Holiday Ads
It seems like everyone in D.C. is trying to leave town early to get in some Christmas vacation before the Iowa Caucus. And so it's time to comment on the candidates and their holiday ads. I'd like to Grade them.
Candidate:Huckabee
Grade:A+
Alternate Title: What Would Be So Wrong if I Was Celebrating Christmas?
Analysis: Huckabee has no money to run this ad. So they light it just right to get the floating cross/bookcase effect, and Drudge goes nuts. Adding in the bit about "celebrating" the birth of Christ makes it just specific enough to have a "War on Christmas" topspin. Then when he's called on playing the Christian card, he makes himself even more likable. Well played.
Candidate:Giuliani
Grade: B
Alternate Title: Sweat my Sweater
Analysis: Reagan could pull off brown suits. I'm not sure Giuliani can pull of a red sweater. Other than that - just fine. Michael Crowley of TNR has noted Giuliani's strange "jokey" campaign - and this fits right into it. Think Giuliani will let Santa into American airspace after Jolly Saint Nick delivers presents to the Christians in Iran?
More Below the Fold
Candidate:Clinton
Grade: C-
Alternate Title: Stocking Stuffer Social Justice
Analysis: Do Democrats really want to portray their social programs as gifts they are handing out? What's the weird font for "Happy Holidays?" I hate the reflexive hatred of Hillary Clinton. Yet, I still can't warm up to her - at all.
Candidate: Edwards
Grade:B
Alternate Title: Christmas is About Giving a Shit
Analysis: Edwards lacks the sartorial daring of Giuliani. But he talks about "miracles" in this season and promised not to forget the poor. At least Clinton is offering "Universal Pre-K". I bet the poor can count on her for that more than they can on Edwards' signs and wonders. He really knows how to telegraph "sincerity" with those brow gestures.
Candidate: Obama
Grade: A-
Alternate Title: My Wife is More Vibrant than I Am
Analysis: Cute kids really help any ad this time of year. Allowing the "C" word in the ad makes him seem less threatening. He'll meet with the enemies in the War on Christmas with no preconditions in his first year in office.
Candidate:Paul
Grade:A-
Alternate Title: More Fecund than The Mormons
Analysis: Red Shirt! Paul has a big-ass family and a really cute granddaughter (Polka dots). But why are you taking time off when your supporters just gave you over 6 million dollars in a day? I like how the music is "people-powered."
Technically the following isn't a Romney commercial. But he's in it with his family and a lot of snow. So I'll link to it.
Tell me. Does that small scared child say "No!" just before Mitt launches him down the hill? (Right around :54 seconds into the video?)
Michael Brendan Dougherty
in Politics
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Reader Comments (4)
The polls don't quite indicate this - but perhaps Paul's most fervent supporters are correct to say that the polls only reflect his level of support among traditional primary-going Republicans, and don't show his crossover support.
This campaign has been full of surprises. Here's hoping the Paul campaign has some more.