MyDD :: AdWatch: Laesch Uses Reynolds' Words on Foley to Hammer Hastert

AdWatch: Laesch Uses Reynolds' Words on Foley to Hammer Hastert

by Jonathan Singer, Thu Oct 12, 2006 at 09:17:02 PM EST

Fresh of off polling showing Speaker Denny Hastert barely cracking 50 percent in Illinois 14, Hastert's Democratic challenger John Laesch is going on the air with a powerful ad using the words of NRCC chairman Tom Reynolds to place blame on the Speaker for failing to act in the Mark Foley scandal.

The production quality isn't perfect, and it shouldn't be expected to be given the modest level of fundraising success achieved thus far by the Laesch campaign (though it should be noted that the flow of money has picked up in recent weeks, particularly through ActBlue). Yet the ad does make a strong argument -- using words from this ad from Reynolds -- that Hastert knew about Mark Foley but simply failed to act on it.

So while most Congress-watchers are still overlooking the race in Illinois 16, if Laesch is able to get this ad, and perhaps some others, on the air and keep it there from now until election day, polling on Hastert indicates that this might -- might -- be a race the Democrats can sneak away with come November 7.

Tags: IL-14, John Laesch, Tom Reynolds, Mark Foley, Denny Hastert, House 2006 (all tags)

Permalink :: 6 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: AdWatch: Laesch Uses Reynolds' Words on Foley (none / 0)

Argh! Why do so many people make this same mistake with their ads? TEXT DISTRACTS. Frankly, I wasn't even listening to the first half of the commercial, because I'm watching the instant messages get typed.

The voiceover is saying something or other about Tom Reynolds, but my eyes are stuck on watching "don't ruin my mental picture" unfold in front of my eyes, letter by letter.

Add to this the intrusive, unnecessary "ticka-ticka-ticka" sound of the keyboard, and the message is really drowned out.

Sorry to be harsh, but this add is just too much, like a kid first using Photoshop and going wild with 20 filters in every picture.

by Johnny Gentle Famous Crooner on Thu Oct 12, 2006 at 09:41:23 PM EST

Re: AdWatch: Laesch Uses Reynolds' Words on Foley (none / 0)

What makes a negative ad effective is the ability to back it up with quality source material. By using the words of another Republican in the leadership against Hastert it makes the charges in the ad far more powerful.

While typing this, some talking head (Steven Thomma Chief Political guy of the McClatchy Newspapers?) on C-Span 1 just said that Hastert is in no danger because he remains popular in his own district. An incumbent polling at 52% is hardly popular. He needs to check out the Democratic Governors of Montana and Arizona for what constitutes popular.

If this ad runs enough it should help raise Hastert's negatives.

by msstaley on Thu Oct 12, 2006 at 10:18:52 PM EST

Re: AdWatch: Laesch Uses Reynolds' Words on Foley (none / 0)

The fact that the Republican Speaker of the House, in a Republican district, is only leading by roughly ten point against a relative no-name with comparatively little funding is a definite sign of trouble for the GOP. Will he lose? Probably not. But the fact that it's even on the radar means he's got to focus attention and money on his campaign rather than those of all the other Republican Congressmen. That's worth something by itself.

by Elakazal on Fri Oct 13, 2006 at 04:04:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: AdWatch: Laesch Uses Reynolds' Words on Foley (none / 0)

Not Harsh enough. What Foley did has to be shown as revolting. rework it. It will work everywhere not just illinois.

by smacfarl on Thu Oct 12, 2006 at 10:54:25 PM EST

Re: AdWatch: Laesch Uses Reynolds' Words on Foley (none / 0)

Mighty fine to see any ad from John Laesch.

Go get 'em, John.

This would be one sweet victory should it happen.

Be hard to find a more decent guy to elect I think.

I would much rather Laesch talk about Iraq, about runaway spending and unconscionable borrowing, about an ever widening chasm between rich and poor, about broken promises and a Congress that decided that it would be a fine thing to repeal the Constitution. Lots of things that I would change while letting Hastert stew in his own corruption but I love what I am getting for all of that.

Best, Terry

by terryhallinan on Fri Oct 13, 2006 at 02:35:19 AM EST

Re: AdWatch: Laesch Uses Reynolds' Words on Foley (none / 0)

The best part of this ad was Hastert with the monster hands!

There's a blog out there, forget which one, that has Conrad Burns -- I think -- and his seemingly webbed hands a huge distance away from his head.

I agree the rest of it wasn't as tight as it could have been -- too many things going on.

And I really didn't buy the nasty-innuendo "a SEK-choo-al PREH-duh-tore" voiceover. True enough, but why not say it in a normal tone of voice? Make a case for handling the thing in a sensible manner, not going off half-cocked.

by Dan Hartung on Fri Oct 13, 2006 at 02:11:17 PM EST

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