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Obama's Closing Argument Spots Return To Where It All Began
The Obama campaign goes up in states across the country with a pair of closing-argument ads that return to the themes that launched his campaign nearly two years ago: Bringing people together in the service of change.
The first spot highlights his endorsements by Colin Powell and Warren Buffet to argue that "something's happening in America...people from every walk of life...uniting in common purpose." The spot seems designed to give viewers a stake in Obama's candidacy by making them feel caught up in a historical moment that's driven as much by them as by the candidate:
The second spot shows Bush and McCain in the rear-view mirror -- literally -- to reinforce the frame that's held for many months now: Change versus more of the same...
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Ooooh, the rear view mirror ad is perfect for Halloween. And the first one just accentuates how pitiful the McCain campaign has become--calm and control versus flailing arms and fists swinging at puffs of smoke.
October 30, 2008 10:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
There should be an entire ad just of McCain making air quotes. I love when he does that.
October 30, 2008 10:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
He's a "fucktard."
http://pufferfish.typepad.com/
October 30, 2008 10:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
In Italiano
... McSame e` un coglione!
October 31, 2008 10:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Or, as we call them, 'dick fingers.'"
October 30, 2008 10:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Saw that on Daily Show. That was an awesome show last night. McCain just gives them so much.
October 30, 2008 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
I dig the first one. The second one...not so much. I guess they were made to target different voters though.
October 30, 2008 11:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
I prefer ending on a positive note, too, as with the first ad. But I have to say, the rear view mirror technique in the second is brilliant. I just think it might have been more useful a little earlier on. I also think it would be good to have a closing ad of Obama talking straight into the camera again.
October 30, 2008 12:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
What I love most of all about the rear view mirror spot, and all the others that show him and Bush together smiling, is that McCain and his handlers went to all this trouble to keep Bush away from their candidate at all costs the last half year. But the one time McCain *has* to be at Bush's side, for the inevitable endorsement, Obama mines it for all it's worth! Classic -- and wholly appropriate.
October 30, 2008 11:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Rearview Mirror" - love it
October 30, 2008 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Rearview Mirror" - love it
October 30, 2008 11:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Models of what an effective positive ad and an effective negative ad look like. I remember the lame-o ads from a couple of months ago- whatever agency puts these together has really found its stride lately.
October 30, 2008 11:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Rearview Mirror = Last Eight Years.
Love the nunance.
October 30, 2008 11:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Like I said yesterday it's all about "sharing the toys" and "sharing the PBJ sandwich." It's the bullies who want to take the toys and the sandwich and not share in the rear view mirror. And it's the voters who are coming together as a community for the good of the community, who want change.
The rules of the road apply to everyone. And the resources of the country need to be shared. So that everyone who can contribute works together and we all have access to the toys and sandwiches.
This is not just some kind of slick message or tactical message. This applies to our earliest learning as little children - learning that is meant to help children become responsible citizens. This is where we're going as a nation. And as a friendly nation in the world.
October 30, 2008 11:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Absolutely correct!
After watching Obama's commercial last night, my wife said, "You know, he's appealing to those of us who've been taught it's the right thing to do to work together and help each other even though we might not always agree. Just like the story, 'Everything I Ever Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.'"
October 30, 2008 11:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
That is exactly the book I've been thinking of. Playbook for the Obama campaign!
October 30, 2008 12:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
If there is indeed an Obama blow out on Tuesday, any ideas on what the collective "freak-out" on the right will look like?
October 30, 2008 11:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Not pretty. Licking their wounds as first. But like wild animals. Plotting revenge. Lord of the Flies over on their side, shafting one another, jockeying for position. Depression. Resignation. Denial. The gamut.
October 30, 2008 11:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's already getting ugly here in Kentucky. My boss, boss' boss and boss' boss' boss are all wingnut freakazoids.
They've been punishing the dems in the office ever since the DINO dems took the governor's office away from the repug incumbent last year.
Starting next Wednesday, they're going to be out to make us suffer double or triple. It's already started.
And yes, they can get away with it, are getting away with it and will continue to get away with it.
Kentucky is a right-to-be-a-slave state - no union, no job protection, no nothing. Take it in the ass or live on the streets - that's our only "choice."
Yes, I'm bitter.
Obama's victory won't improve our lives much, but I've given him more money than I can afford and will vote with fierce intensity on Tuesday, in hopes that in other, more civilized places, President Obama really will make a difference.
October 30, 2008 12:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Perhaps cries of voter fraud, how the Dems and Acorn stole the election. The groundwork for that lament has been laid for all to see.
October 31, 2008 10:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
October 30, 2008 11:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Just now in giving his speech in Sarasota, Obama brought up the car analogy of looking in the rearview mirror to see McCain and Bush. He expanded on this, saying that McCain would drive the economy in the ditch, and that we need a new driver in the White House.
October 30, 2008 11:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Any mention of Exxon's record profits and the fact McCain wants to give them more money?
October 30, 2008 11:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
That car ad is excellent!
October 30, 2008 11:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Joe the Fake Plumber goes AWOL on McCain at a rally - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCkGEHQVHK4
October 30, 2008 11:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
LOL!
Joe's 15 minutes are just about up.
Anybody remember Jeff Gannon? Where is he now?
Good bye Princes Sparkle Starburst. Goodbye Joe the fake Plumber.
October 30, 2008 11:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Jesus. Can we put this guy out of his fucking misery already.
October 30, 2008 11:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
LOL!
October 30, 2008 11:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Morning.
ONe of the best running wasn't put together by the Obama Camp - it's the Veteran's Group ad for Obama. It's excellent - one of the best ads I've seen.
October 30, 2008 11:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
Love the idea of the rear view mirror.
Can't wait until Tuesday.
October 30, 2008 11:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
You and me and the whole rest of the world!
:)
October 30, 2008 11:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Four More Days!
October 31, 2008 10:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
Rearview mirror and warning signs -- great ad!
October 30, 2008 11:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
McCain stood up by the Joe, the fucking Plumber. You gotta see the pathetic caricature of a presidential candidate here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCkGEHQVHK4
What do 48% of amurikans see in this guy (I mean JM) anyway ? Horror..
October 30, 2008 11:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Did anyone else hear Joe Scarborough this morning claim that McCain's internal polls show him ahead, and that a poll is going to be release today (he said "I can't tell you who it is") that will show PA to be dramatically closer?
October 30, 2008 11:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
I forget which poll it was, but it did say Penn was only four points for Obama (though it was actually up from +3 for Obama last time they released a poll).
If the McCain Camp numbers were as close as they're publicly saying they are, there wouldn't be the level of in-fighting going on barely behind the scenes.
October 30, 2008 11:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
The PA was the NBC/Mason Dixon poll showing Obama at +4. But CNN/Time poll for PA today has Obama at +12. So it probable somewhere in between those two. Listening to Chuck Todd talk about how Obama will probably win it with his margin in Philly region was reassuring.
And I think Joe was just talking about some of the internal polls in key battleground states, FL MO and NC.
October 30, 2008 11:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
If the McCain numbers were where they say they are, they wouldn't be opening call centers in Arizona.
October 31, 2008 10:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Were that a rearview to the past few decades, there would be a wrecked car, a few wrecked planes, a wrecked family, and plenty of wrecked policies.
October 30, 2008 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Rearview Mirror" - love it
October 30, 2008 12:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Economist endorses Obama. Apparently this proves that Obama can't be a political or economic radical.
October 30, 2008 12:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Economist endorses Obama. Apparently this proves that Obama can't be a political or economic radical.
October 30, 2008 12:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
The rearview mirror is great.
Note also that they're starting to lay into Big Oil Tax Breaks... right at the moment when Exxon-Mobil announced it's record profits. ConocoPhillips was last week (rose to $5.18 billion from $3.67 billion last year). BP was earlier in the week (rose to $8.05 billion from $4.41 billion a year earlier). Royal Dutch Shell came out today and it's massive (rose to $8.45 billion and an adjusted $10.9B from $6.9 billion last year).
Chevron is expected later this week.
This is of course all good news for John McCain.
John
October 30, 2008 1:40 PM | Reply | Permalink