It’s another good one:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufQDWPEgJZg[/youtube]
It’s airing in Iowa and New Hampshire, and performs two key goals. First, it continues Romney’s campaign theme of change in Washington. Remember, to win the White House in 2008, we’ve got to overcome party fatigue, and Mitt is basing a lot of his recent campaign around that fact. Secondly, it’s a subtle jab at Fred Thompson before he even enters the race. From Jonathan Martin:
The message reflects two obvious calculations. First, Romney is continuing with his ad theme — first aired headed into the Ames Straw Poll — of change. It’s an attempt to run subtly against an unpopular president by running against an even less popular political culture in Washington. So the emphasis is on Romney’s ability to right the ship[s] — in the private sector and in government.
Second, this is something of a preemptive strike against Fred Thompson. Before the lumbering Tennessean can even get in the race, Romney is making the point that he’s got the hunger, energy and drive that skeptics claim Thompson might not have. But it’s also bigger than just drawing a distinction with Thompson. If you don’t include marathoner Huck, what other top-shelf GOP candidate could get away with wearing shorts in an ad?
Well played, Team Romney.
August 30th, 2007 at 5:28 am
[...] post by MattC and software by Elliott [...]
August 30th, 2007 at 7:45 am
This should get him the Larry Craig-vote, if he didn’t already have it.
Who was the genius who came up with the idea of equipping him with a microphone while he was running?
August 30th, 2007 at 7:53 am
I fail to see why anyone is impressed with political advertising, let alone see how it builds someone up a third of the share of any one state’s votes.
But, then again, I am not the average voter, and no one bothering to blog is, either.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:09 am
Leadership requires integrity, which involves doing what is right even when no one else is looking. Romney has only shown himself to be someone that does what is popular only when everyone else is looking! Changing your stance on a major political issue just to gain popular support is not leadership! Romney, therefore, is no leader!
August 30th, 2007 at 8:24 am
Don’t most candidates wear microphones when filming commercials? Especially when running?
I’d like to see Hillary Clinton run. No wait, no – I wouldn’t.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:31 am
The irony of Willard throwing Larry Craig under the bus is that he is a prototypical Larry Craig Republican. His actions don’t live up to his words, and that says something about Romney given that he tends to speak out of both sides of his mouth.
I can’t understand the thinking behind Romney. He is unproven on the national stage (unlike Rudy) and he is vulnerable on so many fronts – flip-flopping, religion, effeminate, lack of foreign policy experience. I see no way he beats Hillary or Obama.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:45 am
Palbo, turning around the Olympics shows more leadership on a national stage than running around the streets of New York while buildings fall down.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:50 am
Fretting about Mitt — The favorite past-time of Race42008 blog.
I am amazed at the shots that Romney has taken on the chin for the last 8 months and yet inspite of it he is gaining popularity. I think the political term for this effect is called over-reaching or over-playing one’s hand. It seems that the charges against Mitt have some merit of truth, but when opponents vastly exagerate the problems, when they launch into him with such gusto so early in the political process, and when the constantly employ mind reading to interpet Mitt’s motives, it has the opposite effect with a much larger audience.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:07 am
Nate that was pretty insensitive. I don’t necessarily agree with you, I think both Romney and Giuliani are great leaders, but the question becomes, who would be the better leader at this time? My answer is Romney for precisely the reason you pointed out. He’s a turnaround artist.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:08 am
I think this ad, like some other Mitt ads, is cheesy as hell, but I can’t help myself. I love it. lol
August 30th, 2007 at 9:26 am
Larry Craig threw Larry Craig under the bus, with his actions. If he had plead innocent, then I concede your point in #6. The facts are different though. He plead guilty to disgusting behavior, unbecoming of any elected official, and Romney is supposed to stand by him? Gimmie a break!
August 30th, 2007 at 9:33 am
Got to love the ‘cheese factor’ of mitt romney. I think the ad is a little cheesy but is well done.
I think the running and background may distract from the words spoken a little but i agree that the major point that sticks out is the contrast between him and lazy head.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:35 am
is was craig who threw romney under the bus, not the other way around. he came up short so romney let him go. refreshing actually.
i will take merit and results and performance over loyatly in government anyday. something bush could learn.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:39 am
Good ad, but I wish he were running it in South Carolin, Florida, and Michigan. There is still work to be done in those states.
August 30th, 2007 at 10:15 am
Dave, agreed! I want to see Romney go after Rudy head on in Florida. It would be a strong statement that Romney does not run and hide when the competition gets tough. Is it politically risky? Yes, but it would send a strong message, even if he doesn’t see significant gains their.
Tommy Oliver, I’m interested in your thoughts on this add. Is it another low blow on Romney’s part (“exploiting” Fred’s perceived bad health for political gain), or is it just good politics?
August 30th, 2007 at 10:17 am
1. #6 We need someone in Washington who has experience letting people go, especially if they don’t live up to what is expected
2. #6 Although I think Rudy handled himself well during 9/11, I don’t understand why one would think this qualifies as a “national stage” and turning around the Olympics isn’t.
3. #6 Isn’t Obama effiminate and lacks foreign policy experience?
4. #4 You probably flunked math when it came math theorems
August 30th, 2007 at 10:59 am
The other Ryan, it was not just that Larry pledged guilty to some misconduct behavior, he also tried to hide the fact that he was charged and brough to court, hoping that no one discover the court record. Remember, Mitt is all about tranparency in Washington DC from the public officals.
August 30th, 2007 at 11:12 am
Richard P, I agree with you that Mitt should expand his focus to other states. I just want to point a few factors you may not realize:
1) The scope of marketablity: Iowa is small in that it has a few of state-wide radio and tv stations. No matter where you are in the state, you will receive the signals from Des Mois. You can purchase some airtime from 1 or 2 stations. With Florida, the regions is much smaller. You don’t watch Miami station in Orlando, or listen to a station from St Jacksonville in Pensacola. It is much more expensive to do your ads there. That is why no candidate has done the state wide ads there yet.
2) Mitt does have the world-class data mining team (they do have a name for it in political world, target market, I think). It is their job to study the markets in each regions across the nation, determining what the people there want to hear. Yes, it is pandering to its finest, or at worst, depending on some of the readers here. But the fact remains, you have so much to offer, and you cannot tell everyone everything about yourself. You will have to target the market with what the people want to hear. Sadly, people only have time to know what the candidates’ stances is related to the issues that matter to them. This team has studied the early states for a few months. We saw the result of this effort in those states. I believe they have been busy studying some Super Tuesday states the last couple of months. They should have something out for those states soon. But yes, any candidate will need to start looking at thoe states soon, even Rudy with his national ID. It is not enough that you are known to may people. You also need to keep them attached to you. That was Rudy’s mistake in IA and NH – he waited too long before getting his ads out. He still has the chance in NH. With IA, backing off from Ames was the final nail in the coffin for those Iowans.
August 30th, 2007 at 11:14 am
Ryan,
I also agree with your #10. I love the ad. It is “cheesy” as you put it. But I also like cheesy, I can’t help myself there. Romney runs pretty good for a 60 year-old man.
August 30th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
‘I also agree with your #10. I love the ad. It is “cheesy†as you put it.’
It’s cheesy, all right. I don’t need to hear Romney while he’s out of breath.
‘But I also like cheesy, I can’t help myself there. Romney runs pretty good for a 60 year-old man.’
He also looks like he’s 45. Compare that to Fred Thompson, who is only 5 years older.
August 30th, 2007 at 2:27 pm
I hate that ad.
August 30th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
This has to be the sweatiest presidential ad I’ve ever seen. Sure it’s “cheesey,” but I think it’s effective imagery.
August 30th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
I met Mitt Romney in person at one of his campaign fundraisers a few months ago. He may be 60, but he looks about 45. He’s fit, and with just a bit of grey in his hair. He looks very healthy, though he isn’t a weightlifter like George W. Bush. I’m 41, and I felt like he might have looked younger than I did.
August 30th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
I think those who are suggesting that Romney start advertising seriously in South Carolina and Florida are missing a few key points. 1st, Romney has limited resources, in terms of both his time, and his cash. He can’t be everywhere at once, and he can’t spend significantly in every state early in the game. Candidates have to pay attention to “opportunity cost” or, as it’s generally called, “bang for your buck”. Romney may need to spend considerably more to gain each additional vote in South Carolina and Florida, then he does in Iowa and New Hampshire.
For a couple of reasons. One, as someone noted, it’s simply cheaper to reach voters in Iowa and New Hampshire. Second, Iowa and New Hampshire voters are more amenable to him then South Carolinans or Floridians. Of course, this doesn’t continue indefinitely. Eventually, Romney’s going to reach complete market saturation in Iowa and New Hampshire (if he hasn’t already). In other words, he’ll have persuaded everyone who could be considered reasonably persuadable. Or additional resources are likely to lead to dimishing returns. At that point, I’d expect that he’d refocus his resources.
And I think it makes more sense for him to focus them on South Carolina, then in Florida. Floridians might well be more persuadable, but both Thompson and Rudy are likely to be competing heavily in Florida. Only Thompson and (still second tier) Huckabee will be competing seriously in South Carolina. Also, if he loses South Carolina by a significant margin, after having won Iowa, New Hampshire, Michigan (maybe), Wyoming (maybe), and Nevada (maybe), then he’ll have lost any chance of winning Florida anyway.
August 30th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
no vid of mccain at this site. in a word, telling.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQsckD9trn4
August 30th, 2007 at 4:20 pm
Matt,
I agree with much of your reasoning, and I agree that Mitt can’t afford to let anybody steal a march on him in either Iowa ar New Hampshire. If he has the resources to do just one of the three states I mentioned, maybe he should focus on Michigan. He’s better positioned there and it might well turn out to be more important–particularly if it stays at Jan. 15th, and Florida stays at Jan. 29th.
August 30th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
romney’s hair all messed up…
anyone else read this from Time Magazine:
A “leaked” playbook for the Romney campaign gives insight into what staffers think his weaknesses are. Among them? Too perfect hair.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
This is the first time I ever saw Romneys hair messed up.