There’s a funny thing about Republican AG candidate Bob McDonnell’s newest TV ad — in this lengthy biographical spot, there’s not a single mention of his being a Republican. Not spoken, not written, not even in the fine print.
Keep it up, Creigh — you’ve got him running scared.
Has there been a single ad by any statewide candidate that advertises their party…over the last decade? That’s a tried and true tactic in political advertising. You don’t mention the party in television or radio advertising.
I’m sure Deeds won’t be mentioning that he’s a Democrat in his ads.
Oop. What Chad said.
Thanks for giving Waldo a clue. He fancies himself as a real “dialed-in” politico. I’m sure this lesson will help him actually become one. ;-)
Has there been a single ad by any statewide candidate that advertises their party…over the last decade?
I’m not about to claim to know the contents of every radio ad, print ad, TV ad, and website of every candidate in the past decade. But we have seen a change here in Virginia in the past decade, a move away from listing party affiliation and a move towards the ideological euphemisms of “conservative” and “liberal.” (Listen to this Kilgore ad for a particularly good example.) The reason for this is simple: Virginia has long been a conservative — but not Republican — state. Democrats consistently defeated Republicans throughout the 1900s by declaring the Republicans to be “too liberal,” and it worked. Now that Republicans have successfully claimed the mantle of conservatism (though, under Bush leadership, that’s slipping away), Republicans can do well claiming to be both conservative and Republicans. Democrats, however, gain nothing in much of Virginia by touting their party affiliation, since we’re in the minority.
Incidentally, the very first text on Kilgore’s site describes him as the “Republican nominee for Governor.” Bill Bolling website lists the “GOP Ticket” on the front page of his site, complete with photographs of Jerry Kilgore and Bob McDonnell. These men are not hiding their party affiliation.
That’s a tried and true tactic in political advertising. You don’t mention the party in television or radio advertising.
If it were beneficial for Bob McDonnell to say that he’s a Republican, he’d do so. “That’s just how it’s done” does nothing to explain why he leaves it out. It would be a poor move for Creigh Deeds to advertise that he’s a Democrat, because Republicans make up a majority of Virginia voters. But that does nothing to explain why McDonnell doesn’t promote his party affiliation.
He fancies himself as a real “dialed-in” politico.
I do? Says who? I’ve never so much as been to a state party committee meeting. I’ve only been to one of my own congressional district’s committee meetings. It’s sweet of you to think of me as “dialed-in” (I’m not sure who we’re quoting there), but, whatever that means, I suspect that it doesn’t describe me.
Hey Waldo….they’re just jealous of you…you’re both funnier and smarter than they’ll ever be …