Double Adwatch: Dodd and Edwards On Iraq

Remember the adwatch here on MyDD, which was based on the MyDD / Courage Campaign / Wright Consulting memo for Democratic Congressional Challengers in 2006? The basic message we were looking for was for Democratic challengers to identify themselves as Democrats, foreground Republican failure in Iraq, state that you will stand up to Bush on Iraq, and pick a specific accountability fight of some sort (contractors, troop pay, bad intelligence, whatever--just pick a fight). Even though it is now spring of 2007, there are now two new ads from Democratic Presidential candidates that follow that script almost perfectly, but with one twist. In their latest ads, both Chris Dodd and John Edwards demand that other Democrats, whether in Congress or those who are running for President, do a better job of standing up to Bush on Iraq:

John Edwards

Chris Dodd

I am not going to begrudge either Edwards or Dodd for targeting fellow Democrats in their ads. They are, after all, running for the Democratic presidential nomination right now, not against a Republican Congress. Still, I think Edwards does a better job of targeting Bush as well as encouraging his fellow Democrats, while I think that Dodd's commercial is superior stylistically. Having a diverse group of people all read from a prepared script is getting kind of old in campaign commercials, and I am not even sure if it ever worked. Even though Dodd's commercial employs one of the longest running stylistic elements in political TV ads, simply having the candidate speak to the camera, I think it still works as an old standby and is also appropriate given his lower name recognition.

Still, I think they are both decent ads. While I have to run back out to the polls for the evening rush, I would like to see what you think.

Tags: Adwatch, Chris Dodd, Iraq, John Edwards, Media, President 2008 (all tags)

Comments

14 Comments

As an update on the issue at hand...

both Clinton and Obama are voting for cloture on Reid-Feingold.

by rashomon 2007-05-15 01:21PM | 0 recs
Re: Double Adwatch: Dodd and Edwards On Iraq

Both ads do a good job of holding Bush responsible but neither ad ties the Iraq mess to the Republican Party and to the Republicans in Congress who keep voting around 98% to support the failed Republican policy.  While this might be good politics in terms of a veto override, it is lousy politics in terms of 2008.  There are real differences between the parties and the war in Iraq is clearly a major difference.

by David Kowalski 2007-05-15 01:28PM | 0 recs
Re: Double Adwatch: Dodd and Edwards On Iraq

I like them both.  Edwards subtle nod to the teh gays by having the androgenous woman in there was nice.  I liked Dodd's, though I thought the "I'm serious cause my head is at an angle" was a bit much.

by juls 2007-05-15 01:29PM | 0 recs
Re: Double Adwatch: Dodd and Edwards On Iraq
It's the nature of the task, but I thought it was kind of amusing that the faces of the varied  ethnicities and personalities in the Edwards ad all share a distinct teddy bear-ish, doe-eyed quality.
 
by sb 2007-05-15 02:39PM | 0 recs
Re: Double Adwatch: Dodd and Edwards On Iraq

I like both ads. However I like the Iowa version of the Edwards ad better only because they seem like slightly more genuine representatives of people.  What I really like about this ad is that it reminds people that they want out of Iraq and Bush is keeping the troops there.  

I like Dodd's ad too.  Again it both introduces Dodd and it focuses clearly on an issue that is important today.  That is good strategy rather than think ahead to 2008.  I like the phrase "we should have the courage of our convictions".  His criticism of the others is deftly done.

Both ads invite people to pay attention to current politics.  

by pioneer111 2007-05-15 01:41PM | 0 recs
Re: Double Adwatch: Dodd and Edwards On Iraq

I like Dodd's, but it doesn't deal with his fundamental problem - he comes across as a policy wonk, a lifelong senator who doesn't have the mindset or the personality of a president nor a signature issue to build his support upon.

That's not to say I dislike him (I voted for him in the straw poll), but no matter how on message his ads are, he's not going to move up unless he picks a pet issue and rebrands himself.

by Englishlefty 2007-05-15 01:46PM | 0 recs
Re: Double Adwatch: Dodd and Edwards On Iraq

I wondered about his strong statement on Iraq and the Reid-Feingold bill.  Then it occurred to me that he has the support of Lamont.  Regardless of how reluctantly, Dodd did campaign for Lamont and got bolder towards the end.  I think his new outspokenness may be related to his connection with Lamont.

by pioneer111 2007-05-15 03:24PM | 0 recs
Re: Double Adwatch: Dodd and Edwards On Iraq

Dodd was relatively milquetoastish on Lamont until Lieberman threatened him, saying ominously, "I won't forget how Chris Dodd endorsed Lamont," whereupon Dodd was infuriated and became Lamont's most loyal supporter.

by Baltimore 2007-05-16 06:59AM | 0 recs
Don't forget targeting

Dodds ad is geared to an Iowa audience. The edwards ad you posted is geared towards a dc audience (and wouldnt play well in Iowa I think).

That said, I'm not sure why you didn't include Edwards Iowa ad instead.

Or Richardson's ads. Havent seen them myself and don't know the content, are they just focused on his candidacy?

by okamichan13 2007-05-15 01:56PM | 0 recs
Re: Don't forget targeting

Richardson's ads are actually quite amusing and effective. Check them out here.

by arbitropia 2007-05-15 02:04PM | 0 recs
Style

I like the style of Edwards's ad better. The "diverse group of people reading from a script" makes the audience feel like everyone, or like all kinds of people, or like regular (non-politician) people want this war to end -- which they do. It capitalizes on the fact that the public is way ahead of the politicians on this issue, and makes the case from the people to the people -- Edwards just "approved" the ad.

Plus I think Dodd's is kind of selfish. He criticizes the other candidates, but his ad doesn't seem to be directed at getting them to vote against the war; it's focused on the fact that that Dodd will. Not slimy or unethical, just selfish.

by msnook 2007-05-15 03:49PM | 0 recs
Re: Double Adwatch: Dodd and Edwards On Iraq

Both Good Ads but I like Dodd's better just for the pure fact that he is the focus of the ad and not actors. I know they were going for a voice of the people kind of thing, but it seems a little fake.

by KJCity520 2007-05-15 05:08PM | 0 recs
Re: Double Adwatch: Dodd and Edwards On Iraq

the ads are for different areas. the iowa edwards ed is more more folksy, less polished

by okamichan13 2007-05-15 05:19PM | 0 recs
Re: Double Adwatch: Dodd and Edwards On Iraq

I agree that the actors in the Edwards ad don't seem authentic.  It's also hard to follow the train of thought when the narration is passed from actor to actor.  Good content, though.

by grimm 2007-05-16 06:00AM | 0 recs

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