Anti-Palin 'Wolf' Ad Expands Into Battlegrounds

Of all the ads to have aired this presidential campaign, one of the most successful may have been one of the least remarked-upon.

Weeks ago, Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund released a 60-second spot titled "Brutal," denouncing Gov. Sarah Palin's support for an aerial wolf killing program as well as a policy that places bounties on the forelegs of killed wolves. It was, according to trackers of voter responses, one of the most effective ads of the cycle.

It also earned the organization $600,000 in donations in the six hours after it was released, and more than $1 million overall. With the extra funds, the organization is now plowing money back into its advertisement.

On Wednesday, the wildlife group will announce that they are expanding the airing of its ad to additional swing states - a measure meant to correspond with Thursday's vice presidential debate. The ad is currently airing in Florida, Michigan, Ohio and Northern Virginia; voters in Colorado and Missouri will soon see it also.

"Defenders of Wildlife has found a more effective critique of Palin than the Obama campaign or Democratic Party," said a source with the organization. "The ad damages Palin with exactly the voters McCain put her on the ticket to attract -- suburban women, moderate Independents."

The group's initial spot scored incredibly well among focus groups. A study of 312 Democrats, Republicans and Independents showed that the ad produced "moderate movement among all parties" in Obama's favor. The spot earned a Political Communications Impact Score of 23.5, making it, according to the site Media Curves, the second most effective ad to have aired this cycle.

And unlike many presidential campaign ads this cycle, the claims made in the Defenders spot are virtually all true, albeit with some caveats, according to FactCheck.org.

"Aerial killing of wolves may not be your standard national election issue, but it is one that helps illuminate an important part of Sarah Palin's character," President of Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund Rodger Schlickeisen said in a statement. "We believe voters deserve to know about her support for this brutal practice, and we are confident the issue can move votes as we head into the home stretch of this campaign."

Comments

[cbungart]

isle.royale.national-park.com
Wolves are in Michigan.
Nearly all humans can empathize with animal cruelty.

[mdmpo]

Here's the link. I just donated. They are trying to air around the debates so everyone give what you can. This really shows her character.

http://www.defendersactionfund.org/

[diwdeesmom]

I watched this a few weeks ago online and couldn't get it out of my mind for days. I think it will change the way people view Palin once they realize how cruel she can be. You can see it in her face if you watch her lip curl in a sneer when she delivers insults. She can be "pretty" ugly when she gets angry and sarcastic. She looks mean.

I think that is the face people see when you cross her. From her record in Alaska, if you cross her, you are in her cross hairs.

Maybe she COULD face down Putin effectively if he were to rear his head over Alaska.

[pupbayer]

It's a shame no one checks factcheck.org to see what this issue is all about and that it is not what it seems. Oh, well...it's not like political ads deal with the truth or anyone really cares about truth anymore. That's why we keep electing the people we do and why we are in so much trouble.

[Nardwilly]

I went to factcheck.org. According to the analysis of factcheck.org there is nothing false in the ad. Like everything there is more to the issue than what the is in the ad. It explains why their are wolf hunts; so people can kill caribou and moose for meat, not sport. When the wolf population was low, there are not enough subsistence hunter to control the population of moose and caribou. They starved to death becuase there was not enough food to support the herds.

But, if you believe hunting from an airplane is cruel, there are no balancing issues to change your mind.

[Smirk]

I went to factcheck.org as well, and saw that the hunts are supposedly intended to keep the wolf population down for the sake of subsistence hunters. However, I don't believe that's the real reason they do it. I think they do it for the benefit of sport hunters.

[longislandlol]

As a grandmother, mother, etc.. with friends and relatives in practically all 50 States even a cousin in Alaska-- I.ve yet to encounter a hunter mother the like of palin-it does not bode well with the so called middle class america mom--- it is too beverly hillbillies

[Rog49Thomas]

Welcome to Amuricah, dahling!

[pupbayer]

That's just dumb.

[AngryCenter]

Not dumb, dead right. McCain went too far out there to pick Palin - hunting and skinning animals doesn't resonate with most American women.

[Smirk]

Have you ever looked up the cost of an aerial hunting package? It's not cheap.

[LemonMeringue]

I don't think women can relate to her. Some white men with bloodlust, maybe. None of the true hunters I know condone this practice.

[Smirk]

Ditto. I grew up in a family of hunters, none of whom would engage in an aerial hunt. It's akin to a canned hunt.

[scotia626]

WoW WoW WoW
great ad
where do i send my money to get it on the air 24/7?
this isnt hunting or wildlife management
its legislated savagery with no economic or environmental purpose.
shame on alaska, shame on sarah palin and shame on america if she is not trounced!!

[scarletti]

https://secure.defenders.org/site/Donation2?idb=0&df_id=1547&1547.donation=form1&autologin=true&s_src=6KY09WDC4F&s_subsrc=6KY09WDC4F_EKJ09D1a&JServSessionIdr001=abr0al3u84.app24a

This is the link that i was given in an email from Defenders of Wildlife regarding the ad. I got these emails before Palin was announced as VP--so this whole thing was my first introduction to her. Needless to say, i'm just as horrified as ever before. Spread this around guys!

[westreal]

http://www.defendersactionfund.org/

Give as much as you can!

[Zenfull]

The Democrats have a winner whenever they can show that Reblicans hurt animals. Animal suffering in this country is just not tolerated (unlike people suffering).

[mousesoup]

"unlike people suffering"

Sad but true. I mean, I love animals and have supported their protection their entire life, but I also find it a little ironic that I know people who go absolutely berserk if an animal is depicted as being hurt in a movie, but have no problem whatsoever with blowing apart children and old people with 2000 pound bombs in Iraq (or, previously, Vietnam). Maybe that's why this ad is so effective.

[Nina64]

An ad on Friends of Animals website states If you shoot wolves that kill moose and then you shoot the moose you're either out of your mind or you live in Alaska. I wish this ad would go in all states.

[TomNY]

Another $50 donated to Defender of Wildlife.

[BertrandRussell]

Well done TomNY and, from a guy who would love to match you if he could afford to, thank you!

[suvbaby]

When you have no moral compass, no heart , this is what you get. Suffering means nothing to this lady.

[BertrandRussell]

"Strong Christian values"
"Small-town values"
"Joe Six-pack"

Now I understand what those terms mean.

[blaqntelligence]

Savagery
Limited worldview
Rigid and uncompromising when worldview is questioned or challenged.
Dangerous lack of empathy for those unlike them.
Lack of respect towards those not deemed worthy.

[openhand]

Check out Princeton Universities daily updated graph of polls. Its going thru the roof.

http://election.princeton.edu/history-of-electoral-votes-for-obama/

[johnnygoodwud]

the first time i saw that ad, i immediately donated to the wildlife fund. folks if you want to keep it going, send them some much needed $$$$. keep this going.

[proudloudlib]

Well, that's going to get your name on a list! Congrats. I think I will join you!

[JanetMK]

I finally got the courage to look at the ad. Thanks for the link, I just donated too.

[Gary47]

Thank you. Somebody on our side finally doing something effective regarding Palin. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[simplify]

Has youtube censored this ad!!!????. Say it aint so

[FightMcCain]

How true! Finally something is coming out about her real policies, her real experience!

Save the world.
http://www.fightmccain.com
Pass it on!