A new ad from the progressive group Way to Win gives Democrats an road map for attacking Republicans without getting dragged into playing on their turf.
The ad highlights the contrast between the two parties by touting Democratic accomplishments, impugning Republicans' divisiveness, and giving voters the agency to choose their own outcome.
The ad says Democrats are “getting the balance right” by “fighting COVID” and “delivering the best economy for workers in 50 years.”
But, it says, “Some extreme Republicans are trying to divide us” by attacking the Capitol to overturn the election, pitting parents against teachers, limiting the freedom to vote, and even burning books.
“America rejected chaos and division in 2020. We can do it again,” the ad concludes.
The ad’s real emphasis is on Republicans as the villains and voters as the heroes who already saved the country from going down a dark path once before. The Jan. 6 footage is an effective anchor, and the scenes evoking contentious school board meetings and censorship such as book burnings continue to be at issue in many communities.
And once again, the ad is an effort to train voters into recognizing one of the GOP’s culture war tricks: pitting Americans against each other.