Shenna Bellows is re-writing the book on how to run against a popular incumbent. Nicely. and by that I mean, in a friendly manner. All too often the DNC or outside groups will come into a state and run ads with dark, grainy photos and ominous music and voice overs. The result is mixed, turning off as many voters as are motivated by them. In Maine, these don't go over well and allow the attacked to play the "they're picking on me" card (standard playbook for Collins even as her team plays with Rove rules).
Bellows has found a way to point out Collins' many failings without offending or being "mean". Her ads are personal in that they use actual former Collins' voters and volunteers to highlight why they are voting for Bellows this time around.
This is about as "mean" as Bellows' ads get.
Bellows' fundraising pitches are also atypical in that they don't try to scare folks with over the top, gloom and doom, the sky is falling rhetoric. These are informative and personal, a tough thing to do but effective.
DC Dems and consultants could learn a thing or two, and I think we would be all the better for it if we remember those voters that we can reach live in our towns too. Bellows has been rising steadily in the polls as voters have gotten to know her, and Collins' numbers have dropped over 15 points since June when these ads first began to run.
If you agree with this friendlier way of running a campaign you can support Bellows at
Act Blue
Find out more about Shenna Bellows here
8:27 AM PT: UPDATE: Today the Bellows campaign launched a new site with videos of more former Collins voters who are voting for Shenna this year. Check it out at CantAffordCollins.com!