Republicans have been attempting to solidify their conservative credentials, touring around Southwest Missouri touting their positions on issues such as abortion and the right to bear arms. Their debut ads, released a couple of weeks ago, also have a strongly conservative focus.

Click here to watch "Guts."

Missouri gubernatorial candidate Sarah Steelman (R) released her second ad on Friday. "Guts" (subscription) highlights Steelman's track record as state treasurer of "protecting taxpayer money" and "replacing illegal workers with new Missouri jobs." An announcer concludes the ad by asserting that Steelman has the "guts" and "Missouri experience" necessary to be governor.

"We're in the process of telling Sarah’s story to Missouri voters, reminding them of the things she has taken actions on," said campaign spokesman Spence Jackson. "And this is part of that process."

Steelman and her GOP rival, Rep. Kenny Hulshof, both released their debut ads earlier this month.

Click here to watch "Change That's Working."

Former Rep. Jill Long Thompson pulled off a narrow win three weeks ago to cinch the Democratic nomination in Indiana's governor race, but the candidate now faces a tougher opponent in Republican incumbent Mitch Daniels. Long Thompson spent nearly all her campaign funds during the primary, while Daniels ran unopposed and has raised nearly $9 million.

Daniels has been as aggressive in his advertising strategy as in his fundraising, running 11 TV ads over the past several months, including one, "Change That's Working" (subscription), that launched the day Long Thompson officially became the Democratic nominee.

The spot is a departure from most of Daniels' advertising, which has so far been sunny and upbeat, if somewhat conventional. In the ad, no words are spoken; instead, striking orchestral music evocative of a summer blockbuster plays as statistics flash onscreen touting Daniels' accomplishments in office. "Just 3 Years. A World Of Change," reads one banner. The ad hits on a range of issues, from Indiana's "record breaking job creation" to a prescription drug plan initiated by Daniels. It closes by claiming, "We're just getting started."

Continue reading "Inundating Indiana" »

Click here to watch "Values."

The two leading Republicans in the Missouri governor's race, which is wide open after Gov. Matt Blunt (R) announced in January he wasn't running for re-election, released their first ads last week, both focusing on traditional conservative values and faith-based issues.

Rep. Kenny Hulshof of Missouri's 9th District debuted with "Blessed" (subscription), which shows the congressman driving a pickup truck around rural parts of the state. "It takes faith to be a farmer, and a lot of hard work," Hulshof says. He talks about what he's learned "growing up in the Boot Hill" and concludes by emphasizing that "the basic moral strength of our people -- that's the foundation of our future."

State Treasurer Sarah Steelman also underscores conventional conservative values in her new ad, aptly titled "Values" (subscription). Steelman begins by asserting the importance of family, discussing her various roles as daughter, mother and wife. She then details her conservative credentials: "I worked to ban partial-birth abortion and wrote the amendment that protects marriage in Missouri."

Continue reading "Wanted: Values Voters" »

Click here to watch "Tougher."

As the North Carolina GOP faces mounting criticism over its inflammatory ad featuring the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the state's Democrats have proven they, too, can use racially charged imagery with the release of a new attack ad from gubernatorial candidate Richard Moore, the state treasurer.

The latest in a series of harsh attack spots, "Tougher" calls out Moore's primary opponent, Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, for having voted in 1987 against a bill to widen investigations into "hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan." Both Democrats have worked to court black voters, and "Tougher" seems intended to erode Perdue's support with this group in particular, pointing out that "the entire black legislative caucus" voted for the bill.

Perdue was quick to respond, releasing a radio spot yesterday to stations with primarily black audiences that features former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt touting Perdue's record on civil rights, claiming that she "has always stood up for us." And today, her camp put out a TV spot with Alma Adams, chair of the state's legislative black caucus, defending Perdue and calling Moore's attacks "outrageous."

The North Carolina GOP, facing pressure from Democrats (as well as John McCain) to withdraw its ad, is crying hypocrisy, reported NBC News/National Journal's Carrie Dann. State party chairwoman Linda Daves released a statement telling Democrats to "clean up your own house before you tell us how to run ours."

Click here to watch "Appreciate."

With the Pennsylvania primary finally over, the Democratic presidential contest will move on to North Carolina, where another fiercely fought Democratic primary is already under way in the gubernatorial race.

The two Democrats running to replace term-limited Gov. Michael Easley (D) continued their high-spending ad war this week, with Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue keeping her promise to run only positive ads despite a harsh attack spot from Treasurer Richard Moore.

Moore's latest ad charges Perdue with weakening efforts to keep guns out of schools and voting to toughen abortion restrictions. "Is Bev Perdue a Democrat we can trust?" it asks. Perdue's campaign was quick to respond with "From Me," a "positive campaign fact check" disputing Moore's charges, touting Perdue's endorsement by state police and teachers, and reiterating her pledge to avoid negative advertising.

Continue reading "Guns & Griffith In N.C. Gov. Race" »

Click here to watch "Extreme."

Perhaps it was only a matter of time before inflammatory video clips of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright found their way into ads attacking Barack Obama. But the North Carolina Republican Party is using the controversial pastor's remarks to hit two unexpected targets -- Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue and state Treasurer Richard Moore -- in addition to Obama.

In an ad set to debut on Monday, one week before North Carolina's primary, the state GOP highlights Obama's relationship with Wright and criticizes Democratic gubernatorial candidates Perdue and Moore for endorsing the Illinois senator. "Extreme" begins with an announcer saying, "For 20 years, Barack Obama sat in his pew listening to his pastor," followed by footage of Wright saying "God damn America" during a sermon. The announcer adds that Perdue and Moore "should know better. [Obama's] just too extreme for North Carolina."

Continue reading "State Parties Seize On Obama's Missteps" »

Click here to watch "Management."

On the campaign trail, taking the moral high ground can sometimes mean ending up in an uncomfortable place. North Carolina Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, a Democrat running for governor, is being reminded of that lesson after extending an olive branch last week to her primary opponent, state Treasurer Richard Moore, by pulling all her negative advertising off the air and asking third-party groups to do the same.

It didn't take long for Moore to dismiss the move as a political gimmick, and on Monday his campaign kept the pressure up with a new attack ad (subscription) blasting Perdue as a poor business manager, ill-prepared to run the state. About half of the 30-second spot is devoted to criticizing Perdue; the other half praises Moore as a "trusted manager" and good steward of North Carolina's finances.

Moore has also hit Perdue for failing to rein in her surrogates -- in particular, two independent groups that this week sent out a mailer questioning Moore's performance as state treasurer. (Perdue has since reiterated her appeals for a positive campaign.) Although North Carolina voters tell pollsters they approve of Perdue's pledge, it looks as if partisans on both sides will make it a tough promise to keep.

Click here to watch "Leader" and "Pick Up Indiana."

Both Democratic candidates for governor in Indiana -- former Rep. Jill Long Thompson and businessman Jim Schellinger -- are up with their second TV ads on Hoosier State airwaves. The focus of the ads reflects what have become the larger themes of the election -- jobs and the economy -- with both candidates using very similar language to describe their plans to "put Indiana back on track."

Hitting many of the same notes as her first spot, Thompson's "Leader" (subscription) touts her experience as a congresswoman and her ability to create jobs in Indiana. "She's a proven leader with a record of standing up for Hoosier working families," an announcer says. Thompson speaks to a small group of voters at the end of the spot, pledging to "create and protect jobs" and "reform health care to bring down the cost of doing business in Indiana."

Schellinger's latest, "Pick Up Indiana" (subscription), also focuses on the need to strengthen the state's economy -- "an economy in trouble," the ad calls it. "Hoosiers losing their jobs, their homes, their pensions. Time for a comeback." The ad outlines Schellinger's plan for growing the economy: "increased support for small business, more skills training, education designed for the jobs of the future and an end to outsourcing of essential state services." Finally, it presents a tagline for Schellinger's campaign: "Leadership that believes in Indiana."

The Democrats will face off in a May 6 primary race for the chance to take on incumbent Mitch Daniels (R) in the general election.

Click here to watch "A Positive Campaign."

Amid a hard-fought primary in the North Carolina governor race, Democratic candidate and Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue veered abruptly onto the high road today with an ad calling for the end to the mudslinging that has lately characterized the race.

In her new TV spot (subscription), Perdue pledges to discontinue her negative ads. "Win or lose, it's the right decision for me, and for North Carolina," she says. "Let's focus on what matters to your family." According to campaign spokesman David Kochman, "Bev's positive campaign applies to all campaign communications, and she is asking all independent third parties not to engage in negative campaigns."

Continue reading "The Road Less Traveled" »

Click here to watch "Ha Ha Ha."

North Carolina may be a make-or-break stop in the Democratic presidential race, but a contentious gubernatorial primary will also be on the ballot when residents of the Tar Heel State vote on May 6.

Two of term-limited Gov. Michael Easley's (D) administration officials are vying to succeed him, and polls show a dead heat between Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue and Treasurer Richard Moore. While mudslinging is nothing new between the pair, a new barrage of negative ads has hit North Carolina airwaves with just a month left in the race.

Continue reading "Close Race Gets Nasty In N.C." »

Click here to watch "Hoosier."

Former Rep. Jill Long Thompson (D) becomes the last Indiana gubernatorial candidate to join the ad war this week, launching her first TV spot (subscription) statewide on Tuesday. In what is shaping up to be a competitive primary, Thompson is facing off against wealthy architect Jim Schellinger (subscription) for the chance to challenge incumbent Mitch Daniels (R) in the fall. Daniels, for his part, is already running TV ads even though he faces no primary challenger.

The spot, "Hoosier," combines biographical elements from Thompson's life with a pitch for her plans to "reinvest in Indiana." The announcer emphasizes Thompson's humble upbringing: "Raised on the family farm, first to go to college, Jill earned her PhD in business." She "then helped save their farm from bankruptcy while her mother's job was shipped to Mexico," the ad recounts, suggesting the candidate understands the consequences of outsourcing. The ad then touts her experience in Congress, and Thompson appears on screen, pledging not to "sell state assets to foreign companies."

Continue reading "Thompson On Air In Indiana Governor Race" »