Wacky GOP Attack Ad Foreshadows Wild House Race Ahead
Okay, we've got some more for you on that wonderful attack ad we posted on earlier that Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) is running -- it connects his Dem challenger to Nancy Pelosi, San Francisco values, and (gasp!) young people dancing to club music.
The ad is worth dwelling on because it's a sign that this race is going to be a top priority for both national parties this Fall.
After all, it's only May, but Graves is sinking money into the spot. Heather Shearin, VP and general manager for the local ABC station, confirmed that Graves has spent $33,000 on the ad since it first ran May 8 -- a sizable buy for a rural district in the Midwest.
In an amusing detail, Graves is not running the ad in Kansas City, where Barnes is better known and where such an ad would be unlikely to resonate. Instead, it is only running in the rural markets of the district.
The ad is getting roundly panned in the local press. But Graves clearly sees the ad as effective: According to the Barnes campaign, it was originally set to air only from May 8 to May 18, but was extended to May 21. The Graves campaign has declined to comment on any details.
That things have turned so bitter so early suggest that Graves may sense he's vulnerable, giving Dems an opportunity to oust a four-term incumbent, which would be a major triumph.
Because of this, the race is going to be a major target for the national party committees. Barnes appears to be a well-positioned challenger: She's a popular former mayor of Kansas City who starts out with big name recognition who also originally hails from the more rural part of the district.
Both sides have stockpiled lots of cash for the race: The latest FEC filings show that as of the first quarter, Graves has a war-chest of $1.13 million cash on hand. Barnes is slightly behind at $954,000 on hand.
No public polling has been done on the race yet, though a SurveyUSA poll is expected some time this week.
This is one contest we'll be watching.
It's like they are going out of their way to advertise the GOP as the Grumpy OLD Party.
It takes my breath away -
May 20, 2008 5:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know about the rest of you, but I think young people dancing is really really terrifying ;)
May 20, 2008 5:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
You'd think they'd at least have had two guys in a liplock if they are going to go all sideways on "San Francisco Values" for all love.
They can't even make a decent gay smear out of the thing. They're really pathetic.
May 20, 2008 5:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ya gotta admit. That one chick's hair was pretty scary!
May 20, 2008 6:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is emblematic of exactly the kind of nonsense we're going to be up against in November.
Again, I know I've let loose with some serious venom at times. But one thing is clear. All democrats, independents, and yes, even moderate republicans, need to stand up and be heard. The far right GOP reign of terror is about to end.
Clinton and Obama supporters - let's stand together against all forms of bigotry!
May 20, 2008 5:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
This ad is total crap.
HRC and Obama sleeping is better than gop.
I am going to try to act better on these posts. Dems need to stick together.
May 20, 2008 5:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gotalife - it's fine to support Clinton - I still do. But the point is, make it constructive. We've all moved on past jr. high (though I encourage young people to participate on this post)
May 20, 2008 5:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think your troll is in junior high, if that helps.
How dare he try to steal your thunder!
May 20, 2008 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
So when do polls close in the electric boogaloo race?
May 20, 2008 5:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
That ad has really irritating background music.
Really irritating. Maybe that's the secret weapon.
May 20, 2008 5:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL!
They could probably turn old Lawrence Welk Shows into some sort of subliminal weapon if they put their minds to it!
May 20, 2008 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
I blame it all on the sexual revolution. Engaging in sexual active can lead to dancing. Beware. You have been warned.
May 20, 2008 5:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
True, Liam - which in itself can lead one to Kick Off the Sunday Shoes as it were.
A Footloose electorate is a dangerous electorate.
May 20, 2008 5:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
These days nobody in San Francisco would dress or style their hair that way.
May 20, 2008 5:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wouldn't be surprised if the party, dancers and music came from a bargain-basement stock footage house.
May 20, 2008 9:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Are you guys watching Hardball, its funny hearing Chuck Todd say how he thinks Hillary found her calling as a chammpion for the working-class white rural voter, and if only she started this a year ago she would be father today. LMAO. I can only take assertion sarcastically, because Hillary Clinton is a fake.
May 20, 2008 5:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
As I alluded to in a comment on the original story, this is not a rural district any more. This is primarily, by population, a suburban district. The largest city in the two southeasternmost counties in the district (Platte & Clay) is Kansas City, where Barnes just completed two very successful terms as mayor. This has made her very popular in all of the KC suburbs. She grew up in St. Joseph (pop. 75,000) which used to be the center of the district, so she has credibility up north. Her weak spot geographically is the sparsely populated far north and eastern portion of the district.
BTW, voters in this district are comfortable vote for a women, having elected Patsy Ann Danner to 4 terms immediately prior to Graves election in 2000.
May 20, 2008 5:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
This ad exposes how bankrupt the Republicans are of any real ideas. Even their fear mongering messages conflict.
They are putting their selves forward as the brave defenders of the nation, while at the same time they are admitting that they are scared to death of a gay community in one city.
If gays scare them that much, then they should recruit them heavily to fight off our external foes. If gays can scare the crap out of all those Neo-Con Chicken Hawks, then surely they are qualified to openly defend our country.
May 20, 2008 5:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Kentucky exit polls reveal:
The vast Majority of Hillary Clinton supporters admit that they are Still Afraid Of The Dark.
Hillary's core support comes from irrational cowards.
(CNN) – The vast majority of Hillary Clinton supporters in Kentucky are not willing to support Barack Obama should he win the party’s nomination, a sign of the continuing division in the Democratic Party as the primary race comes to a close.
According to the just released exit polls, only 33 percent of Clinton backers said they would vote for Obama should he be the party’s nominee. That compares to 71 percent of Obama supporters who say they are willing to support Clinton if she wins the nomination.
May 20, 2008 6:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Many here seem to miss or ignore the fundamental point that Hillarycrats who will not vote for Obama are motivate by their distrust of the man. It is not a matter of pique, but rather concern about his character and competence.
They may well not like him, but that is not the decisive factor. They will not vote for him primarily because they believe he would be a disastrous choice.
Yet these blogs and the MSM do not seem fully prepared to embrace the notion. I am stunned by the hubris of the many pundits who assure us that, in the end, they (the Hillarycrats) will fall in line. There is no evidence to support the notion and it runs counter to the history of this campaign.
It's time the Chablis-sipping punditocracy took their heads out of each others assets, and stopped parroting this profoundly dumb meme.
May 20, 2008 7:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
And what, exactly, does this projection of your own opinions onto all of Hillary's voters have to do with this Missouri attack ad with the scary dancing kids?
May 20, 2008 9:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't understand what exactly is GAY about a dude dancing with two chicks. That said, sure looks to me like on of those predatory San Fransisco black(?) couples are about to attempt some sort of depraved acts with that innocent, possibly intoxicated white girl!
Shame on you, Sam Graves, for running this ad instead of turning the footage directly over to Dateline!
I have heard rumor that such parties have started to spread outside of the Northern California area, and that in some circles a "San Francisco-style bash" is taken to mean an event for which a strict black/white and woman/man ratio of 2:1 and 1:2, respectively, is maintained. Abhorrent!
I should also mention that the black male figure has apparently taken a cowboy hat, preeminent symbol of American masculinity, and gayed it up something awful. I will not stand for such a subversion of my deeply indoctrinated, transparently irrational values.
May 21, 2008 12:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wanted to post both ad's, so everyone can see how different these two candidates, and people are.
Sam Graves Ad
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5eipRbIwNuA
Kay Barnes Response
http://youtube.com/watch?v=oRATA2ypJ3c&feature=related
I am so sickened that my fellow 6th Districers??? Have kept this guy in office as long as he has. Your reign is over Sam Graves! Go Kay Kay! Don't stoop to his level!
May 21, 2008 11:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, also, check out the number of people who have viewed each video...
Sam: 11,000
Kay: 21,000
Hopefully these numbers reflect those who will get out and vote!!!
May 21, 2008 11:25 AM | Reply | Permalink