McCain, Obama airing campaign's final ads

As we enter the home stretch of the home stretch, here are the latest campaign commercials from the two presidential candidates. John McCain goes (mostly) positive with his "Freedom" spot (top), which includes old photos of the candidate from his military days, and the line, "Don't hope for a stronger America. Vote for one." Barack Obama, meanwhile, goes negative with his latest spot, "Delighted," which calls attention to Dick Cheney's endorsement of McCain over the weekend.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Published on November 3, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Filed under McCain ads, Nudd, Obama ads

New Obama spots keep pressure on McCain

Barack Obama didn't mention John McCain or the Republican Party at all during his half-hour prime-time extravaganza on Wednesday. But he hasn't stopped attacking. Here are a couple of new ads released since then: "Rearview Mirror" (top), which features humorous sight gags of Bush and McCain seen in the rearview mirrors of cars; and "His Choice" (bottom), the first Obama spot to question McCain's selection of Sarah Palin.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Published on October 31, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Filed under Nudd, Obama ads

John McCain live-blogs Obama's TV special

My fellow Americans, I'm actually writing this live-blog on Thursday, because I wanted to respond to Senator Obama's infomercial as frankly and forcefully as possible now that it's morning again in America. Plus, like all real Americans, I watched Pushing Daisies on ABC last night. Remember, ABC is the real American network. If you spell it out. (Which most people don't. But they should.) Anyway, I'm currently viewing a replay of Obama's program on something my aides call "the Internet." My lovely wife Cindy will be typing, because I don't use modern technology. It's a personal choice, and I'm proud to serve a country where such freedoms are guaranteed. ... Oh, sorry. Cindy says I'm veering off topic. Lemme see, Barack's yakking on about tax cuts or something. He's from Hawaii, you know. That's barely America. I'm older than Hawaii, actually. Sarah Palin's from Alaska. which I'm older than as well. ... What, Cindy!? Oh, off topic again. No, don't rewind it! In fact, I've seen enough. Whatever he said, I'm against it! Cindy, clean that up and make me sound good, OK? And would it kill you to wear glasses like Palin's?

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Published on October 30, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1)
Filed under Gianatasio, John McCain, Obama ads

How crazy will Obama's prime-time ad get?

Barack Obama will go back to the future tonight for at least part of his highly anticipated prime-time 30-minute broadcast TV ad, including a live segment near the end of the telecast. A source tells The Hollywood Reporter's "Live Feed" blog: "The entire half hour is being fed live to various outlets from a site in Florida. They'll be feeding a tape for most of the broadcast and then a live portion at the end." Obama is campaigning hard in the battleground state today (most polls tag Florida as too close to call), with former president Bill Clinton in tow. This marks the first time the pair have campaigned together, and buzz is building that they could share the live portion of the show. Live TV is always risky, especially where the volatile ex-president is concerned. If Clinton starts getting all weird, just stick a sax in his mouth. It'll be like 1992 all over again—and from the Democrats' POV, there's nothing wrong with that.

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Published on October 29, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Filed under Gianatasio, Obama ads

Obama, McCain enter home stretch for ads

With a week to go before the election, Barack Obama and John McCain have both released new ads in which they speak directly to voters—an established approach for Obama, a relatively new one for McCain. Obama's spot, titled "Defining Moment" (top), is his first new commercial in a week, and condenses his entire platform down to a concise two-minute pitch. McCain's ad, called "Life Savings" (bottom), is a regular 30-second issues ad, in which the candidate promises to help rebuild voters' personal finances in the wake of the economic meltdown.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Published on October 27, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1)
Filed under McCain ads, Nudd, Obama ads

McCain in a huff about Obama's attack ads

It's awfully late in the game, but John McCain is all fired up over Barack Obama's supposedly negative ad strategy. What, they took their heads out of the sand to catch an episode of South Park and noticed some Democratic attack ads in the mix? The McCain campaign on Thursday issued a long-winded memo on the matter. Here's a typical passage: "Any fair reading of the evidence shows that it is Barack Obama who has run the most negative campaign in recent memory. Barack Obama has run more negative ads than any candidate in history. Barack Obama has refused to personally condemn the most vicious smears in this campaign." Three Obama mentions in as many sentences, and none for McCain. That's great SEO ... for Obama! Look, I have no idea which side has been more negative. But those eyeball-poking researchers at the University of Wisconsin claim that negative political ads generally have a greater impact than positive ones. Campaign operatives have long known this to be true. That's why candidates who go negative early often wind up wining. Losers just whine, and write memos. Obama vs. Jeb Bush in 2012 is gonna be a war!

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Published on October 24, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Filed under Gianatasio, Obama ads

Debate fallout defines latest campaign ads

Here are the newest campaign ads from McCain and Obama, and they echo themes from this week's debate. In his new spot (top), McCain keeps his focus on Obama's conversation with Joe the plumber, to make the argument that the Democrat is "not truthful on taxes." Obama's commercial (bottom) seizes on McCain's assertion from the debate that he's not George W. Bush, and points out that he sure voted with him often enough.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Published on October 17, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Filed under Joe the plumber, McCain ads, Nudd, Obama ads

Obama ads now found literally everywhere

GamePolitics.com reports that at least one player of the Xbox Live driving game Burnout Paradise has encountered in-game billboards for Barack Obama. There's some debate over whether the ads are real, but GamePolitics opines: "Why couldn't—why shouldn't—a candidate make use of in-game ads? After all, it's the new, new thing, and Obama has been courting the youth vote all along." Of course, we should probably expect the in-game ads to quickly turn negative. Today, Obama is putting up roadside boards. Tomorrow, he's dressing up as Barack the Thunderhead Skystormer and hacking McCain the Frenzied Bloodseeker Bat to death with his broadsword. UPDATE: Looks like the ad placement has been confirmed.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Published on October 13, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Filed under Nudd, Obama ads, Video games

New Obama ad takes apart McCain attacks

The candidates' ad makers were quiet over the weekend. McCain has posted nothing new to his YouTube page since Friday, and Obama has just one new spot: "Lose," posted above, which savages McCain again for running from the issue of the economy and "smearing" Obama with false allegations.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Published on October 13, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Filed under Nudd, Obama ads

Obama weighs McCain's mortgage proposal

Barack Obama's latest campaign ad criticizes John McCain's proposal, voiced without details at the debate on Tuesday, for a government-aided refinancing program for home mortgages. Obama has stepped up attacks on the plan since it became clear that taxpayers, not the financial institutions that hold the original mortgages, would be called on to cover the losses.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Published on October 9, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Filed under Nudd, Obama ads

Obama first to air spot from second debate

Barack Obama's campaign was first out of the gate this morning with a new spot cut from Tuesday night's second presidential debate. The subject was familiar: John McCain's promise of a $5,000 healthcare credit. Once again, Obama points out that McCain is also planning to tax healthcare benefits. "So, what one hand giveth, the other hand taketh away," Obama says.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Published on October 8, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Filed under Nudd, Obama ads

Obama and McCain trade some more insults

Here are the latest Barack Obama and John McCain campaign ads, and things aren't getting any more cordial. In his new spot, "The Subject" (top), Obama says McCain is "running out of time" and fleeing from the economic crisis. "It's time for a president who'll change the economy, not change the subject," says the voiceover. McCain's language in "Hypo" (bottom) is even more blunt. After pointing out Obama's negative attacks on McCain, the spot calls the Democrat a hypocrite and a liar.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Published on October 7, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1)
Filed under McCain ads, Nudd, Obama ads

McCain looks abroad, Obama stays at home

Barack Obama's ad team was apparently busier than John McCain's over the weekend. McCain has unveiled just one new spot, "Dangerous" (top). Perhaps his most ominous commercial yet in terms of tone, it's centered on Obama's votes against funding for U.S. troops. Obama, meanwhile, has rolled out three new ads criticizing McCain—two focused on healthcare (here and here) and one about the economy (bottom).

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Published on October 6, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Filed under McCain ads, Nudd, Obama ads

VP clash gives both campaigns new fodder

Ad makers from both camps quickly got to work splicing the footage from Thursday night's vice-presidential debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin. McCain's new spot, called "Lies and Sighs" (top), suggests that Biden's statements at the debate about clean coal and Obama's position on Iran contradict earlier statements by the two men. The spot claims Biden is "ready to exaggerate, not ready to lead." Obama's spot, "Can't Explain" (bottom), focuses on Palin's discussion Thursday of McCain's proposed $5,000 tax credit for healthcare—and Biden's response that it would be paid for by taxing health benefits. Both spots are a bit dreary. More fun was this jaunty ad that McCain rolled out Thursday afternoon, before the debate, focusing on Biden's tendency to stick his foot in his mouth. The tag on that one: "Ready to gaffe? Yes. Ready to lead? No."

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Published on October 3, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1)
Filed under McCain ads, Nudd, Obama ads

Obama ad imagining McCain win is yanked

NBC's in a lather over a Barack Obama spot that tries to drive Democrats to the polls by simulating an election-night win for John McCain, complete with footage of NBC newsies Tom Brokaw and Keith Olbermann "covering" the McCain "victory." YouTube, ever the defender of copyright protection and intellectual property rights, has already yanked the clip, and the Obama camp is under intense pressure to never air the video again. Three thoughts 1) McCain should considering running the spot as an appeal to Republicans. After all, the GOP nominee is shown winning, which won't be the case on the real election day; 2) Either side could rally the troops far more effectively by airing ads suggesting George W. Bush might somehow be allowed to serve a third term. 3) Brokaw-Olbermann 2012. Start Spreadin' the News!

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Published on October 2, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Filed under Controversy, Gianatasio, Obama ads

Both sides focus on Obama's economic plan

Barack Obama on Monday released a new spot called "Same Path" (top), in which he sits down and reiterates his economic plan and his opposition to "four more years of the same." The ad, in fact, is almost a carbon copy of an earlier ad, "A Stronger Economy," right down to the backdrop. John McCain, meanwhile, also unveiled a new spot, "Empty Words" (bottom), taking clips from the new Obama ad and refuting them. As you can see from the still images above, the net effect seems to be that Obama is getting a lot more face time. (And in fact, the same thing happened over the weekend.) McCain's camp has also begun posting some of its radio ads to YouTube—with the McCain-Palin logo (not a pic of Obama) as the only visual.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Published on September 30, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Filed under McCain ads, Nudd, Obama ads

Obama, McCain spots look back at debate

In the wake of the first debate on Friday night, both presidential campaigns crafted commercials seeking to capitalize on their respective candidate's stellar performance—or rather, on the supposedly crappy performance of the other guy. Barack Obama's spot (top), called "Zero," points out that John McCain didn't mention the middle class once during the debate's 90 minutes. McCain's spot (bottom), titled "McCain Is Right," features moments in which Obama said McCain was right about something—a debate tactic of Obama's that McCain's ad team must have loved, even though Obama's larger, edited-out point in each case was that McCain was wrong about something.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Published on September 29, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (2)
Filed under McCain ads, Nudd, Obama ads

Obama continues to press economic plan

While John McCain's suspension of his campaign has left his ad strategy in limbo, Barack Obama released this new spot, "A Stronger Economy," on Thursday. "Now we know the truth," he says. "Instead of prosperity trickling down, pain has trickled up." He then ticks off the bullet points of his plan as president to "get the economy back on track"—instituting more safeguards in the financial industry, enacting middle-class tax cuts, and pursuing energy independence.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Published on September 26, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Filed under Nudd, Obama ads

Obama feels island rhythm in 'Bermuda' ad

This new Barack Obama spot probably has the best music of any campaign ad so far this year—a sarcastic little island theme that plays as the voiceover talks about John McCain's visit to Bermuda, where he "pledged to protect tax breaks for American corporations that hide their profits offshore." Nice sunglasses on the Republican candidate, too. Obama has also unleashed a second spot in the past 24 hours to air in Michigan, focusing on McCain's ownership of three foreign cars.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Published on September 23, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Filed under Nudd, Obama ads

Biden regrets airing McCain computer spot

The Barack Obama ad mocking John McCain's computer illiteracy, which we wrote about here, apparently pissed off Joe Biden. Speaking with Katie Couric of CBS News in the video above, Biden says: "I thought that was terrible. ... I didn't know we did it, and if I had anything to do with it, we would have never done it." Couric trips him up by asking if Obama approved the spot, eliciting a sputtering non-answer from Biden, who was probably wishing he could have a staffer e-mail Katie a response. The point's moot anyway. McCain may be physically incapable of using a standard keyboard and e-mailing. But as commander-in-chief, there's just one button you absolutely must be able to operate. To strain the metaphor: It's the ultimate delete key; no backspace or reboot option. Let's just hope all the missile systems are running Vista, in which case launching Armageddon would take a dozen software patches and a visit from the Geek Squad. Macs would seal our fate, for sure. Thanks for potentially destroying humanity, Steve Jobs!

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Published on September 23, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1)
Filed under Gianatasio, Obama ads

Obama bashes McCain with three more ads

Barack Obama has unleashed three more attack ads against John McCain since Friday. In "Need Education," posted above, former Goodyear employee Lilly Ledbetter, whose workplace battle led to the 2007 fair-pay legislation that bears her name, rips John McCain for opposing equal pay. "On the economy, it's John McCain who needs an education," she says. Two more spots, "Promise" and "Article," blast McCain for his views on social security and healthcare. See those ads here.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Published on September 22, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Filed under Nudd, Obama ads

Obama, McCain trade attacks over advisers

Both presidential campaigns have posted ads over the past day questioning each other's choice of economic advisers. Obama criticized McCain for listening to Carly Fiorina, Phil Gramm and George Bush. In return, McCain claims Obama has been advised by Franklin Raines, the disgraced former chairman and CEO of Fannie Mae. The McCain ad team has been working overtime in the past 24 hours, posting three more national negative ads online (see those here), as well as job-creation spots aimed at Ohio and Michigan. Obama continues to post footage from his and Biden's daily rallies on his YouTube channel.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Published on September 19, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Filed under McCain ads, Nudd, Obama ads

Obama goes long-form for economy spot

Barack Obama's campaign has just released this new commercial, in which the candidate spends two minutes giving an overview of his plan to save the flagging economy. It then sends viewers to barackobama.com/plan, where the full details of the plan are available. "Doing these things won't be easy," Obama says. "But we're Americans. We've met tough challenges before, and we can again."

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Published on September 17, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Filed under Nudd, Obama ads

Obama ad rips McCain for economy quote

The Obama campaign wasted no time on Monday crafting the ad above, centered on John McCain's assertion in a speech yesterday that the fundamentals of the American economy are strong, despite the deeping troubles on Wall Street. The spot repeats the McCain soundbite no fewer than three times—and the third time they add an echo for extra dramatic effect!

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Published on September 16, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Filed under Nudd, Obama ads

Obama highlights anti-McCain media quotes

Obama unveiled this new spot on Sunday night, featuring disparaging quotes from magazines and newspapers calling John McCain's campaign against Obama deceptive. "After voting with Bush 90 percent of the time, proposing the same disastrous economic policies, it seems deception is all he has left," the voiceover says. The attacks against the attacks have begun.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Published on September 15, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Filed under Nudd, Obama ads