Another GOP Congressional Incumbent Links Himself To Obama In New Ad
Okay, we now have another GOP Congressional incumbent linking himself positively to Barack Obama: Rep. Chris Shays of Connecticut, who has a new ad that declares flatly that he possesses "the hopefulness of Obama."...
By our count, this makes Shays, who's locked in a tough re-election fight against Dem Jim Himes, the second serious GOP down-ticketer to link himself positively with the Illinois Senator. GOP Senator Gordon Smith, who's also facing a bruising re-election battle, has run two ads hailing Obama.
The Shays campaign declined to comment on the ad, which was forwarded to us by a Connecticut source, but the Himes campaign confirms seeing it up on the air this morning.
Another fun thing about this ad is that Shays actually associates himself with both Obama and McCain, saying that he possesses "the hopefulness of Obama" and "the straight talk of McCain." Talk about fence sitting...
Late Update: The Shays campaign has confirmed to us that the ad is indeed running.
Chris Shays is a duplicitous asshole. Excuse my language, but the man just flat out lies to his constituents.
I'm going to do donate money to Jim Hines.
August 21, 2008 4:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sigh. Can't spell, can't type.
That should be "I'm going to go donate money to Himes".
Sob.
Can't we get a Preview function? Please?
August 21, 2008 4:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Boy, he sure surrounded himself with a lot of black people in that ad.
http://strategy08.wordpress.com
August 21, 2008 4:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
P.S. McCain campaign tells Drudge they're going to "FIRE BACK HARD" in new ad soon...
http://strategy08.wordpress.com
August 21, 2008 4:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
And Halperin, after burying this story, now has that at the top of the page. What a tool.
August 21, 2008 4:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's more from that:
THIS…MEANS…WAR
McCain campaign fires back at Obama for “house” attack– new TV ad to target Obama and Tony Rezko.
McCain official to the Atlantic: Arizonan’s line of attack “reflects an existential reality,” while Obama’s comments “attack Cindy. She owns the homes. I thought he said the wives were off-limits.”
The ad will be released to network news divisions in time for their broadcasts tonight. Permalink
August 21, 2008 4:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am sure his ad will be pretty uninspired, but it is the right tactic for McCain. Try and change the subject!
I really don't think it will work though, the houses bit is far juicier than Rezko.
August 21, 2008 4:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rezko will sink Obama like Jim and Susan McDougal sunk Bill Clinton.
Oh wait...
August 21, 2008 4:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
I haven't seen that many black people in a republican ad since the Willy Horton attack! ..lol
August 21, 2008 4:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I gotta say...
It's better than the Tennessee GOP ads. It's also positive words coming from R's which is rare.
August 21, 2008 4:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
I suppose he also ate arugula as a prison of war?
August 21, 2008 4:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anybody who gets played by this kind of stuff, deserves the rats they end up with!
August 21, 2008 4:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
So, some republicans are tying themselves to Obama.
Why not to McCain? Their slogan could be:
"Ich ben ien POW"
August 21, 2008 4:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ayres 527 ad is now up on Politico.
Pretty lame, though.
August 21, 2008 5:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Link to Ayres ad on Politico.
August 21, 2008 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ayers is currently a college professor in Chicago. LOL...boy, republicans are lame.
August 21, 2008 5:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
During the primary, Chris Shays supported Obama and appeared to introduce him at NH town halls, etc.
August 21, 2008 5:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Really?
August 21, 2008 5:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep, I attended a McCain town hall in NH around New Years (everyone else was in Iowa) and Chris Shays was there, clearly a strong supporter, introducing McCain, keeping the audience happy when the McCains were late, etc.
August 21, 2008 8:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just as the Rezco ad hits the air, Barack can squirt out his text message of the veep pick.
Whoosh.
August 21, 2008 6:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Um, this shoulda been under the THIS MEANS WAR post above.
August 21, 2008 6:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
THIS IS EXCELLENT NEWS!! FOR MCCAIN!!!
August 21, 2008 6:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Welcome Back!!!!! Or have I just been going to the wrong threads?
August 21, 2008 8:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
I always liked Shays. Corny though his ad is, I say let's smile and leave him be.
August 21, 2008 6:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've read all of these posts and they are great, but it's all becoming a blur. It's boring, and the American people are simply tuned-out. The only thing they respond to is something loud and outrageous, which the McCains excell at. "Bomb, bomb Iran" is exciting to a lot of bellicose people, Attacking more countries while out troops languish in hell. Horrible, but makes the blood boil--to the bored and frustrated.
I'm beginning to think that the only way that Barack can create huge fireworks right now is to pick Bilary ashis VP. Think of the Media firestorm that just might run ol Crusty back into his hole. The country would be energized! I think she's a witch, but country first. IMHO
August 21, 2008 7:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't respond.
Announce VP.
Create new attack.
(McCain supports draft. )
& etc.
Keep them on defensive up to GOP convention. Pivot, pivot, pivot.
Then debates. Pat down McCain and look for microphones. I have a cochlear implant, you'd be surprised at how easy it is to radio-feed an idiot.
Any big event (Georgia, or credit bank collapsing) get in front. Responding quicker than McCain in sound bites will be important.
Ground game all the way through.
August 21, 2008 7:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
So, is this how McCain is going to spend the federal funds that come from taxpayers in the general election? More lies, more stupidity, more distortions. It's all he has in his campaign strategy because he has no solutions to any of the problems ordinary people are facing - All he wants to do is cut pork, give oil companies big tax breaks, and bomb other countries.
August 21, 2008 7:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Can he used federal funds for attack ads. I thought maybe the attack ad money is coming from the RNC and his 527 friends of which he seems to have way more than Obama.
August 22, 2008 3:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with dtr. Stay on the offensive keep attacking - play up all the negative and goodness knows there are so many.
August 22, 2008 3:09 PM | Reply | Permalink