Cross-posted at PoliticalReformer.com
What does a candidate for public office do after failing to overcome withering attacks from opponents? Why, change the subject, of course.
Nevada U.S. Senate candidate Sue Lowden (R), seeking to recover from her comments about bartering chickens for healthcare treatment, has attempted to do just that. Finding herself on the defensive against Democrat Harry Reid and in increasingly heated exchanges with Republican Primary opponent Danny Tarkanian, Lowden has recently sought to undercut the attacks by both male opponents in one fell swoop.
In her latest television ad, Lowden declares, “It’s time we pull the plug on these boys.” She then literally pulls a plug and behind her, three television screens showing images of Tarkanian and Reid, go black. A simplistic ploy – you say – that is as silly as bartering chickens for medical treatment? Perhaps. While one would not expect the tactic to keep Lowden from slipping in the polls in the aftermath of ChickenGate, there is a chance that her latest approach might keep the bottom from dropping out of her campaign altogether.
The ad’s not-so-subtle, yet not-too-harsh, gender-related appeal aims to further differentiate Lowden from her two main opponents, whom she portrays as schoolboy aggressors engaged in the usual “Washington dirty tricks.” In a way, the ad is reminiscent of some of the campaign appeals employed by successful female Democratic candidates during 1992′s Year of the Woman, a year that marked a dramatic and record-breaking increase in the number of women elected to the U.S. Senate.
Lowden’s attempt to highlight the gender issue also complements her effort to compare herself to former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. (See Lowden’s interview on Sarah Palin Radio at the end of this article.) Linking oneself to Sarah Palin, a political leader who has successfully made use of gender politics herself, is certainly not a bad strategy – that is, if you’re a candidate who hopes to win a crowded Republican Primary. Of course, there are still many other factors that will affect whether Lowden’s tactical shift will benefit her in the short-term – at least through the June 8th Republican Primary. These include:
► Whether Tarkanian, Reid or another male candidate clearly goes over the top in levying harsh attacks against Lowden.
► How Sharron Angle, the other major female candidate in the Republican primary responds in future debates and campaign advertising.
► Whether Lowden stumbles in future interviews and debates. This includes the possibility that she may overplay the gender theme, which might turn off Republican primary voters, who could then switch to one of her opponents, including Sharron Angle.
► Whether Palin endorses or at least puts in a good word for Lowden. Keep in mind, however, that Palin’s father has already endorsed Tarkanian, whom he met during the presidential campaign of 2008.
It will be interesting to see if Lowden attempts to carry her latest campaign tactic further — as well as whether it keeps her poll numbers from dipping further than one might expect. According to the latest poll, conducted in late April by Daily Kos/Research 2000, Lowden has a 10 percentage point lead on Tarkanian, her nearest competitor in next month’s Republican Primary.
To see Lowden's ad or hear her interview with Sarah Palin Radio (bet many of you didn't know there was such a thing) click here.