I saw the new Raese ad yesterday and thought these three men were actors and from West Virginia. Raese is running against Joe Manchin here and decided to run an ad portraying 3 older middle aged guys in a diner saying that they supported Manchin for governor but not "Washington Joe" who supports Obama. The ad is sponsored by the National Republican Senatorial Committee and unfortunately, I can't find a video of it. Then, this morning I was up with my bruised ribs (little furniture moving accident) and watched the lead on Morning Joe. (I know, but they talk politics!) They reported on Politico's leak of the casting call for the ad and it really made me laugh (hurting the ribs).
"We are going for a ‘Hicky’ Blue Collar look," read the talent agency's casting call for the independent-expenditure ad, being aired by the National Republican Senatorial Committee. "These characters are from West Virginia so think coal miner/trucker looks."
"Clothing Suggestions" included jeans, work boots, flannel shirt, denim shirt, "Dickie’s [sic] type jacket with t-shirt underneath," down-filled vest, "John Deer [sic] hats (not brand new, preferably beat up)," and "Trucker Hats (not brand new, preferably beat up)."
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These actors were probably East Coast Liberals. I know they may need the money, but portraying hicks for hire. I hope someone can track them down and interview them. Recently there was a Jack Conway ad where real Kentucky accents were on display and it sounds so much more convincing. I hope this advertisement makes a difference but it isn't likely to unless the word spreads.
My personal WV Senate survey: I was standing in line getting my generic Lortab prescription filled last night. One older lady in her 70s or 80s said Obama ran in 2008 on getting rid of all coal. I said, no one is getting rid of coal for 20 years at the soonest. But this lady clearly was a Raese supporter. I turned to the woman in her 30s behind me to say, I guess that is what happens when you only watch Fox news. I said, I can't figure out why people want to keep coal mining like it is a sacrament- it is dirty and dangerous. She nodded and commented on Manchin suing to stop EPA from regulating the mountain top mining. I commented, maybe the rest of the country won't let West Virginians destroy our state. The other man in late 60s in the line was complaining about online pharmacies not delivering and needing to go in to the locally owned pharmacy for their script and lamenting the loss of a public option. So three in line for the Democrats and one who hated Obama. Unfortunately we are the liberal area of the state, and things are looking bad for Obama. People have embraced cap and trade as evil and the Raese ads portray using alternate energy as somehow forbidding use of coal for energy.