Wednesday Ad Smorgasboard

The ads are rolling in fast and furious today. Don't the ad wizards know we're busy reading polling data?

This morning Planned Parenthood got the ball rolling, keeping alive last week's dust-up about insurance plans covering Viagra but not birth control. For those who missed it, McCain economic adviser and speculative VP contender Carly Fiorina raised the issue at a breakfast with reporters. McCain was later asked about the flap, and PP was nice enough to immortalize his deeply awkward response. (via Ben Smith)

Next up: MoveOn, with an ad calling on McCain to endorse a timeline to get out of Iraq -- in accordance, the ad says, with the wishes of American and Iraqi citizens and the Iraqi Prime Minister.

In neat counterpoint, an independent group called Vets for Freedom launched this ad today in several swing states. The spot, featuring a series of Iraq veterans, doesn't mention either candidate by name but states flatly that "the surge worked" after saying "some in Washington" (cue screen quotes from Obama, Harry Reid, and Chuck Hagel) were naysayers about the surge all along. The vets go on to beseech the next President to "finish the job" in Iraq. (via The Caucus)

(These both drop hot on the heels of this morning's WP editorial accusing Obama of a "foolish consistency" for sticking with the timetable idea despite the progress that has resulted from the surge. The changing facts on the ground may continue to confound both candidates, who want to appear to be paying attention to developments in Iraq, and for that matter on the economy, but avoid being branded flip-floppers. Remember the drama that resulted from Samantha Power's heretical statement that Obama would reasses Iraq with the Generals if he's elected, rather than sticking rigidly to the plans he made as a candidate? MADNESS! Or...actually that makes perfect sense.)

And just a few minutes ago, the Obama campaign dropped its second spot in two days: this one tidily linking renewable energy initiatives to the war on terror, and once again citing Obama's work on legislation aimed at securing loose nukes.

-- Evie Stone

1:42 PM ET | 07-16-2008 | permalink

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