Final Push Wisconsin

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOEvMD46G7k&feature=player_embedded] Feingold takes his opponent's signature ad and tries to turn the tables on him.  It's a pretty attempt too, taking advantage of his opponent's recent mis-steps to paid him as devoid of any real plans or ideas.  This ad is Feingold's attempt at political aikido turning the race into a referendum on Johnson instead of himself.

I like the empty whiteboard, don't know if you need the thing falling down at the end, and I wish they had figured out a better way to incorporate the newspapers quotes (which I think are essential validators in this case), right now they feel like they're in the way of the concept which is so strong. In spite of those missteps, this is a good ad, that makes a compelling point.

True to yourself

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uS_RudqV1Gk&feature=player_embedded] With politicians (Democrats) running away from Health Care Reform like it was the plague, Russ Feingold embraces the best (most popular) elements of the health care plan, and attacks his opponent admonishing him "hands off my health care."

While I think the ad is not a particularly good execution -- I never like scripting real people, it can be hard for them to pull off the lines, and I'm not sure they do here.  I think it's the right play.  Getting back to my last post, you have to be true to your values and who you are.  Feingold is doing that, and pushing back on his opponent at the same time, if he's got any shot of winning this race, that's the best strategy.

Using real people is smart because it's not just politicians who appreciate health care reform.  Scripting the people takes some of that power away from the message, they're a little stiff and they're  indicating (as my mom used to say), but it works well enough I suppose, and it's a bold play.