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Thursday, February 28, 2008
Eye on Ohio: “Plan” ad for Obama
Obama ad talks about his economic plan
THE AD: “Plan,” 30 seconds.
WHERE TO SEE IT: Began airing Wednesday, Feb. 27, on Ohio television stations.
SCRIPT:
Obama: “All across America, people are working harder than ever. Doing the best they can.
“But, for decades now, as Wall Street has prospered, most Americans have been running in place because the deck has been stacked against them. We need to change Washington. Put it back on the side of people again.
“My economic plan cuts taxes for workers, helps small businesses create jobs and makes college more affordable.
“I’m Barack Obama, and I approved this message because to lift our nation, we need real change.”
VIDEO:
The color video starts with quick scenes of factory workers, and settles on a homey view of a four-member family in front of a modest house with an American flag. Obama appears in a tight shot making his campaign pitch and then the picture quickly drifts to Obama in a workplace.
A term paper-style folder is a crisp backdrop to graphics that repeat parts of his script.
ANALYSIS:
Sen. Obama is driving home his theme of change. He’s touching on voters’ fears about Ohio’s limping economy. Though the details are skimpy, Obama moves past some of his earlier campaign rhetoric.
Viewers will have to go to campaign statements to see that he seeks to create a $4,000 tax credit for college tuition. And he expects to streamline college aid applications by dropping the dreaded FAFSA form — that’s the Free Application for Federal Student Aid that keeps parents up all night.
Obama also plans to push for a $1,000 tax cut for working families.
For job creation, his plan includes federal tax credits for training, research and other initiatives. And, he pushes “green” industries.
David Sartin is a reporter at The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer. E-mail: dsartin@plaind.com.
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Eye on Ohio: “Fighter” ad for Clinton
Ohio Governor speaks out for Hillary
THE AD: “Fighter,” 30 seconds.
WHERE TO SEE IT: Began airing Thursday, Feb. 28, on Ohio television stations.
SCRIPT:
Gov. Ted Strickland: “We need a president who, first of all, is going to be a fighter. That’s the way I see Hillary Clinton. Hillary’s always been an advocate for the middle class.
“She’s got great plans to create new jobs in every part of Ohio. I think she’s a person of deep faith.
“I think she’s a person who has devoted her life to caring about other people — making sure that America works for everyone, not just the privileged few.
“She’s fighting for us. And that’s the kind of president we need.”
Hillary Clinton: “I’m Hillary Clinton and I approved this message.”
VIDEO:
Opens with a shot of a serious-looking Gov. Ted Strickland wearing a white shirt and tie, but no jacket. As he begins to speak, the video switches to shots of Hillary Clinton in various settings — speaking at a rally, shaking hands with voters, listening intently as people talk to her. It ends with a shot of Strickland and Clinton together signing autographs at a campaign rally.
ANALYSIS:
The commercial is a straight-forward attempt to see if Strickland can transfer his popularity to Clinton before the March 4 primary. Strickland has a job approval rating of 56 percent in Ohio, and he is highly regarded by Ohio Democrats.
In that sense, the commercial may resonate more with younger voters than a Clinton commercial that featured John Glenn backing her.
None of the facts in the commercial are controversial. Strickland speaks of Clinton as a fighter, yet the images display a warm side of Clinton. She is shown smiling and hugging voters. Could the commercial be a preview of coming attractions?
If Strickland’s endorsement carries Clinton past Barack Obama in Ohio and re-ignites her campaign, the Ohio governor could shoot to the top of the vice presidential list.
But a word of caution: Endorsements don’t always carry a punch in primaries. In 1984, Gov. Richard F. Celeste enthusiastically supported former Vice President Walter Mondale in the Ohio Democratic primary. Mondale still lost the state to Colorado Sen. Gary Hart.
Jack Torry is a reporter for The Columbus Dispatch. E-mail: jtorry@dispatch.com.
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Huckabee still in
While Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are getting all press attention and big crowds, Republicans seem set on John McCain as the nominee. Yet, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee told reporters in a conference call Thursday, Feb. 28, that he’s hanging on in the Republican nomination race until 1,191 delegates are pledged to one candidate.
“You guys are missing a good race,” Huckabee chided reporters.
He also again extended his invitation to McCain to debate him.
Huckabee took a swipe at his opponent and his signature McCain-Feingold campaign finance law.
“He wrote these laws…I think it’s one of the worst things to ever happen to American politics is the McCain-Feingold campaign finance (law). It has created more problems that it has solved and it may very well be that the law that he pushed comes back to bite him,” Huckabee said.
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