In a poll released today by Rasmussen Reports, the incumbent Democratic Governor Jon Corzine trails his presumed Republican challenger Chris Christie by nine percentage points. In the match-up against Chris Christie, a former United States Attorney, Governor Corzine trails 47% to 38%.

Mr. Christie is however facing a June primary against the former mayor of Bogota, Steve Lonegan who believes progressive taxation is "immoral" and is thus advocating a flat income tax of 2.9 percent on all state residents. And according to the New Jersey Star Ledger, Lonegan also would distribute school aid on a strict per-pupil basis -- meaning no extra money for poor urban districts leading to big property tax reductions in the suburbs, but huge increases in the cities. Still a poll earlier this week also from Rasmussen shows Chris Christie attracting 39% of the state's GOP voters to Steve Lonegan's 29%.

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As expected, popular Florida Governor Charlie Crist announced that he is indeed a candidate in the race to replace outgoing retiring Mel Martinez. The DSCC is welcoming Florida Governor Charlie Crist with the above ad suggesting that Governor Crist is trying to escape to Washington to avoid a growing mess in Tallahasee. Meanwhile the NRSC has endorsed the well-tanned Governor.

NRSC chairman John Cornyn made the endorsement official this morning, casting Crist as the most electable candidate to hold the seat for the GOP.

"While I believe Marco Rubio has a very bright future within the Republican Party, Charlie Crist is the best candidate in 2010 to ensure that we maintain the checks and balances that Floridians deserve in the United States Senate," Cornyn said in a statement.

"Governor Crist is a dedicated public servant and a dynamic leader, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee will provide our full support to ensure that he is elected the next United States Senator from Florida."

But Crist will face a primary challenge from the aforementioned Marco Rubio the former Florida House Speaker and a young, outspoken Hispanic conservative. Though I view the GOP as generally souless, this is likely to shape up as a battle for the soul of the Republican party.

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Americans For Prosperity (AFP) has released this 30 second spot claiming that global warming and green energy is a hoax. The spot quotes John Coleman, founder of the Weather Channel. Mr. Coleman, who is no longer associated with the Weather Channel, launched a crusade last year to expose "the fraud of global warming." AFP self-promotes as being "committed to educating citizens about economic policy and mobilizing those citizens as advocates in the public policy process." It purports to be an grassroots organization that "engage citizens in the name of limited government and free markets on the local, state and federal levels."

According to SourceWatch, AFP was established "in late 2003 as a successor to Citizens for a Sound Economy Foundation following an internal rift between Citizens for a Sound Economy and its affiliated foundation." AFP was also formally affiliated with the Independent Women's Forum which was founded by Rosalie Gaull (Ricky) Silberman in 1992 as a vehicle to attack Hillary Rodham Clinton and other "secular feminists."

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I didn't realize it when I wrote my long diary this morning, but there are actually two versions of Edwards's "Fight" ad.  The one I linked to before is the one I'd always seen.

I just came across this alternate version in a comment thread on DKos. I prefer it, since if viewers are watching the ad and thinking "Why should I believe he's more likely than any other politicians to take on big corporate interests?", the ad's new line - "I've never taken a dime of money from their Washington lobbyists, ever" - helps to distinguish him, in a concrete/memorable way, from other politicians.  The viewers would be left with the impression that he really is the type of politician who would say "no" to corporate interests on behalf of the people's interests.

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There are interviews, speeches, townhall meetings, debates, mailers, leaflets, pamphlets, podcasts, blogs, and other opportunities for candidates to present their messages to voters. But even in the internet age, candidates still require a robust TV ad campaign to reach the greatest number of voters in a very psychologically compelling way.

So, what do you think of your favorite candidate's TV ads?  Do you have any suggestions on how they could improve them?

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