Robin Carnahan, Missouri Senate Candidate, Tarnishes Roy Blunt For Being Point-Person On Bailout (VIDEO)

There is often an inverse relationship between the effectiveness and outrageousness of a campaign ad. When a candidate levels provocative charges, it grabs attention and earns additional airtime. But that doesn't necessarily make it politically useful. To much publicity, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) attacked then Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) as a celebrity pol with questionable connections to domestic terrorists. The voter dials weren't moved by those charges. Sometimes, a simple message is better.

On Wednesday, Senate candidate Robin Carnahan (D-MO) released the second ad in her campaign against Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO). The message is pretty direct: the wildly unpopular TARP bailout was Blunt's bill. And if there is any question as to whether Blunt is the quintessential insider, there is footage of him appearing on a Sunday show, being described by a gray beard of the journalism world (CBS's Bob Schieffer) as the guy who "carried the water for the Bush administration."

The spot, airing statewide, is somber and straightforward. It seems likely to be effective as well. Carnahan's opposition to TARP has put her at odds with many of the national figures in the Democratic Party. But it's been a cudgel with which she's bloodied Blunt. Whether it gets much play beyond the Missouri press remains to be seen. But minutes before the campaign formally released the spot, a top party operative emailed it to the Huffington Post.

"I love this ad," the operative said. "I think it may be the best of the cycle."

UPDATE: A Blunt supporter points out that Carnahan, too, can be tied to TARP. Blunt has been doing so with ads of his own. As the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported late last week:

On Friday, the Blunt campaign released what it is pleased to call "The Santa Fe Tapes" -- audio of Ms. Carnahan's one-word response to a donor at a New Mexico fundraiser who suggested that the 2008 financial bailout bill had been necessary to forestall greater problems.

"Absolutely," Ms. Carnahan said. Horrors.

Comments

[Todd Schisler]

11:24 PM on 08/30/2010

Interestingly, Carnahan's brother - a congressman from Missouri - voted as Blount did. Doooh!

[Mark Lund Sr]

08:49 AM on 08/25/2010

Have any of you morons actually read what the TARP bill entailed? A simple Google search will educate you. I would think some of you liberals would have liked the bill since it bailed out the automotive industry and saved sacred union jobs.

[whatisrightisright]

08:39 AM on 08/19/2010

This month the Missouri senate race has moved from a toss up race to 'leans republican' according to real clear politics(who average all the polls). Same with Pennsylvania and Kentucky.

It's going to be a tough year for Democrats....many (in competitive races) are not even referring themselves as such.

[ragtag]

09:29 AM on 08/19/2010

It's still early...the ads have barely started.

[keepemhonest]

07:48 AM on 08/19/2010

TO: CarpeBurrito

YOU WROTE:
We would like to thank President Obama for Carnahan's 5 point drop following his July fundraiser.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2010/senate/mo/missouri_senate_blunt_vs_carnahan-1066.html

ME TO YOU:

Carpe ... or should I say mathematically DEFICIENT Crape. Did you know, 1+1 = 2? Did you know 6+1 = 7?

1) President Obama did the fundraiser on July 8.

2) PRIOR (meaning before) to July 8 - your link shows Blunt +6

3) AFTER July 8 - your link shows Blunt +7

4) That is a ONE point drop -- not a 5 point drop.

[DLCA]

04:45 AM on 08/19/2010

Blunt should be worried - Ashcroft lost to Mel Carnahan (Robin's father) after he died in a plane crash.

[RockyMissouri]

12:43 AM on 08/19/2010

Blunt needs to get out of politics---we've had enough of him...

[FantasticFourFan]

01:03 AM on 08/19/2010

Another Missourian agrees with you!

[RockyMissouri]

10:25 AM on 08/19/2010

Go Missouri...!

[STL Jess]

01:05 AM on 08/19/2010

Agreed, I'm tired of all the Blunts... did ANYONE like Matt Blunt when he left office?

[RockyMissouri]

10:23 AM on 08/19/2010

NO..!

[carpe burrito]

11:32 PM on 08/18/2010

Carnahan's on tape supporting TARP and her brother Russ voted for it, so her ad has fallen flat with Missouri voters. We would like to thank President Obama for Carnahan's 5 point drop following his July fundraiser. You're welcome in Missouri anytime Mr President!

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2010/senate/mo/missouri_senate_blunt_vs_carnahan-1066.html

[Room007]

11:48 PM on 08/18/2010

OMG I don't like Blunt but have you heard her speak. Can't express a thought that makes any sense. Could not fill a small theater here in KC with BO headlining. Even cut seats to $17. They were crying for people to fill the place. It was hilarious.

[Mikecoatl]

04:35 AM on 08/19/2010

And if it wasn't for the incompetence of people like Blunt, TARP would never have happened anyway. But please, keep wishing upon biased Rasmussen polls. It will make your disappointment much more bitter.

[keepemhonest]

07:38 AM on 08/19/2010

SPOT ON!

[RockyMissouri]

10:33 AM on 08/19/2010

Brilliant...! Thank you...!

[theprez21]

10:55 PM on 08/18/2010

To be blunt, Blunt is a hypocrit.

[kenhamlett]

10:46 PM on 08/18/2010

So an Obama loyalist is against bailouts? Didn't President Obama simply continue and expand the Bush bailouts? Is there a distinction to be made?

[Americanium]

12:49 AM on 08/19/2010

What's your point? Didn't Republicans voted for TARP and are pretending as if they were not the ones who originated the bill? Now they are against the very bill they wrote. I guessed they fooled you too. Are you that dim witted?

[OldSelfHere]

01:15 AM on 08/19/2010

And they gave the lions share of the TARP funds to the so called "Federal Reserve" who spent it as they wished. without any oversight (they dont have to report to anybody, they are a privately held entity, owned by the 12 largest banks in the USA). They even thumbed their nose at CONGRESS!
Who got the money?
it is not accounted for.. who got it and why? Did it help our economy?

[RockyMissouri]

10:39 AM on 08/19/2010

Fanned... Thank you!

[keepemhonest]

07:53 AM on 08/19/2010

Ken,

1) The TARP was LAW when Obama became President. Are you saying that when a President takes office he should wipe out ALL old laws from prior Presidents ... that is rather dictatorial of you. Do you know what that word means, "dictatorial"

2) No, President Obama did NOT "expand" TARP.

3) Yes, the distinction is: Blunt WROTE the Bailout Bill and was the "W" waterboy to make sure it passed ... and it did with TREMENDOUS Republican support.

Where were your teabags dangling from your head whilst you protest THEN?

[STL Jess]

11:36 AM on 08/19/2010

Steeping in idiocy, I would think.

[jazzboy]

10:41 PM on 08/18/2010

The Carnahan ad is honest and to the point. No wonder the GOP-Tea followers of Blunt hate the ad. If it wasn't for Bush and his Blunt allies, and their dangerous policies of complete de-regulation, we would not have suffered the worst economic collapse since the Great Depression.

[Room007]

11:49 PM on 08/18/2010

Honest when she and her family supported it too. LOL

[keepemhonest]

07:54 AM on 08/19/2010

um ... WHO wrote the Bill? WHO was the water boy for W to assure and secure the TREMENDOUS GOP support for the bill?

Answer: Blunt, Blunt & Blunt.

Where were your teabags dangling from your head whilst you protest THEN?

Um .... since YOU support Blunt - YOU MUST therefore SUPPORT TARP.

[RockyMissouri]

12:47 AM on 08/19/2010

That's true....!Carnahan is better...

[MoreOptions]

09:26 PM on 08/18/2010

Regardless of party, none of these people who want to throw stones at the bailout will explain how saving the financial system is worse than their alternative, which I guess was to let most of the major banks fail, major corporations go belly up. this is like an arsonist accusing a fireman of wasting funds putting out a fire.

These people are saying they would rather have let the country's economy collapse. or maybe they are just denying we were days away from a collapse. either way, they certainly should not have keys to the car.

[jazzboy]

10:44 PM on 08/18/2010

What upset so many people was that the government came to the rescue of the Big Banks and investment firms only to see them use the TARP money for higher salaries at the top, lavish spending on entertainment and a disregard for the taxpayers. TARP was NOT Obama's policy -- he was forced to deal with it because of Republican mistakes.

[keepemhonest]

08:00 AM on 08/19/2010

Teabaggers are ignorant and FRAUDS.

They chant "Leave our Constitution alone" Yet, they want to:
Repeal 14th Amendment
Repeal 17th Amendment
REPEAL Article I, Section 8, Clause 2
REPEAL Article II, Section 2, Clause 2
Deny ONE RELIGION 1st Amendment
Deny ONE RELIGION 5th Amendment
Deny ONE RELIGION 14th Amendment
Deny ONE RELIGION Article 7 of the Bill of Rights.

NOW ... right here on this blog ... Teabaggers SUPPORT TARP because their man Blunt wrote the Bill & was "W's" waterboy.

They are frauds... 100% frauds.

[Cacey]

09:02 PM on 08/18/2010

Is there anyone in that state not name Callahan or Blount?

[kcwookie]

10:06 PM on 08/18/2010

Yes,me.

[RockyMissouri]

12:49 AM on 08/19/2010

Love love love Harry..!

[Cacey]

09:01 PM on 08/18/2010

I am a fairly Liberal Democrat and in spite of some of the weaknesses of TARP believe that under the circumstances it was necessary at the time. I am not a supporter of Blount but I feel this attack is swarmy and I will strongly citicize Carnahan for using it. Hypocracy from every side should be condemned.

[jazzboy]

10:46 PM on 08/18/2010

Disagree.

[Mikecoatl]

04:38 AM on 08/19/2010

It is a bit disingenuous. But I would put out an ad saying Roy Blunt hunts puppies if it keeps him out of the US Senate.

[Carolyn LeBeauf]

08:59 PM on 08/18/2010

Yes ,Blunt was the kiss -a44 man for Bush all the way.

[Dan1902]

08:34 PM on 08/18/2010

Bailout Blunt,and Bush's Point Man a one two punch!! She should hammer that home whenever referring to him!!!

[jazzboy]

10:46 PM on 08/18/2010

Agree.