John Edwards' first major television ad, a 60-second piece entitled "Heroes," begins airing in Iowa today.
In the ad, Edwards reaffirms his commitment to honoring and fighting for America’s true heroes – the working men and women of our country.
My transcript:
If you're looking for heroes, don't look to me, don't look to Elizaeth. We have support, we have healthcare, we have the AMerican people behind us.
If you're looking to heroes look to them. They are the ones we stand up for.
When Elizabeth and I decided, in the quiet of a hopspital room, after twelve hours of test and after getting very bad news, what we were going to spend our lives doing for all those that have no voice.
We're not going to quietly go away,instead we're going to go out and fight for what it is we believe in.
It is time for our party -- The Democratic Party -- to show a little backbone, to have a little guts, to stand up for the working men and women.
If we are not there voice, they will never have a voice.
Hillary has spent something like $1.5 million in ads in Iowa, Obama has spent something around $2.3 million, and Richardson close to that as well. Even Dodd, has spent $450,000 on TV ads in Iowa.
Edwards spent $25,000 back trying to prevent the May Capitulation bill and has been off the air since then. No more.
So, what do you think? Let the critiques of Trippi et al begin.
Update 8:52 am: From the AP story:
Edwards spokesman Dan Leistikow declined to say how much the ad cost, but said it was "a significant, statewide buy."
Asked about the role of TV advertising in Iowa, Edwards said:
"I think it's much more important to Iowa caucus-goers to see you in the flesh — see you stand before them, look them in the eye and answer their hard questions"....
Edwards has lived up to that belief. Last weekend, Edwards announced he had visited all 99 Iowa counties (from what I remember David Bonior telling m e a month ago, Hillary had only been to 55 counties, and Obama to 45 -- though that's based on memory and may have changed over the past month).
Update 10:22 am (thanks okamichan13 to for the tip)
Here's the cover of the new, glossy pamphlet the Edwards campaign has mailed out to Democrats in Iowa earlier this week (apparently it arrived at homes on 30 October). Politco has jpegs of all 12 pages.
The mailing should remind Iowa voters that they once fell in love with the "optimistic son of a mill worker" and should also make sure they understand that Edwards' populism comes out of his personal story in the small-towns of the Carolinas where he was the son of a union member and saw the hard work and troubles of the American people close up.
I'm actually quite happy with where Edwards is in Iowa (it's clear that a win will be seen as an upset and not something that was expected, as other campaigns had hoped earlier). I do think that this entrance into the air-war, combined with targeted mailings, and the tireless campaigning at fairs, union halls, private houses, lumber yards, etc, will eventually help Edwards win on 3 January 2008 (now just two months away).
Update 10:52 am: I just got an email from fellow Michigander David Bonior and the campaign is asking for contributions to help keep the ad on the air:
Over the past two weeks, thousands of people took up our challenge of raising $500,000 online by October 31 — and because of their support, we can start airing this spot in Iowa today.
Now, we're asking you to help us keep it running. Your contribution today will allow us to keep this ad on the air for an extended period — and to air it in other critical key states. A contribution of just $50 will help us meet this goal.
So please consider helping us extend the run of this powerful spot, and spread John's message of big, bold change to voters in key early states.
Donate Here.