Davis Ad Barrage Pollutes Airwaves

Simon Campaign Press Release ^ | 8/15/02 | Mark Miner - Simon Press Secretary

[truth_seeker]

Simon for Governor Campaign Manager Rob Lapsley today released the following statement: Governor Gray Davis today released a series of ads that demonstrate exactly why he is unfit to serve a second term as Governor of California.

There is a lot of difference in a written campaign statement released by a campaign manager, and a candidate making appearances and his own comments.

Obviously, the Simon folks don't plan on winning, because they aren't going all out to do so. Going all out would mean ads of his own.

Disclaimer: I will vote for Simon, fully expecting him to lose, badly.

[ElkGroveDan]

I'm sure going unanswered for two months will serve the Simon camp very well.

Not nearly as well as spending all his money during the summer so there is none left in the 60 days prior to the election when everyone really makes up their mind.

[A CA Guy]

Isn't there a restriction at some time before the election under the new laws?

[A CA Guy]

It was Simon's to lose and not Davis's to win.

If Davis wins with the SUV ban bill and the energy gaf on his back, then Simon should be strung up by his wallet.

[A CA Guy]

Simon is pissing me off because this feels a lot like the campaign style of the first Bush against Clinton.

[DaGman]

I dunno... to me the wording comes across that Simon is highly desperate in light of Simon's own problems. Its way too attacking. No where does it say why one should vote for Simon.

The strategy of attacking the other guy without explaining why you're the better candidate is an iffy strategy at best. It's used by politicians that have little to lose and everything to gain.

Unfortunately for Simon, he has no real message and he his self is too vulnerable on too many issues.

Vicious attacks may make Simon's base say, "Yeah!" but its unlikely to win an election.

[Bernard Marx]

Elk, I used to be in the ad business and I know you're right -- to a point. What's worrisome here is that G.D. has picked up on Klintoon's assault tactic of the never-ending smear campaign. That's why he's been spending far more time raising campaign cash than governing the state: he knows the tactic worked for Clinton and it has a good chance of working for him.

I have only one question to those who are compaining about Simons' failure to retaliate: Have you made a generous contribution to his campaign? I have. It takes gobs of money to even begin to counter a campaign like Davis's.

[A CA Guy]

Simon should do what the first Bush refused to do with Clinton - SHOW HIS FACE AND BE EVERYWHERE IN PUBLIC.
You have to show you want to win or nobody will vote for him to win.

I don't see a campaigner here that is working in public yet like he wants to win. He can't wait any longer either. It is close to too late already I think.

[heleny]

Isn't there a restriction at some time before the election under the new laws?

Are you referring to the federal Campaign Finance Reform that passed earlier this year?
That affects federal elections only, and will not take effect until after November.

[A CA Guy]

Great, I wasn't sure if on a state level there were ads allowed 60 days before like they were before.

[Bullish]

The new CFR laws will go into effect after the next election. So there is no 60 day limit, and it is only for private groups, not for candidates.

I still can't believe Bush signed CFR and I hope it will be ruled un-Constitutional.

[heleny]

Simon's ads will begin AFTER labor day when the campaign starts.

What about radio ads? The pre-primary Simon radio ads were really nice. (I heard those much closer to the March primary.) Davis does not have any radio ads.

When, if ever, will Simon and Davis debate? I would really like people to see them debate in a format properly moderated to stay on topic with strict time limits. I thought several months ago Simon challenged Davis with something like "any time, anywhere" but Davis kept stalling.

[A CA Guy]

I hoe that is turned over in court as well.

[A CA Guy]

hoe = hope

[Bullish]

....this feels a lot like the campaign style of the first Bush against Clinton.

Do you recall a big-eared little munchkin named Ross Perot? He did as much to defeat Bush in 92' as anything Clinton did. Or anything Bush didn't do in his campaign.

[Bullish]

....G.D. has picked up on Klintoon's assault tactic of the never-ending smear campaign.

Please tell me, what democRAT hasn't picked up the same tactic?

That's all they have, it's the number one play in their book, number two is the fear tactic.

[A CA Guy]

I agree, yet Bush #1s lack of campaign was amazing.
Only tried to win the last two weeks.

Inspiration for Simon I guess.

[dalereed]

The 2 weeks before the election is when they are won.

I've run campaings and that is when you win them.

Everything now is base building which Simon is doing a good job of, he's speaking up and down the state a number of days every week and has been since the primary.

The majority of the voters won't be interested or swayed one way or another until mid October and all the ads in the world will go straight over their heads at this point.

Davis is doing nothing with his ads now but attempting to hold hard core democraps from going Green. Those ads will have very little effect on people that are undecided.

[NormsRevenge]

BUMP :-)


DUMP DAVI$ & the Den of Socialists



GO SIMON

[Bernard Marx]

I think you're right on both counts: he needs to make more appearances and it may be too late already. The nasty court decision really hurt and it compromises any help from Bush: you can't be campaigning for a guy (however innocent in truth) who's just been found guilty of being a corporate "crook."

My sense is that unless Simon brings in someone with the campaign smarts of a Dick Morris, stick a fork in him -- he's done.