News of a Kurt Schrader ad via e-mail:
I wanted to give you an advance look at our first television ad of the fall campaign. We had a long day of filming with a bunch of great volunteers, and the whole campaign team is excited about how it turned out.
As you know television ads are the most expensive part of a congressional campaign. We've done a great job at getting endorsements, knocking on doors, and phone banking for votes. But all that hard work can get drowned out in a barrage of television ads at the end of the campaign.
And the video:
Expert (amateur) analysis and requisite personal anecdote post-jump...
A quick check of the candidate's web site shows the ad is called "Different Kind of Vet." No word yet on when or where its airing, but it looks to be a solid shot of Advantix in the scruff of Mike "Cocaine? Abortion?" Erickson.
I must admit the ad is a little too "vetty" for me, and I don't mean in the war hero sense or the what-McCain-didn't-do-before-picking-a-VP sense. I guess there's a mildly amusing congress/animal metaphor in there, but its all a little too tame. Although maybe thats what the 5th district needs. After all, the last time I saw Kurt was at the local dairy parade.
After said parade, I had a chance to meet the candidate at the dem's office opening, and he struck me in person much the same way he comes off in the ad. Sort of cheesy, really nice and down-to-earth, and seemingly honestly concerned about making the country a better place. Which, I guess, all comes off pretty well in the ad. No wonder they never ask my advice on these matters...
UPDATE: Here's the Link to Schrader on ActBlue to help get this thing on the air.
UPDATE 2: Just watched Letterman from last night (with Obama), and this ad aired in the break immediately following Barack.