Norm Coleman Pulling Down All Negative Ads

This is one way to respond to an uneasy electorate. Fascinating decision and ploy...

From a Norm Coleman, incumbent candidate for U.S. Senate in Minnesota, press release:

"As of today I am suspending all negative campaign ads and am calling on those who support me to do the same," Coleman said. "I'm doing this for two reasons. First of all, this is a terrible time for so many people with the financial crisis - with real concerns and fear about people's jobs - about their life savings - and their children's future and education -- when we are all bombarded with negative messages of real consequence. At times like this, politics should not add to negativity - it should lift people up with hope and a confident vision for the future. And second, I decided that I was not all that interested in returning to Washington for six years based on the judgment of voters that I was not as bad as the other two guys. I want folks to vote for me, not against the other guys.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[wm1066]

Well the 527 and the RNC wont stop running negative ads, and I have noticed in other campaigns that what they say and what they do are two different things ,so don't hold your breath that Norm will really stop running negative.
It could also be that his campaign is running out of money through lack of support that he has to pull back on all TV ads.

Go Al!

[StandUpAmerica08]

Sounds like McKlan's chickens are frying.

[OhComeOnNow]

Won't that be refreshing!

However, it is too little, too late and a complete stunt. Look what happened with McCain on Friday! The republicans are reaping what they have sown - and its not pretty.

I don't even watch TV any more - the ads have driven me away. All the ads.

[Whinger]

Finger on the pulse decision, the writing on the wall kinda get's your attention, big time!

[hypnotoad72]

Seems like politicizing; why not have been polite in the first place, if all these new heart-warming ads are true? Or was it because the context and truth came out regarding his previous attack ads, which also rebounded in his face like an egg?

Especially when, the last I heard, he's trailing badly in the polls.

[LettuceB1]

I live in MN and I really wasn't sure who I was going to vote for. A few days ago Al came out with an ad that showed how Norm used footage of Al at a dedication for the Paul Wellstone Center in an attack ad showing Als' "anger problem." The next day Norm suddenly has a "change of heart" about his attack ads. Sorry Norm, the minute I saw how you miss used the footage from the Wellstone dedication you lost my vote. After Al showed how misleading the Norm ad was he saw his goose was cooked. That doesn't show a change of heart that shows a change in the polls. Read the article and see the ad here:

http://blog.alfranken.com/2008/10/09/new-ad-minnesota-deserves-better-than-smear-attacks-that-misrepresent-wellstone-tribute/

[damebee]

What I remember most about Minnesota is the movie "The Farmer's Daughter" Loretta Young and Joseph Cotton most of you are probably too young to remember, but it's a wonderful movie where a simple farm girl takes on the establishment and wins! I was raised in Chicago, and the Midwest was my home, I have seen Norm Coleman kiss the almighty's butt and finally someone has taken him on, thank you, Al Franken see you in Congress!

[ShamusNYC]

What will Rush Limberger do when Al wins? What about O'Lie-ly?

[MNmommy]

Collective heads will explode. Get ready for the party!

[XME]

If nothing else, this gives me hope that perhaps we are finally sending a message to politicians that we deserve better than "the politics of smear" and that we'll no longer reward such offensive behavior. Though the more cynical side of me feels they'll probably go back to them when our country isn't in such a dire state, and we'll probably let them work again. For now though...it's nice to see us sending them the message that we're fed up with the slime and negativity.

[yellowdogminnesotan]

As a Minnesotan who's had to endure hour after hour of nonsensically, partisan, lies spewed by Norm Coleman I'm going to say I'll believe it when I see it, or should I say I'll believe it when I don't see it. Local polls here show that 3/4 of the public think Norm's commercials are untruthful attack ads, while 1/4 think Al's fall into that bracket.

My favorite Al Franken commercial is when he says I'm fighting for the college student who had to sell his plasma to buy books, or the family that couldn't afford health care. That's what America cares about right now, not Norm Coleman's lunatic rantings.

[princessk]

I was very moved by Franni Franken's ad about her battle with alcoholism. For people who have been in show biz most of their life, the Frankens seem more real than Mr. and Mrs. Blow & Go.

Won't be long now before they trot out little winsome Sarah Coleman.

[antaeus]

Is there any way we can make Joe Lieberman sit next to Al Franken?

[damebee]

Joe Who? As far as I'm concerned he should take his dual citizenship to Israel and move there along with Wolfiwitz, and the others!

[antaeus]

Whoa, my point was a humorous (?) one, not an Israel conspiracy lament. I recall Franken's discussion on the radio of sitting next to Barbara Bush on a plane and so bedeviling her that she declared, "I'm through with you!" and turned away.

I think it's a delightful picture to contemplate him becoming Lieberman's nemesis in a similar vein.

[UnderdogSRD]

LOL. That's Hilarious!

Hey Norm, you lost us at "today I am suspending..."

What is the Republican definition of "suspending" because McCain doesn't seem to own a dictionary? They don't know the definition of liberal, or middle class, or bipartisanship, or any combination of words in the Constitution.

[damebee]

And what is wrong in saying all of the architects of the Iraq war had dual citizenship with Isreal , it is fact not fiction,

[Schnides]

Wow, some of you Democrats think that EVERYONE is out to get you??? You're becoming a joke the same way McCain is!!! Listen to your selves! Calling "all" Republicans racist if a person is white and doesn't vote for Obama. Actually, you don't even know what race the bloggers are and still call people racists, bigots, and every other word you can think of. I have friends that are voting for Obama and they are ashamed of some of these blogs they same way they are ashamed of McCain's actions. Seriosly people. Can't you MAYBE think that Norm Coleman is sickend by all this and pulling down negaitive campaign adds is his way of saying STOP bashing each other and spend more time explaining why you're the better candidate??? Geez people, not everyone other than a Democrat is out to get you or Obama. I'm not rippin on any of you either, but suggesting to take a step back and read your blogs. We need peace! I do not condone some of the McCain campaign issues nor do I condone Obama's campaign calling people racist or bigots or retards as some put it. The only difference between you and the people shouting at McCain's rallies is that they're on film, and yours is in writing. But it's same thing. It's like trying to my children to stop picking on each other for cryin out loud.

[Donnat]

Norm shouldn't have run attack ads in the first place, then he wouldn't be in this position now....LOSING TO AL FRANKEN.

[damebee]

You Republicans have a history of rascism, not the Democrats, Strom Thurmond for one!

[MNmommy]

He has internal polls and external polls telling him that we can't stand his ads, Barkley, the third party candidate has taken all his support from the Coleman side, none from the Franken. It's called politics.

[Wingit]

Do you think he would take down those ads if they were working?

[RedKnuckles]

He's only sickened by the fact that he's dropping in the polls. That's it, plain and simple.

[sammy50]

Norm is a negative ad.

[karela]

The timing is interesting. I think Norm just got religion on negative ads because he's been in the news too much for some gifts that don't look good whether they were legal or not. At some point, it seems pretty clear that somebody else bought his clothes, his housing, his utilities etc. He thinks if he can make the other guy look bad as a "negative campaigner" that maybe those things won't get aired as much. I think he's probably living in a dream. When my Senators pull on their pants one leg at a time in the morning just like everybody else,-------I like them to be their own pants.

[BluePride]

This is from a 1965 Voting Rights Act National commercial: Things Are Changing

http://current.com/items/89388751_obama_08_things_are_changing

So many of the issues are identical to today. And yet, in vast ways as a country and people, we've come a long, long way...

[mommadona]

Well, I give him credit...

Come to the light, Norm!...

Let's eliminate political parties and just have issue-oriented elections and politics.

My, that would stir the pot, eh?

[MNmommy]

He's only doing it because his nasty ads are losing him support.

[damebee]

No he's losing because the good people of Minnesota are finally seeing him for what he is a "Bush Shill"

[vippy]

Well, if he does that I applaud it and I hope others follow! Next campaign I hope the candidates
run on their issues only. If they only would have the foresight to put some thought into their voting
on bills then their record would speak for themselves. With 26 years down the drain with McCain
and finally wanting to pull the wool over our eyes just does not work for the more intelligent.
There will always be the dogfight mentality out there, who get a kick out of candidates attacking
each other, well those people still belong in the time with the Neanderthalers.