Do political ads work...?

[MMPC]

Ah yes, political season is again upon us. It will only heat up from now until November - get ready for wall-to-wall ads. My curiousity is this - do you think they work? Or more acurately, do they influence your vote or do you spend the time to check out each candidate's website, etc.?

I think they absolutely work - but I'm probably biased as I've been involved in a few campaigns over the years - both for winners and losers. To me, the most effective ads running now (and the most prevalent) are about Referendum I (domestic partnerships for same-sex couples) and the anti-Bill Ritter ad showing crime in Denver going up while U.S. averages went down.

[mattadams]

To me, I listen to them like I do when my brother and his sister-in-law used to fight and try to get me involved... listen to what one side is saying, listen to the other side, then acknowledge both sides are adjusting their side of the story to make themselves look better, so meet somewhere in between.
They just start to get really lame and look for fault in everything... whats funniest is EVERY political season there is at least one senator or congressman who starts out their season by saying they will runa positive ad campaign, not resorting to attacks, etc. and then a month later theres an ad out there "so and so kicks children and small dogs. Do you really want someone like that representing you in office?"

[RayLCC]

I think these adds definitely work. They work to show people that neither candidate is worth your vote and is crooked and worthless is his or her own special way. Voting for a candidate is not about voting in the good person who will do the best for the people.
It is about trying to find the lesser of the two weasels. The candidate who is the least crooked and will screw the public over the least while they leave their own little slime trail through the city, state, nation, ect.
I honestly think that if a candidate actually ran an honest campaign and didn't use attack adds, or in my opinion, did worse like all candidates do and use loosely connected political groups to run their attack adds for them, then that person would win easily.
Could you imagine a candidate making a commercial saying
"Some things have been said about me that aren't true or are half truths. Instead of mucking up your tv with more lies about my opponent, let me just tell you my side and set the record straight."
Then instead of childish fingerpointing, the candidate truthfully picks apart the lies and gives an explanation for what is said.
The opposition would look like petty idiots and people would most likely vote in the "honest" candidate.
With negative campaigning, no matter who you vote in, you are always placing your vote and leave with a bad feeling.

[fox]

I watch them just to see who's slinging the most mud. The more one guy is bashing the other rather than talking about his stance on issues, the less likely I am to vote for him

[UrbanCowboy]

I firmly believe if they didnt work; they wouldn't be there.

[Walking Eagle]

I agree they definitely work. The company I work for is involved in print marketing and advertising, basically the same idea as television. Over the eight years I've been here we have worked on hundreds of campaigns. The campaigning definitely works, because people do not take the time to research a candidate. They only vote by what they see in bold print or quick 15 second blurbs on television.

[JuBean]

Could you imagine a candidate making a commercial saying
"Some things have been said about me that aren't true or are half truths. Instead of mucking up your tv with more lies about my opponent, let me just tell you my side and set the record straight."
Then instead of childish fingerpointing, the candidate truthfully picks apart the lies and gives an explanation for what is said.That actually happened. State Senator Ed Jones did that very thing while running for office and did a dang good job of sticking to issues and wouldn't you know it he won:eek:

Sadly I think they do work but not by making people remember so called 'facts.' I think they are effective in a more subliminal way; by associating a name with a feeling of mistrust. Advertisers figured out long ago if you want your product to do well you have pleasant music playing in the background and positive images, related or not, displayed, it is the same way with these stupid ads. The tone of voice and attitude of the speaker Ithink is what people remember. Thus the more you can connect your opponents name to feelings of _________ the better.

[Walking Eagle]

Sadly I think they do work but not by making people remember so called 'facts.' I think they are effective in a more subliminal way; by associating a name with a feeling of mistrust. Advertisers figured out long ago if you want your product to do well you have pleasant music playing in the background and positive images, related or not, displayed, it is the same way with these stupid ads. The tone of voice and attitude of the speaker Ithink is what people remember. Thus the more you can connect your opponents name to feelings of _________ the better.

I could not agree more with your statement.

[fox]

Sadly I think they do work but not by making people remember so called 'facts.' I think they are effective in a more subliminal way; by associating a name with a feeling of mistrust. Advertisers figured out long ago if you want your product to do well you have pleasant music playing in the background and positive images, related or not, displayed, it is the same way with these stupid ads. The tone of voice and attitude of the speaker Ithink is what people remember. Thus the more you can connect your opponents name to feelings of _________ the better.


I agree that the majority of people this works for but there are some out there(me included) that feel if you don't talk about your product, or your candidate in this case, then the commercial isn't worth a squat and the channel is quickly changed.

[JuBean]

I agree that the majority of people this works for but there are some out there(me included) that feel if you don't talk about your product, or your candidate in this case, then the commercial isn't worth a squat and the channel is quickly changed.Unfortunatly there are not enough people like you, people who actually think about the ad. I would bet that most people just blow these ads off and let them play in the background while they text message someone on their phone all the while their brain is taking note of what is playing on the radio. I aim this comment primarily at my generation since they didn't really learn how to think for themselves leaving room for things such as political ads to go unquestioned and when the time comes that they might actually vote their brain recalls the notes it has taken. The way you approach them engauges your mind giving your mind the chance to discredit what you hear.

[mattadams]

like Jubean said, theres a reason these ads work, and its the same reason interest only mortgages are so popular - because people, in general, are idiots.

[fox]

It seems like people are so lazy anymore that they will only believe what is force fed to them from tv. This scares me because not only are these idiots voting, but they are being voted for. Thats why I'm voting ted nugent as a write in for any position I'm voting for (what can I say, he's a ford fan)

[dannan_w]

one day ted just might make it....be carefull what u ask for

[mitchmcse]

Of course they work. Back in 2002 I had a bunch of signs nailed to my fence for Allbright. This was about 2 weeks after I spent my money and time replacing the old fence... needless to say they got a nasty email from me along with losing all votes in the neighborhood... we voted for her opponent... no need voting for someone who does that to personal property.... :)

[Walking Eagle]

When I was going to CU, I had a couple of political signs in my Jeep windows. My political signs were not popular at CU, and a couple of girls tried to run my ass off the turnpike. So much for CU being open minded.

[mattadams]

It's only "open minded" if they agree with your open mind :).

[mattadams]

I think its funny, we're still aways away from the actual voting time but the cliche commercials have already started. you'd think MAYBE someone in one of these campaigns would come up with something creative. Instead each candidate seems to have the same two commercials, one attacking their opponent for something they said or did 10+ years ago, and one that shows them talking with the community - hugging a baby, helping an old lady cross the street, talking with some construction workers and police officers. The worst one is one of the ladies who appears to be having a public meeting, and they've got a few elderly, a young woman with a newborn baby, construction workers, policeman, several elderly people, and after her 10 second speak they all go crazy with applause.

[RayLCC]

I think I know the one you are talking about. Its the woman with the really BAD dye job that makes her look like a chia-pet during the autumn color change. And then her opponent fired back a commercial saying she was letting illegals vote and offering them free hookers if the illegals stole candy from babies and replaced it with crack... Or something like that. Its all a blur of applause, maps of mexico and Pics of fawning political lackeys getting implied Lewinski-style hugs from Bush.
I think I'm just gonna vote for Grover Cleveland.

[mattadams]

Really? I'm a Taft man myself... LOL.

[MMPC]

Yes, the cliched ads are one of my pet peevs as well (and I've been a party to more than a few, I'm afraid). I have a great idea for a very original political ad but have never been able to find a candidate with enough guts to do it... :D

[mattadams]

Is that part of "Blow shit up" part 2? LOL.

[MMPC]

It is now...

[mattadams]

wow is it already time for the "clipping" from opponents commercials? I saw the first one, usually that doesn't happen for a while longer I thought... the one where they clip the part of one of the candidates saying "and I want you to hold me accountable..." and they say "oh we'll hold you accountable alright, for your failures as a bla bla bla..."
I like the idea of blow shit up more and more every day. LOL.

[MMPC]

Ah yes, "borrowing" shots from an opponent's ads is a time-honored tradition. LOL. There's been many a lawsuit over that, but none (that I know of) have been successful for the plaintiff. Anyway, I have no problem with one politician using the words of another against him/her if it's true. Of course, only about 1/2 of what you see in political ads is true. ;)

As for current ads, I think Bob Beauprez's ads are HORRIBLE. Makes him look like a pompous, arrogant asshole. Perhaps he is? LOL.

[mattadams]

I think thats how most political ads look, LOL. I love the ones where htey say "I'm gonna change things in Washington... I'm gonna make it so the special interests don't control everything... I'm gonna get us out of Iraq..." this and that like wow, one state senator/congressman has the power to do all that? Holy crap, what are the rest of them wasting their time on? LOL.

[RayLCC]

The Autumn Chia-pet has been arrested and sued by everybody and their dog for not paying her bills. Didn't pay her student loans, Skipped out on her taxes, wages garnished for debts owed to the piggly wiggly, didn't pay her bar tab at the neighborhood lesbian bar. Skipped out on the $2.95 she was supposed to pay for her hair cut and color and the pet groomers where her hair stylist works. Jumped on the bike carrier of several busses to avoid paying to ride. Must have not paid the hookers or crack dealers she bought for the illegal aliens either.
Now the local prostitute,pimps and pushers union probably won't endorse her.
This just goes to show you.
If you are gonna run for congress someday. Its best not to forget to pay the groomer.

[Walking Eagle]

I think thats how most political ads look, LOL. I love the ones where htey say "I'm gonna change things in Washington... I'm gonna make it so the special interests don't control everything... I'm gonna get us out of Iraq..." this and that like wow, one state senator/congressman has the power to do all that? Holy crap, what are the rest of them wasting their time on? LOL.

Especially if they are newly elected, they will have no power within their own party.