President Obama has just sent a brand new email to folks in the 20th urging them to get out and vote for Scott Murphy and even providing a polling place finder link. The message was sent to those residents of the 20th who are on the Organizing for America and DNC lists.
Tomorrow, Tuesday, is the day to vote in New York's 20th Congressional District special election, and I need you to go vote.
I wrote to you last week to announce my endorsement of Scott Murphy because we need his kind of leadership and experience in Washington. It's going to be a very close race, and your vote could make all the difference.
Our movement for change has come this far because supporters like you stood up and made your voices heard every time it mattered.
With Scott in Congress, we'll work together to bring about solutions to our economic challenges and create new jobs in Upstate New York and across the country.
Having created over 1,000 jobs by starting successful businesses in clean energy and high-tech industries, Scott understands the potential we have to rebuild our economy and create a new foundation for prosperity.
That's the kind of partner I need in Washington. Please look up your polling place and vote tomorrow:
On the same day that independent polling shows Jim Tedisco's once healthy lead has become a 4 point deficit, the NRCC has slammed the panic button hard. How can you tell? Because their latest ad is one full minute of 9/11 and Osama Bin laden. For real:
Nothing spells flopsweat more than dragging up Osama Bin Laden in the closing days of a campaign. It's quite obvious they are freaking the hell out.
SEIU launched a new TV spot in the NY-20 race today. I guess it shouldn't surprise anyone that they are working the Obama endorsement as well. Not sure of the points on the buy, but I have a feeling that plenty of people in the district will be seeing this ad as well as the DNC's "Obama Supports Murphy" ad over the final weekend of the race.
D-trip is launching a new TV ad in the 20th CD special election this morning. It's called "File" and it doesn't pull any punches, taking Tedisco to task for failing to support middle class tax relief while supporting a mortgage executive pal convicted of fraud.
Analysis: The claims presented in this ad range from the hyperbolic to outright distortion of the facts.
The claim that Murphy gave "huge" bonuses to executives employs a claim that was debunked in an earlier ad watch, which called the use of "huge" to describe the bonuses as "overstated."
The claim that Murphy supported a "loophole letting AIG executives keep their bonuses" does not capture the nuance of the issue. Murphy strongly supports the federal stimulus bill, which included an amendment that places heavy restrictions on executive compensation for companies that take government, but exempted restrictions for contracts from last year - including the AIG bonus contracts. Lawyers at both the Treasury Department and AIG had concluded that the firm would risk a lawsuit if it scrapped the payments.
The outright distortion in the ad comes in the form of text that appears on the screen: "Murphy supports the law giving bonuses to AIG executives," attributed to a March 17 Associated Press story.
That claim is wholly incorrect. The federal stimulus package does not "give" bonuses to AIG executives. Moreover, the Associated Press never made that assertion. The AP story stated Tedisco's opinion about Murphy and AIG, which the ad then paraphrased as if the reporter wrote it as fact.
Of all the failings of this ad, the misrepresentation of a trusted news source's reporting is sloppy at best and deceptive at worst. Campaign ads represent the character of a candidate. Tedisco does himself a disservice by airing this one.
Here come the big guns. Kirsten Gillibrand currently has a 78% approval rating in NY-20 according to Siena. This would appear to make her the most popular politician in the district. Here she is making the case for the man who would replace her.
With this race essentially neck and neck and Murphy's ads being generally well received, it will be interesting to see what effect this effort may have.
Scott Murphy's new ad pulls no punches, folks. Then again, the truth hurts.
On Wednesday, local businessman Scott Murphy's campaign for congress highlighted their new television ad that holds 26-year career politician Jim Tedisco accountable for refusing to support President Obama's economic policies and for rewarding one of his biggest campaign contributors with a $100,000 government job just for him at taxpayer expense...
"Whether it's taking credit for creating jobs that Democrats and Republicans said he didn't have a lot to do with or his refusal to support President Obama's economic recovery package that will save or create 76,000 jobs in Upstate New York, Tedisco seems to want to talk about anything other than providing voters with straight and honest answers on the economy.
"For too long career politicians in Albany and Washington - including Assemblyman Tedisco who rewarded one of his biggest campaign contributors with a $100,000 government job just for him at taxpayer expense - have provided special favors for their biggest contributors instead of creating jobs for the people and it's something that folks here are rightfully fed up with and that Tedisco needs to answer for.
Jim Tedisco finally joins the air war in the NY-20 special election with his first TV ad titled "One of us." It's a rather ironic title given that Tedisco lives in the 21st CD, not the 20th.
It's not great, not terrible. The voiceover is annoying, but the visuals are mostly quite good (if not utterly pedestrian and predictable.) It's certainly not as good as Scott Murphy's first effort, but it's serviceable and I have a feeling will be seen quite a bit in the district over the next few weeks.
The air war in the NY-20 special election, now slated for March 31, is officially on. Democrat Scott Murphy is first on actual television with his new ad "Sunday Dinner."
It's an introductory bio had that I think mostly hits the mark. A fine start for sure.
Nest up, Jim Tedisco launches his effort with a web ad of almost 5 minutes. In it, he basically rips off the Obama campaign of last year. You've got to love a standard Republican hack like Tedisco using the slogan, "Yes We Can, Now We Will."
Days after the campaign of Kemp Hannon began airing a truly misleading and dishonest ad using my heavily edited video to twist the words of challenger Kristen McElroy to make it appear that she was saying something that she most certainly wasn't, the McElroy campaign is going up with this rather simple ad in response:
The script:
My opponent Kemp Hannon is running a negative ad asking who I am.
Well, I'm Kristen McElroy. I'm a working mother of three, and, with my husband, I grew up in Garden City and have lived there my whole life
I know first hand how hard it is these days to make ends meet on Long Island.
I know property taxes are just too high.
And I know we can do better.
So now, Mr. Hannon, you know who I am, and why I'm running for State Senate.
Simple and to the point. And yeah, I think they may be feeling the heat.
As we enter the final days of the campaign for the state Senate, the TV ad wars are really beginning to heat up. Here's a few of the latest spots from two challengers and a freshman incumbent.
Jim Gennaro continues to bang on Padavan's atrocious record on women's health issues:
Darrel Aubertine is out with a great new biography type ad:
Things look very good for Paul Tonko. After winning the primary in September, he was a near lock to become the next representative for the people of the 21st congressional district. His approach has been a good one though. He hasn't taken this general election battle softly and has treated it as if it were a close fight.
Tonko unveiled this spot yesterday that highlights what he will do when elected and sent to Washington D.C. It's a strong spot. Take a look:
To say that GOP money sop Barbara Donno's ridiculous ad released yesterday a was a "streeeeeetch" woul be something of a rather profound understatement. The Donno ad was simply beyond ridiculous, though I'm beyond happy that Dean Skelos continues to dump big bucks into this race. Srsly, Dean, you rule.
Craig Johnson is out with a new ad of his own today and it is remarkable for ads in this race in that it appears to be rather free of complete and utter BS.
SD-3 challenger and Brookhaven Town Supervisor Brian X. Foley is out with a new TV ad that takes it to Caesar Trunzo (R-FL) on a few counts. Before Foley's arrival on the scene in Brookhaven, the city was known for the corruption of its Republican ruling regime and had earned the nickname "Crookhaven." That culture of corruption was enabled and heartily supported for decades by one Caesar Trunzo. It's about time someone started calling him out on it. Check it out:
Joe Mesi released two key campaign pieces today when he announced his five point plan for jobs in Western New York and also came out with his first TV ad reaching out to voters in the 61st Senate District.
First, the television ad. Here it is:
Mesi's five point plan for jobs focuses on creating jobs in Western New York as well as keeping jobs in the area. Job creation is one thing. Keeping those jobs here is another. We know that better than anyone.
Here is Mesi's five point plan:
1. Target investments to build on our strengths. The science advances at UB and the bioinformatics and cancer research taking place at Roswell Park should help attract the kind of high-tech jobs that will keep our kids here-and give them a real future. In the Senate, Joe Mesi will fight to increase funding for our universities.
2. Reform Empire Zones and Industrial Development Agencies. These programs provide breaks to businesses who promise to create jobs. But too often, we end up subsidizing businesses that are cutting jobs, not creating them. That's got to change. We have to hold them accountable and make sure they keep their promises, so our kids can stay here and find good jobs.
3. Lower Property Taxes because high tax rates put us at a competitive disadvantage and discourage businesses from locating here.
4. End Tax Breaks for Corporations that Move Our Jobs Out of State. In just the past year, the Republican-led Senate defeated an anti-outsourcing bill. There's no excuse for Albany helping CEOs outsource our jobs-with our tax dollars, leaving New York families holding the bill. It should be the Senate's job to protect our jobs.
5. Grow Green Industries. Western New York should be a model in growing "green industries." Mesi's plan will cut energy costs, create jobs in growing economic sectors, and curbing global warming by investing in renewable energy and training the next generation of workers.
Mesi knows where our focus has to be. This should be the focus of other legislators in Western New York. We have the resources to have green energy industries flourish here. We also have strong colleges and universities that should be utilized. We do have plenty of land for Empire Zones, which is why Empire Zones need to be reined in. We need companies who utilize Empire Zones for tax breaks to be held accountable to make sure they are creating the jobs they said they would.
SD-3 Challenger Brian X. Foley has launched his first TV spot of the cycle and it's a good one. It's an introductory ad and its tone is mostly positive overall. It also makes a change argument by contrasting the past with the promise of the future. From an emailed release:
The Foley for Senate campaign launched its first TV ad today, a day after a public poll by the Siena Research Institute showed that Brian X. Foley and 36 year incumbent Caesar Trunzo are in a statistical dead heat going into the final 5 weeks of the campaign.
"After 36 years of skyrocketing property taxes, the failed economic policies of the Albany status quo, and a relentless negative campaign that included three commercials and countless glossy mailings, the Trunzo campaign has failed to convince voters that he deserves another two years in Albany," stated Ibrahim Khan, Communications Director for the Foley campaign. "Now voters will hear our message of integrity, proven results, and change for a brighter future."
The ad portrays voters at a voting booth. The narrator starts speaking as voters close the curtains and step into the booth:
"It's pretty simple. This year when you enter the voting booth, you can vote for the way things have been for 36 years, or vote for the way things can be. Brian Foley will fight for lower property taxes and clean government. As Brookhaven Town Supervisor, he eliminated a $15 million debt, saving taxpayers millions and banned second-hand smoke to protect our kids. Now, it's up to you. You can vote for the past or you can vote for your future. Choose wisely. Brian Foley for Senate."
The 30-second ad points out a stark contrast between Trunzo and Foley. Trunzo, a poster child for special interests and member of the Albany status quo for almost four decades, represents the past. Foley, who used innovative approaches to turn around Brookhaven by cutting taxes and helping move working families forward, is the future.
The commercial will play on cable stations starting Friday across Islip and Brookhaven and has been described as a "robust" buy by Communications Director Ibrahim Khan.
"With the Siena Poll showing Trunzo and Foley neck and neck and the massive support of organized labor for Foley this week, we clearly see momentum swinging towards our campaign for change," said Khan. "This commercial launch ends a great week for Brian Foley, middle-class families, and seniors looking towards the future and turning the page on 36 years of failed policies."
I think it's a pretty strong first effort. Check it out:
Imagine this. The SRCC has dumped well over a half million dollars on your race, a race in a media market that ain't exactly hugely expensive, a race for a seat your party held for over a century until some other guy won it handily in a special election just a mere 7 months ago and you wake up today to find yourself still down by 20 points. What do you do?
That video was shot off a TV by the intrepid Danger Democrat up in the North Country, btw.
What to say? As I say above, I really don't think the Renzi camp has a lot of options right now. I find it hard to believe that Dean Skelos is going to continue to pump the big bucks into a race that looks all but over, though I'd really love to be wrong about that. Of the few options left, going hard negative is probably the most attractive. At a minimum, it's the best of some bad options. That said, I'm rather suspect of the method here (as is DD). Putting your smears in the mouths of children could very easily backfire with the voters of the 48th. I'm curious to know just how big the buy is.
But, then again, what else were they going to do? They've thrown a whole bunch of money at this race and it seems to have not had much effect at all. In true Upstate New York Republican fashion, it was time to hide behind the kids.
NY-29 challenger Eric Massa is on the air with a new TV spot, his third, titled "Forty Thousand and One." It hits Randy Kuhl (R-Hair Club For Men) pretty damn hard on the economy, especially the outsourcing of thousands of upstate jobs overseas and ties him very effectively to President Cuckoo Bananas.
I think it's a pretty solid ad (and meticulously backed up by the facts - the campaign sent a a long footnote of citations along with the link, something I'd like to see more campaigns do). Your thoughts?
On the web:Eric Massa for Congress.
