Shawn Moody is employing a rather unorthodox form of political advertising over Maine beaches this July 4th weekend:
Moody has yet to discuss any policy agenda or argument for his candidacy in interviews beyond "I'm a small businessman. I'll change Augusta" but there are signs he's taking the race seriously. Most notably: newly-sculpted eyebrows.
Eliot Cutler's first post-primary ad:
Idependent Shawn Moody's TV ad, featuring Survivor winner Bob Crowley:
If the theme of political insiders vs. outsiders that was so prevalent in the primary continues in the general, Moody (website) may gain some traction to the detriment of fellow independent Eliot Cutler, who worked on Capitol Hill, in the Carter administration and in the world of international business.
Libby Mitchell's closing argument:
And new ads from Les Otten and Bruce Poliquin (via Augusta Insider) featuring, respectively, Hitler and lens flares:
Jacobson's first ad, hitting the airwaves only a week before election day:
Abbott's third ad and closing argument, highlighting his endorsements by the Maine Today papers, the Bangor Daily News and support from the chamber of commerce:
As of Thursday, Paul LePage is up with his first and likely only TV ad:
What appears to be Steve Rowe's first TV ad is now up on his youtube page.
The campaign apparently made their first TV buy on Friday.
With less money than their opponents and less time (Rowe is the last Democrat to go up on TV), the campaign is obviously looking to humor to set them apart.
I like the bear.
Libby Mitchell is on the air with two ads highlighting her work in the legislature, efforts to create jobs and endorsement by Bill Clinton.
The campaign plans to stay up until election day with a heavy buy in an attempt to solidify and maintain Mitchell's edge in name recognition.
Steve Rowe, the only Democrat not currently running ads, plans to have spots up by the end of the week.
Rosa Scarcelli has launched her first TV ad, and with the attacks on "career politicians" and the claim that Augusta's current leaders are on the side of "special interests" rather than working families, it looks a lot more like something a Republican would run than a Democrat.
Scarcelli had very little cash on hand as of the last reporting period, so if she's putting much money behind this ad, it's likely her own personal funds. We probably won't know for sure until the campaign's next finance report on May 28.
A day after the Poliquin campaign launched their ad attacking Les Otten's management of the American Skiing Company, Otten is on the air with a response.
It may not have the same punch as the powerful (albeit grammatically incorrect) "Les Otten, Less Jobs" slogan, but I think it hits just the right note.
Plus, it's a chance for Otten to play the victim and talk to the camera once again about all the jobs he claims to have created.
Most likely, the campaign anticipated an attack on this issue and had the ad canned and ready.
For more on Otten, check out Al Diamon's new interview with the candidate (sort of).
Quote of the day:
"In the strongest possible terms, I deplore the online advertisement singling out Les Otten. There is no place for this kind of attack ad in our race.
"I have personally spoken with the Les Otten campaign to express my strong disapproval. I hope the other candidates join me in publicly condemning the ad as a childish and unnecessary attack."
-Bruce Poliquin
That's from back in January, when Poliquin was condemning a negative online ad with content very similar to the one he's now running against Otten.
Bruce Poliquin, who who soon be receiving bouquets of flowers from most of the other Republican candidates, has launched the first negative ad of the 2010 race - a full frontal assault on Otten's record as job creator.
(via PTP)
I'm surprised any GOP candidate would go negative, even against a front-runner with as much baggage as Otten. Poliquin now leaves himself open to charges of negative campaigning (always a popular accusation in Maine politics). In a 7-way race, there are plenty of other candidates who stand to gain from this kind of conflict.
Pat McGowan's first TV ad hits the airwaves today. It's a minute-long mix of biography and issues.
McGowan is the first Democrat to begin advertising on TV and (I believe) the first candidate in either party to air an ad longer than thirty seconds.
