The circus is back in town. Next year’s Senate campaign’s off and rolling. And it’s like watching the rerun of an old tv show.
Full of shadows, dark music, Republican’s first ad whacked Roy Cooper, called him a ‘wreck’, told people when he mismanaged a hurricane 100 people died; on social media Republicans described Cooper as 100% vile, pure evil, a lapdog, and Commie Roy.
Republican’s other ad, introducing Michael Whatley, had Trump in it twelve times – ended with Whatley saying ‘Make America Great Again.’
The Democrats did two ads of their own: One pointed out Whatley had been a big oil lobbyist, played a clip of Whatley praising scandal plagued Republican candidate for governor Mark Robinson – who lost; on social media Democrats described Whatley as a Washington hack.
Democrat’s second ad broke the mold – with just Roy Cooper on camera talking about growing up in a small town, smiling, saying he’d thought about it, prayed over it, and decided to run for Senate.
A few days later the first poll came out: Cooper led by six points. Cooper 47%, Whatley 41%. More troubling for Republicans: Cooper led Whatley with the key swing voters – Independents – by 19 points.
Living in their own small world political ad makers and social media gurus believe hype, flashy graphics, wins elections. So, trailing, Republicans told people Cooper is vile, evil, and laid the blame for 100 people dying in a hurricane on his doorstep. It was politics as usual.
But remember last year’s election: Politicians – in both parties – spent millions on ads that all looked and sounded like political ads, full of shadows, dark music. People would watch one for a few seconds then tune it out.
Then suddenly, out of a clear blue sky, the Democrat running for governor did something different: He ran an ad with no flashy graphics, no melodrama, that just showed his opponent Robinson talking. The ad didn’t look political. Without hype was believable. And Robinson’s own words sunk him.
So, looking back on last week, you have to give Democrats credit: They’ve figured out flashy graphics and melodrama no longer cut the mustard. Roy’s ad, with just Roy talking, was believable.
Round One’s now behind us. Keep your fingers crossed – less hype, from both parties, in Round Two would be a blessing.
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Telling stories, in his memoir Carter Wrenn follows The Trail of the Serpent twisting and turning through politics from Reagan to Trump. Order his book from Amazon.
