Simon lampoons Davis in series of new TV ads

SF Chronicle ^ | 6/26/02 | Carla Marinucci, John Wildermuth, Chronicle Political Writers

[randita]

Sacramento -- In a pair of TV ads debuting today, GOP businessman Bill Simon lampoons Gov. Gray Davis as the denizen of a dusty office jammed with campaign cash, visited by a parade of dollar-laden constituents.

The new 30-second spots use parody to stick in the minds of voters while skewering Davis -- the Democratic incumbent who has raised more than $30 million for his re-election campaign -- on the fund-raising issue, where Republicans believe he is most vulnerable.

[evilsmoker]

Great job! Those ads are much more effective than Davis' gloomy, mean-spirited attacks.

[Jimbaugh]

You haven seen anything yet. This is going to be a great year for commercials

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The women clean stacks of dollars piled in the office -- and come across a dusty, apparently unopened, report titled "California Power Crisis."

"That's Gov. Davis," sighs one. "All he ever does is fund-raise for his campaign."

As they make their way out, the lights flicker. "There goes the power again, " gripes one maid

Sounds like someone has seen the flickering picture of Davis that was a big part of the early action on the Calpowercrisis threads .

calgov2002:

calgov2002: for old calgov2002 articles. 

calgov2002: for new calgov2002 articles. 

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[NormsRevenge]

Ronald Reagan's biggest role of his career followed his being Governor of the Golden State. GraYouT will just fade to black career-wise ..He Has Peter'd Out .. both President and Principle-wise

Kharma, Dude ! I love it!!

What else did GraYout haul around in 'Nam anyway :-?

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

I can't wait to see these ads.

[daviddennis]

I've just viewed the ads, and I think they'll be absolutely devastating.

The use of humour makes them fun to watch, and yet the serious point is oh-so-clear. Best of all, the humour avoids the big trap of most negative ads, that they sound mean-spirited and petty. You're not going to feel sympathy for poor Davis after viewing these!

Great job, Simon campaign team!

Incidentally, this has so little in common with most campaign ads that I'm inclined to think Simon directed his operatives with a bit more than average imagination. Perhaps he brought them around a table and said "I know we have to go negative on Davis, but we don't want to sound mean. What do we do?" In any event, this guy's got a sense of humour, and I know he's going to need it when he becomes governor. Yes, when. :-).

Incidentally, I got them at 34kb/second, so perhaps the server was temporarily overwhelmed. It's fine now.

D

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I have not seen them yet either.

Must be somewhat selective as to where they are placing them!

[doug from upland]

I love this kind of ad. When I was at an auto event at the Ontario Convention Center, the power in the whole building went down. I evoked a great amount of laughter in the dark as I shouted out --- Thank you, Gray Davis!

[Impeach98]

Saw the maids commercial this morning during the news. Coolness!

[Carry_Okie]

You can be as clever as you like, but if it's not true, people will see right through it," Salazar said.

Uh, Roger, I hate to break it to you this way...

Bray Davis: Experience Money Can't Buy

[Pagey]

I just wanted to thank you for posting these. I refuse to watch 2,4,7 (except for sports) so I would've missed some of these.

[hattend]

"It would be nice if Gov. Davis had inherited millions from his father, as Mr. Simon did. But Californians understand that regular people who aren't independently wealthy have to raise money to be competitive running for office. Mr Davis earned it the old fashioned Democrat way. He stole it, he corrupted it, he blackmailed it, he extorted it. "

[heleny]

The use of humour makes them fun to watch, and yet the serious point is oh-so-clear. Best of all, the humour avoids the big trap of most negative ads, that they sound mean-spirited and petty. You're not going to feel sympathy for poor Davis after viewing these!

I agree! I liked the "Maids" commercial a lot, and the others were really good, too. Great job, Simon team!
Now my download is even slower (5kb/sec), so I assume the ads must be popular.

I wish the "text" versions were html or plain text instead of in rich text format, since my browser now has to open MS Word to read the .rtf files.

[blackbart1]

KEWL! This Californian has been cringing in my boots everytime little davis' ad comes on. These will be a great "back atcha".

[daviddennis]

One amusing note about the ads: The office set appears to have the exact same furniture as the set in earlier commercials where Simon speaks to the public.

I hope this doesn't generate a feeling in the public's mind that Simon is Gray Davis!

D

[bootless]

I heard the audio of "Receptionist" on KSFO this morning ... sounded good!

How did the candidate in (Illinois? Ohio?) do with his humorous TV ads? They were linked here on FR - I think he was running for Attorney General, and poked fun at himself, saying what a poor politician he was. One ad showed him trying to hold a series of babies for a commercial - all the babies were either crying, wriggling or spitting up on him. I thought those were GREAT!

[John Jorsett]

Californians, let us know if you think these ads are effective.

I just watched them online. I think they're both funny and accurate. I'm betting they'll have an effect on those people who haven't been paying attention up to now.

[John Jorsett]

No; this campaign has been run like a venture capitalist would,

Excellent analogy, and accurate.

[Gophack]

I went to the Simon For Governor campaign website and watched the ads there (I never have time for tv between work, my kids and Free Republic!).

By far, "MAIDS" is the ad I like the best, too.

If anyone wants to see them, there are at:

Simon Campaign Ads

Go Simon!

[John Jorsett]