I have a few random thoughts about the TV ad war that's currently being waged by the presidential campaigns and the 527s that I thought I would share. I also have a question that I was hoping someone here would be able to answer...
(I realize that this isn't the catchiest introduction, but at least its short and to the point, right?!)
Hello,
(1) Has any one else noticed that every one of the BC 04 ads has aired in, among other States, DELAWARE? To my knowledge, none of the Kerry, Move On.org, or Media Fund ads have aired in Delaware. Could this be significant? Shouldn't we be matching the Republicans' presence there? Delaware has only 3 electoral votes, but this could end up being a very close election...
(2) Also, I can't help but wonder if the Kerry campaign and/or allied 527s shouldn't be buying a limited number of ads in some of the more "red" states which we have an outside chance of winning, like, for example, Colorado, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, hell even North Carolina, Virgina, perhaps even South Carolina (given the textile related job losses there).
I know that funds are limited and tough choices need to be made, but why not expand the pool of States that the Bush has to worry about and fight to defend?! I know that others on this site have made this same point... A small buy in a few of these States followed by a round of polling might reveal that some of the States which until now have been written off by the Kerry campaign are in fact more winnable than teh conventional wisdom would suggest.
(3) If its not doing so already, the Kerry campaign needs to encourage its supporters around the country to write in letters to the editor responding to the various points made in the Bush Cheney attack ads. The Debunker (which appears on the John Kerry for President website), along with Citizens for Tax Justice's website, would be good sources for material which could be incorporated in these letters.
(4) The Kerry campaign needs to air a biographical spot highlighting among other things, Kerry's past work as a prosecutor, his good senate record on issues related to the war on terrorism, energy independence, political reform, as well as his support for 100,000 more cops, and his support for Gramm Rudman and other efforts to reduce the deficit (like the 1993 Clinton budget).
(5) Kerry needs to air a series of entirely postive, forward looking ads which focus on his plans/agends should he be elected president (eg., to help create jobs, expand economic opportunity, reduce the deficit, fight the war on terrorism, get us out of Iraq as soon as possible, though in a responsible way).
My question:
Does anyone know where I could find a transcript of Kerry's recent speech in California? It aired on radio CSPAN tonight and I thought it was one of the most inspring speeches I have heard him give. I have not found him inspiring in the past, but this was a good speech.