Obama's New Olympics Ad Takes Middle Class Focus

The Obama campaign unveiled a new TV ad Thursday that will run during the Olympics.

The spot, titled "Three Bedroom Ranch," pushes a positive economic message much like the Olympic buy the Obama camp has been running up to this point. This one, unlike the last, puts emphasis on reorganizing tax-policy priorities (lowering middle class taxes, ending tax breaks for corporations taking jobs oversees) as opposed to energy.

Here is the script: "It begins with a plan, a plan to build a plan to put hardworking Americans first. Barack Obama. He will put the middle class ahead of corporate interests to grow the economy; end tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas; help business that create jobs here, invest in education, cut taxes for working families, and make energy independence a national priority."

The ad, according to the campaign, will air on national cable and broadcast in all 50 states beginning Monday.

Comments

[chinationreport]

I like the positive message. Depending on when it plays, the effect might be different. It would suit best when, say, Phelps wins another gold or a big track night for America... The sense of American pride would make such a positive ad, along with the "Buy American, Vote Obama" ad more powerful.

I would agree with some other posts about the urgency. Also, it would be more compelling to individual viewers if the plan would be more specific, using some numbers that ordinary people can understand and feel in their daily life. He has to really make an effort to make people feel he is one of them, or maybe Michelle could do it, as a housewife: How housewives are affected by the economy, through daily spending tallying, milk, cereal, gas...

From:
http://www.chinationreport.com/#EditorsChoice

[Donnat]

Every time I see an Obama commercial, he just gets hotter, and I don't even like skinny men.

[pleeezzze]

I assume thats ON topic and wont be deleted ?

[SEQUOIABISON]

Mediocre lightweight ad, they should have placed more emphasis on the spirit of the Olympic games and tied their message to world peace.

If the world can come together and allow our youth to peacefully compete in athletics on the playing field in order to avoid a confrontation on the battlefield then certainly we can follow this example of international unity and learn to live in peace.

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

What would that type of ad have to do with the issues that Americans care most about?

This is an ad that sets the perfect tone during the Olympics and shows 0bama has specific solutions for our problems, unlike McBush constant negativity and vacuous ads.

[GunnyJ]

I'm Black. I needed to say that first to say this......­. Obama is allowing Americans to be a part of the process again. That is the way the (our) nation's forefathers designed America and the system as designed works. Finally, the Obama campaign allows Americans to think it out for themselves and not be told what we need. He comes across like he's walked a mile in our shoes. It will be refreshing to have government work they its supposed to again.....­...

[brooklyncitizen]

Amen.

[harriscrl3]

Yep not surprise this is a positive ad. Its running in all 50 states. The tactical strategy once again fascinates me in battleground states he he has ads going after McCain on the issues but in all states he has these aspirational can do ads. This is such a good strategy because it lets Americans know that things are bad but they dont have to be that way. I thikn folks have gotten so use to politics not working for them that they think that this is just the way things should be. Obama is saying it doesnt have to be. Dont let the Rethuglicans and the political process suck away our hope and aspirations we can dream big. America was founded on dreaming big and thats something we've lost and Obama is trying to bring it back.

Carol

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

Great points one reason I chose 0bama over Hill was that you could see he was a strategic thinker par excellence. We have had an ideologue the last eight years that tries to fit a square peg in every hole whether it is square or round and in the '90s we had a president that governed based on the latest opinion poll numbers.

[brooklyncitizen]

Great point- I think this is what will win it for him....the fact that all of us, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, etc....are kind of going through the same things: poor economy (no jobs), foreclosed homes, no health insurance or inadequate health insurance, no access to good education for our kids...it is endless and of course our general displeasure with this war which is CLEARLY the reason there is no money for the preceding items.

Honestly what does it matter to be "safe" from terrorists if we have squandered our resources and put our livelihoods/ economic security in jeopardy?

[Whinger]

Intelligent and practical, unlike the GOP sponsored garbage polluting the airwaves!

[moxieme]

Don't ever think Barack Obama is naive enough to "take a knife to a gunfight::. He has legions of supporters who are just as knowledgebale and savvy and monied as those bigoted and self-serving neocons who would just as soon see this nation European-American and nothing else. Too bad they have to answer to the same God as all the rest of us. I believe Laura, Jena, and Barbara are going to vote for Barack Obama. The only thing that would convince me otherwise is to witness it at the voting booth. they can throw all the lies and deceptions, and omissions they choose. Change is acoming!!!

[athenasword]

REally nice ad, hits all the points. But I still think the ads need a bit more edge. Urgency is missing.

[IEFrontPorch]

Run the Harley ad nationwide that Rachel Maddow mentioned on her show yesterday!

Brilliant!!

[ThinkAgainMyFriend]

Here you go! Harley radio ad
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/08/obama_radio_ad_in_wisconsin.php

Great moments in Presidential speeches 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6fmyH_Yh2c&feature=user

[Texas4Obama]

Where is this new video on Huffpost?
I think HuffPost should have this on the website!

Just released:

Baracky II

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fNgA5xLxao
.

[cunuck]

That's a good video. Truthful and hard hitting. A+

[enlighteninglad]

Still have tears in my eyes. Always good to start the morning off with a good laugh, and the truth to boot.

[ThinkAgainMyFriend]

Love it! Thanks for sharing that!

[bellepepper02]

I love Obama but I wish he would hire a more effective, creative ad agency. All his ads tend to be bland. The images are not compelling, the messages lack urgency in tone and language usage, and they don't really speak to the masses. This ad doesn't tell a story, the way McCain's ad company does--and stories stick in the public imagination. McCain's ad company is (most unfortunately) miles better in imagination and its understanding of audience. The choice of ad agency is probably the only thing right that McCain has done.

Obama--go look for another ad agency.

[GuyFawkes]

If you saw Countdown tonight, you actually saw some of the more hard hitting targeted ads. The one running in Indiana only is pretty tough on Exxon John. The idea is that the national ads are going to be positive, but the local swing state ads are going to be hard hitting and specific to that state.

I, too, was concerned about how warm and fuzzy his ads were, but after seeing Rachel Maddow's report, I got a better perspective on it. I live in California, so I probably won't see any of the tough targeted ads.

[novowel4me]

Saw the ads on countdown too. Targeting constituencies is something you can do if you have the bucks. If it works Obama could wind up with a country he could have the potential of unifying. The GOP approach achieves more of bitter division we have seen for the past 7.5 years.

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

I thought the visuals in this ad were very effective. Building the house behind 0bama's solutions shows how we can rebuild the country. It immediately brought images in my mind like the fact that we have barely started building New Orleans after Katrina or the new WTC even though 9 11 was 7 years ago. Some other positive ads have not been this effective but overall they have done a good job.

Why does everyone feel like 0bama needs help running his own campaign?

[TStone]

"Working families" discovered by Kevin Rudd for the Kevin 07 campaign in Australia (as opposed to Howard's Battlers) and picked up in the continuity of world politics by Obama 08.

Good to see.

Go Obama 08!

[Natashacrk]

It worked for Kev and it will work for Barack!

YES WE CAN!

OBAMA 08!

[bosshogg]

new ohio ad http://thepage.time.com/new-obama-dhl-ad/

[filo]

Very Nice I love it.

[donaldw6]

As someone who grew up in Ohio, I think this ad will sway a lot of voters. Clear and powerful!

[theone718]

I love that construction of the house in the backround, kind of says "hard work yields results"

[ex-pat]

Just found this one on the Jed Report... it is great
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fNgA5xLxao&eurl=http://www.jedreport.com/2008/08/baracky-ii.html

[chitown8]

That Baracky II was tooooooo Funny!

[Pavane]

Thanks so much for the link - it was most excellent !! I REALLY enjoyed it.

[HeIsTheOne]

That was excellent. Thanks for the tip. I can't always get on jedreport.­..too many viewers or I don't know what, but it is frustrating.

[donaldw6]

Wa-a-ay too much C linton.

[filo]

Jed alway does it right, funny and to the point. Thanks I emailed it all over.