Political Babble, Revisited

Change of plan, blogosphere. So I know that last week I said we'd be discussing the candidates' respective policy positions, but I'm going to take the wheel and make a very slight detour. Instead of doing a straight analysis of their policy, I'm going to bring in an old theme -- attack ads -- to help me do so. In this entry, we're going to look at how one of Democrat Shea-Porter and Republican Guinta's biggest policy positions are portrayed in another of their ads. Rather than analyzing the style and effectiveness of the ads themselves, this week we're going to look at the effectiveness of the policy position discussed in the ads. This way, we've covered both policy and ads in one fell swoop!

First, let's examine one of Shea-Porter's biggest selling points that came up when I last discussed attack ads: her dedication to veterans' care. Veterans' care is a strategic issue to rally for, as it targets not only older voters -- who are more likely to vote than younger ones -- but it also pulls in Republican voters too, as her ad suggests. Indeed, as she tries to show in her ad, her care for veterans shows her dedication and trustworthiness as a candidate, and raises her above the divides of partisan politics. Carol is hoping to unite voters over a specific -- but generally non-divisive -- issue, which can be very effective for a campaign. Veterans' care is an issue that both parties rally for, is a national issue, and, moreso, is a human issue; that is, it inspires empathy for the veterans, and obliges voters to cast their ballot for candidates that support this issue. Therefore, she is roping in a wide range of voters by being the champion of veterans' care, which will certainly come in handy on a certain Tuesday in November.

Now so far, Guinta hasn't so much stuck to a set of individual policy points, but rather is running under a banner of general fiscal responsibility. Additionally, it's a banner that -- in a strategy being utilized by Republicans nationwide -- is demonizing the spending of the federal government. Certainly, there's ample discord in the country, but even so, Guinta's message remains a little vague. In a recent ad,  Guinta's main points seem to be that "government is too big," "there's too much spending," and "small businesses are being affected": all very broad, non-specific statements. That said, with Guinta still being projected to win, there is clearly value in such an ambiguous message. Instead of specific issues that can alienate voters, Guinta has chosen to feature some nebulous gripes that feed off of the dismal economic climate, and has used the age-old scapegoat of the United States Federal Government (And of course, by extension, his opponent Carol Shea-Porter) to blame for these problems. It is easy for voters to get behind such a broad set of issues, and sometimes, these messages can be very motivating for voters to cast their ballot.

Next week....I haven't decided what to talk about yet! I know, I know, the suspense is gonna kill you, but you're just gonna have to sit tight. It'll be a wildcard but -- as many of the races this year have been unpredictable, and we are drawing ever closer to Election Day -- I'm sure there will be something new and exciting in District 1 to talk about.

$$$ Money, Money, Money $$$

I tell ya, these days, you can’t do much without money. Why, just to get to class with my printed assignments and coffee, I’ve already had to pay for the gas in my car, ink for my printer, and coffee at Starbucks. But though I may complain about the overpriced Americanos that fuel my caffeine addiction, it is nothing in comparison to the massive sums of money pumped into political campaigns.

            So this week, I’ve decided to take a look at our candidate’s finances. With less than a month to go before Election Day, it is time for both Democrat Shea-Porter and Republican Guinta to put all the money they have into advertisements and rallies to persuade voters. Studies have suggested that the last two weeks of a campaign are when the majority of voters actually pay attention, so we are certainly nearing the critical stage of New Hampshire’s District One Race. I’ve turned to the New York Time’s coverage of the race to take a look at the expenses so far.

            Shea-Porter has raised at least $960,150 as of August, and has probably eclipsed the million dollar mark since then. With Election Projection still predicting a Guinta victory as Election Day draws near, Shea-Porter is going to have to spend her money on defending her previous achievements and decisions in Congress. She certainly has enough cash on hand to do so, but unless she uses this money to take her campaign to the next level, she may lose her seat.

            On the other hand, Guinta doesn’t have to defend any of his previous actions, rather he only needs to focus his money and advertising into taking down Shea-Porter. So far, Guinta has raised about $700,000, but has spent more than a million, leaving him with much less cash on hand than Shea-Porter. Guinta needs to watch his spending if he’s going to survive the marathon and not just the sprint. If he is smart about his spending and continues to successfully fundraise – as well as maintaining his aggressive campaign – Guinta may win.

            Certainly, in these last few weeks, the spending is bound to increase tenfold as both candidates will bombard the District with flyers, tv and radio ads, and rallies. And though money can’t buy you an election, it certainly comes close to doing so. So come back next week, as we’re going to take a closer look at Carol and Frank’s policy positions, and how those line up with the constituents of New Hampshire District 1. Until then, keep your eyes on the race, and keep out of the rain!

The Gloves Come Off: Attack Ads

So this week we’re taking a look at Carol and Frank’s respective attack ads. When I told my roommate about the subject of my new blog entry, she then launched into a five-minute speech about how I could talk about the people who strap cameras to them and videotape what they do at night to observe their territoriality and mating habits. Apparently she thought I had said “attack cats.”

            Pictured: Attack cat

            But as usual, I digress. We’re here to talk about attack ads: from daisies to bears to hope, attack ads have been a powerful tool for candidates to use and abuse since the advent of television. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, millions of dollars are pumped into them each election cycle, and they barrage our televisions mercilessly. So, let’s see how they’re being used in the New Hampshire District 1 race.

            Take a moment to watch the ad I chose from Congresswoman Shea-Porter’s campaign. As the incumbent, Shea-Porter can play much more defense than offense, which is reflected in this ad. She’s keeping it issue-based here, discussing veterans' care and bringing in her mom for a domestic touch. Heck, she doesn’t even mention “her opponent,” which is probably part of her larger strategy. Carol’s trying to show she’s focused and confident, and brought in the old lady to soften the edge.

            Now, here’s Frank Guinta’s ad. The obvious contrast here is that Frank is on the offensive, having to work doubly hard to take the reigning incumbent down. The slightly demented Pelosi/Shea-Porter animation is an interesting visual, trying to show how Shea-Porter is toeing the party line like a Democratic drone. He criticizes Shea-Porter, then presents his campaign message and policy initiative as the better choice for voters. Obviously, it’s more effective to take your opponent down before building yourself up, and Guinta is definitely following that tried-and-true blueprint.

           And those are thoughts for the week, attack cats and all. Before I go, though, Frank Guinta and Congressman Shea-Porter have made slight changes to their campaign websites, so the new link for Guinta’s website is here and Shea-Porter’s is here. Next week we’re going to discuss the thing that makes the world – and political campaigns – go ‘round: money, money, money. So come back same time next week for a discussion of how the big green stuff is affecting New Hampshire’s District 1 race.