Obama Campaign Quietly Airs Second Version Of "Low Road" Ad
Here's another sign of the Obama camp's message shift in the direction of a full-throttle push on energy.
With no public announcement, the Obama campaign quietly started airing this ad yesterday in a few select states -- it's very similar to this spot released last week hitting McCain for taking the "low road," but the new spot adds a new introduction hitting McCain on gas prices.
A source sends along a copy...
Our source notes that it's on the air in Pennsylvania, where Obama surrogates have been going after McCain's negative campaigning very aggressively in the local media. It's also running in a couple of other battleground states, though it's unclear right now which ones. Anyway, it's another sign that the energy wars are in full swing.
Late Update: For a few minutes we had vid of the old ad posted. The new one is now above. Apologies.
So why do it quitely?
August 5, 2008 3:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, this should help - Obama slapped back effectively at a town hall just now on energy. Take a look:
http://strategy08.wordpress.com/2008/08/05/now-im-impressed/
August 5, 2008 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
What did baloney ever do to deserve this type of attention?
August 5, 2008 5:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, interesting that the ad and the surrogate pushback are both under the national radar. Any theories on that?
August 5, 2008 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have one - I think Obama has a strategy and if you look at the state by state polls you begin to see what it is.
He's fighting on the local level, people - not on the national. That to me is brilliant and I think he structured it this way because that is how he learned to organize and lead people and he's right -
Politics is local.
August 5, 2008 5:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
And maybe it's also harder for the McCain campaign to track and counter, since they don't have much of an organization in a lot of states.
August 5, 2008 5:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wait--I've already seen this ad before yesterday.
August 5, 2008 3:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is the same ad you aired on July 30.
August 5, 2008 3:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Where is the new part? New ad is same as the old ad.
August 5, 2008 3:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, that's what I pointed out as well. It's the same ad TPM reported on July 30th.
August 5, 2008 3:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
AHA!
looks like Greg embedded the wrong link -- HERE'S the new version. AFAICT the only difference is in the first 3-4 seconds of narration and one image of a gas-station sign at the beginning... hardly something worth making a big press release about.
Anyway, the "old" ad was called Low Road while the new one's called Low Road Express.
August 5, 2008 3:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, you mean the Obama campaign isn't running the campaign through the national media first? How DARE they?
Slightly off-topic, but not much: John McCain is reducing ad buy time in four swing states. Probably to pay for the Olympic buy, but I find it interesting that he appears to be trying to keep pace with Obama during the Olympics.
August 5, 2008 3:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
I heard McCain's new campaign meme is, "Vote for me and I'll let you see my wife's boobys."
August 5, 2008 3:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Er...pass.
August 5, 2008 3:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
You owe me a new stick of gum. I just choked on the one I was chewing when I read your post. ;-D
August 5, 2008 3:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Uh...it's Boobies...and I'm checking the Sturgis web-site to see if there's a shot of them now...
August 5, 2008 4:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Iowa and Ohio. I thought that last one was especially significant because it is really hard to see McCain winning without Ohio. If this amounts to cutting one's losses, then that scale-back is essentially a tacit admission of defeat on McCain's part, unless he starts making an even more aggressive bid for Minnesota and Michigan.
August 5, 2008 3:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
guys, see update. apologies for the mix up
August 5, 2008 3:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Speaking of quiet, fans and apologists of Real Clear Politics should notice that they still have not posted the lates AP/Ipsos poll showing Obama with a 6 point lead.
Waiting for the Anti-Obam trolls to weigh in with:
"but, but, but the Republican Rasmussen poll is the only one that counts...ask Sean Hannity!"
August 5, 2008 3:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
OK, I like this retooled ad using the imagery from McCain's smear ad on gas prices juxtaposed with the "False," "Not True," "Baseless," "Baloney" quotes.
Don't see any reason why the campaign would need to introduce this reworked ad with a lot of fanfare. Let the ad speak for itself.
August 5, 2008 3:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's just an adjustment to the new line of attack. Looks fine for me.
August 5, 2008 3:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, anyone want to participate in McCain's teletown hall?
If you go to the "Main" page on the link Greg provided about the "local media", there's a phone number and password to use to join in the teletown hall...
You might even get a chance to ask a question!
August 5, 2008 3:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
$20 to anyone who gets through and makes McCain have one of his "moments."
August 5, 2008 4:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're on...
August 5, 2008 4:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Conan the Grammarian here:
Should it be "real solutions FOR America's challenges"? Ad seems to say "FROM."
As for content, right on, although I'd like to work in the McCain flip-flop point.
August 5, 2008 3:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
What's new in this ad? Greg mentions an update, but I don't anything new.
August 5, 2008 4:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guess, the footage of price cards and the oil pump is an addition?
August 5, 2008 4:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
I love the "Baloney" quote in these ads.
Straight-talk to Joe Six-pack.
August 5, 2008 4:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Breaking News*******
Obama went after Republican for been ignorant. Watch the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akjXqfvLu28
August 5, 2008 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Awesome.
Like he often does, Obama cuts right at the belly of the Beast of Imbecility that has been keeping us in thrall for so long.
Can something that feels so good actually work?
August 5, 2008 4:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Beautiful.
August 5, 2008 4:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
That was a good clip. Thanks for sharing it.
August 5, 2008 4:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
And DOWN GOES Grampy McSame!!!
August 5, 2008 4:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can't wait to watch rick Davis go into apoplexy over that.
Finally, someone came right out and said it. Well put, Senator.
August 5, 2008 4:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
"They know they're lying."
Zing!
August 5, 2008 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
"It's like they are proud of being ignorant!" Even beter.
August 5, 2008 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Great catch Gbenga, this is the Obama that I like to see.
August 5, 2008 4:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama needs to be Obama again. He is more effective when counter punching. I like this Obama a lot. No more Mr. Nice guy...love it
August 5, 2008 4:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think you are on to something there Gbenga, he is better when he's counter-punching.
August 5, 2008 4:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
The ad is okay BUT come late October I want to see 24/7 play of the 'Bush43 grabbing McInsane's ass' pict.
August 5, 2008 4:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
My thinking exactly. No democrat should use the word "McCain" without "Bush" in the same breath.
August 5, 2008 4:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, and the voting record: 95%/100% with Bush the past two years.
"You know that president you hate? He has a very close friend..."
August 5, 2008 5:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I love it.
I love it love it love it.
August 5, 2008 5:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good, we're talking about energy, and not about celebrities and muslims.
Please McCain, let's debate the real issues here.
August 5, 2008 5:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have Chronospark to thank for this - he came up with it, basically, but I really think Obama has been fighting McLame on the local level - not the national. I think that Obama is doing a lot of his campaigning on the local level. If you look at the state by state polls, I think this starts to be clear.
It's the tortoise and the hare - and someone else came up with that, too - not me, I'm stealing it. Obama has a long term plan to win this thing. He's the only one running who does.
August 5, 2008 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama quietly releases new gas ad, McCain quietly releases new gas.
August 5, 2008 6:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Native Texan, you owe me a new keyboard. Just spilled all over it!!
August 5, 2008 11:35 PM | Reply | Permalink