Nick Lampson currently has three ads available for viewing on his website. None of them use the words "Iraq," "Republican," or "Democrat." I know he's running in a red district, but he doesn't even use key words that let us know which party he belongs to. All are well-made ads, but they all miss the point of the strategy memo, and none of them has turnout messaging at the fore. "Came From" and "Sheriff" are feel-good ads about Lampson being a good guy, and despite the truth in the MyDD stretegy memo, I think there's still a place -- albeit a small one -- for such ads, so I'll give them a pass, but in "Bullhorn" he takes on an actual issue -- the deficit.
The deficit is not an issue devoid of potential for accountability/Iraq messaging. Lampson could say he would stand up to Bush's irresponsible spending, stand up to his give-aways to the rich and the corporations. He could talk about the war's tremendous contribution to the deficit and promise to seek accountability for war-profiteering and government waste. He could promise to put an end to corporate give-aways and no-bid contracts. He didn't do these things. Instead of blaming the deficit on the pork-and-earmarks-obsessed Republican Congress, his ad blames the deficit on the fact that (para) 'Washington isn't getting the message [that the deficit is too high].'
The problem with all three of his ads is the complete and utter dearth of any sort of turnout messaging. Iraq is an emotional issue; it will turn people out. Accountability connects tangible mistakes with fear of future problems, and it's very very doable; it will turn people out. The deficit doesn't directly impact anyone -- it is a far-off abstraction, something that passively offends without making anyone's life tangibly better or worse. The ad did nothing to connect the deficit to real life (such as the "taxing our children" line) or suggest that it was a concrete moral failing that Lampson would reverse (like images of credit-card governance followed by a serious and responsible Nick Lampson).
The ad will get a lot of nods, but few votes. If he's trying to raise name reco in an unthreatening manner, building bridges to more conservative voters, this may be a good move -- but come October he'd better be singing a different tune.
If you're from Texas, I'd love to see some local insight in comments. I'm asking the campaign for permission to YouTube the ads, I'll update if it is granted.
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