02.29.08 "Voices" & "Opportunidad" Up in Texas

"Voices" is a spot that highlights Obama's opposition to lobbyists, including his campaign's refusal to accept PAC money. It also mentions his ethics reform efforts in the senate.

They [lobbyists] will not drown out the voices of the American people.

"Opportunidad" is a Spanish-language spot about expanding education access. Sorry, but that's as far as my Spanish takes me.

The spots after the jump.

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02.29.08 2 Minutes of Air Time for Obama in Ohio & Texas

On Monday, right before the Super Tuesday Take 2 primaries, Obama will be up all across Ohio and Texas (yes, every market) with 2 minutes of air time. The ads, as yet unknown, will run on during the local news at 5pm, 6pm, 10pm and 11pm.

02.29.08 "Children"

This is essentially the Clinton campaign's version of the "Wolves" ad that the Bush campaign ran in '04 against John Kerry. It is decidedly milder, but in the same vein. It's dark. It's scary. The message is that you need protection from the evil that lurks in the night/world. Who do you want answering that call for help in the Bat Cave/White House? See for yourself:

"Children"



"Wolves"

02.29.08 One of a Million by Clinton

In this Texas spot, which is certainly one of the more creative and engaging of her spots this cycle, lots of women are shown stating, in quick cut-away succession, one line versions of the quotes below.

"I'm one a million."

"I'm not a movement."

"We need solutions that will help me and help my family."

The spot itself after the jump.

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02.29.08 "This One's For Ann"

With the Ken Burns' Civil War-esque piano slowly playing in the background and a young woman's narration, this profile/endorsement of late Gov. Ann Richards reminds women voters of their opportunity/responsibility to "make history."

Today Ann would be asking all of us to make a statement ... to make history

The spot itself after the jump.

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02.29.08 "Jobs" Radio Spot in Ohio

Lots of Ohioan voices touting her middle-class economic bona fides in this one minute radio spot in Ohio.

"We need jobs very badly in Ohio."
"Clinton can and will turn this economy around"

Key Takeway:"She's gonna bring jobs back here to Ohio."

Listen to the mp3.

02.29.08 "Faith" Radio Spot in Ohio

This is another Gov. Strickland for Clinton spot. This radio spot is up on Ohio radio right now. It's a one minute spot.

Driven by deeply felt values ... understands Ohio very deeply

Listen to the mp3.

02.29.08 "Fighter" in Ohio for Clinton

Gov. Strickland of Ohio lends his help to the Clinton campaign in this spot, airing now in Ohio. It's a middle-class economic struggles spot that touts her having "plans" and "values."

We need a President first of all who's going to be a fighter.

The spot after the jump.

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02.27.08 "Quiet" In Cincy

"Quiet" spot by Obama camp is airing the Cincinnati market right now. It originally aired in New Hampshire and tells the story of Obama going to a group of auto execs in Detroit and telling them that fuel efficiency standards need raised. The room got quiet.

We can't just tell people what they want to hear. We need to tell them what they need to hear.

The spot after the jump.

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02.27.08 SEIU Pro-Obama Ads

SEIU (Service Employees International Union) will be spending $5 million to support Obama. Here's their first two ads.
The first is "What We Need":


The second spot (in Spanish) "Cambio":

02.27.08 Level by the Clinton Campaign in OH & TX

Level is a middle-class economic spot that is typical of the Clinton campaign's ads. It isn't flashy, but it does the job, so to speak. I thought I'd put up both the Ohio version and the Texas version to show how minor modifications to a spot can localize it, allowing the campaign to reuse an ad while still doing Mark Penn's microtargeting.

It's time to level the playing field.

Both spots after the jump.

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02.24.08 Ohio Obama Spots

The Obama campaign is running 5 spots right now in Ohio. They are:

"Enough": "Enough" is his 'economic woes of the working man' spot that has him saying "Enough is enough" to plants closing, jobs going overseas & executive pay.

"Choices": "Choices" focuses on his biography, hammering home the judgement & character themes.

"Join": He runs this everywhere. It's an upbeat spot with a very youth voter feel to it.

"Need": In this spot, Obama outlines (slides included) his economic plan for the middle class. For an Obama ad, this is wonky.

"Mother": "Mother" is his health-care spot through the eyes of Obama's dying-with-cancer mother who still had to worry about health care bills.

The spots after the jump.

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02.24.08 Texas Spots for Obama

Obama is up with 6 spots in Texas.
"Join" is there, of course, introducing the candidate, as are "Enough", "Chances I Had", "Como Padre", "Moment" & "Mother".

The unique one here is the Spanish-language "Como Padre". I've not seen an English translation of this, but it does include a Spanish-speaking Obama. Note: In the real world, Obama does not in fact speak Spanish.

"Moment" aka "Our Moment Is Now" is toned down somewhat from earlier versions and features a half-dozen or so endorsement messages from local and national papers, and "Mother" is his health-care spot through the eyes of Obama's dying-with-cancer mother who still had to worry about health care bills.

"Chances I Had" is an education focused spot that also introduces Obama as a child who, in spite of a missing father and not much money, wound up with a great education. It mentions the need for education improvements and parental responsibility in turning off the Tube, which they are, of course, watching during this commercial.

"Enough" is his 'economic woes of the working man' spot that has him saying "Enough is enough" to plants closing, jobs going overseas & executive pay.

The spots themselves after the jump.

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02.24.08 Rhode Island Obama Spots

The Obama camp is up with 3 ads in Rhode Island.
First is the ubiquitous "Join" spot that introduces the Illinois Senator to the public.
"Choices" is biographical, again aimed at introductions, but also giving the viewer a sense of the candidate's character and judgment.
"Mother" is another biographical spot. It's a health-care ad, using his mother's fight against cancer health-care bills as its narrative thrust.
The spots themselves after the jump.

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02.24.08 Vermont Obama Ads

The Obama campaign is running 3 ads in Vermont in the run up to March 4th.
"Join" is a common introductory ad they use in most (if not all) states.
He's also up with "President" and "Moment"/"Our Moment Is Now".
"President" is currently only running in Vermont, and is a spot derived from his stump speech. It's a series of "I'll be a President who ..." proclamations.
"Moment" is also running in Ohio & Texas, but not in Rhode Island. It's a youth-vote targeted spot.
The spots themselves after the jump.

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02.24.08 Join (re)Running in Vermont

This excellent spot is filled with cheering crowds, an upbeat drumming, and lines like "The world as it is is not the world as it has to be." This spot is filled with energy, optimism and excitement, clearly aiming at a young (at heart) demographic.

02.24.08 Our Moment is Now Rerunning in Vermont

This Obama spot, airing in Vermont now, is a rerun of a well done spot originally airing in Iowa.

I want to be the President of the United States of America!

02.24.08 Need

In this well-done Wisconsin spot, Obama outlines (slides included) his economic plan for the middle class.

02.23.08 Leader

This Wisconsin spot by the Obama campaign is strongly biographical. The message is 'I am a leader'

I'm running to solve the problems we talk about year after year after year

I'm not a perfect man, and I won't be a perfect President

02.23.08 Desperate

Unlike most Obama ads, this spot uses a narrator. It is a response to both the Clinton campaign's debate spot and charges of empty rhetoric. It ran in Wisconsin.

It's the same old politics