What's Wrong with Edwards' Mini-Ads
The Edwards campaign released four mini-ads. Two are wrong.
Summary
Two recent ads by the Edwards campaign are quick and to the point, but they miss the mark. One claims that Edwards is the "only" Democrat who "beats" the leading Republican contenders in "the recent" CNN poll. Actually, Edwards wasn't even included in the most recent CNN poll; the ad is referring to an older one. More recent polling has found that both Obama and Clinton are leading all of the Republican front-runners.
The other ad says that Edwards is the "only" Democrat running who opposed NAFTA and other trade deals. Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio would take issue with that.
Analysis
On Jan. 15, less than a week before the Democrats' debate in Myrtle Beach, the Edwards campaign posted on its Web site four 10-second ads to be aired in South Carolina. Two of these ads play loose with the facts.
Recent Is Relative
John Edwards For President Ad: "Beats"
Narrator: Who's the only Democrat that beats all the Republicans in the recent CNN poll? John Edwards is the only one.
John Edwards: I'm John Edwards and I approve this message.
The Edwards ad titled "Beats" shows a picture of the two Democratic front-runners he is chasing, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, and asks which Democrat "beats all the Republicans in the recent CNN poll." Flash to a photo of Edwards: "John Edwards is the only one." But that's not what "the recent" CNN poll showed.
In fact, Edwards wasn't even included in the most recent CNN poll that compared the Republican and Democratic candidates in head-to-head match-ups. But it did include Clinton and Obama, and they did quite well. Both were ahead in all of their hypothetical match-ups against the four Republican front-runners: Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney.
The poll was conducted Jan. 9 and 10 and released Jan. 12, three days before the Edwards campaign released its ad. However, there is an older CNN poll, released a month ago, that did include Edwards in the hypothetical match-ups. At that time, he indeed was the only candidate to lead all four Republican contenders. Obama was ahead of three of the candidates and tied with McCain at 48 percent. Clinton was ahead of the same three and trailing McCain by 2 percentage points.
Don't Forget Dennis
John Edwards For President Ad: "Deal"
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Member Comments
Posted By: Missouri stubborn Jennie @ 01/30/2008 11:48:49 AM
Comment: I understand how you fell boxed out by the press/media. I watched a news cast were Fox had a reporter at B.O.'s campaign stop and at yours the only had a camera person. I DON'T want the media CHOOSING my vote. I CHOOSE you. Some may say I will waste my vote on Super Tues. if you bow out (your name is on the ballot) but I feel I still have the right to CHOOSE WITHOUT PRESSURE FROM GROUPS THAT WANT TO RUN OUR Country.
Posted By: dmortell @ 01/28/2008 9:37:48 PM
Comment: Factcheck article by Justin Bank is just a little bit half-truth. At the time the mini-ads were made, the most "recent" CNN poll did show that Edwards beat all Republicans. I think when you have a column called "Factcheck" you should be doing what it implies -- checking the facts. Mainstream media think they can shape this race - even "select" the next Democratic nominee by ignoring John Edwards. Please don't insult the intelligence of the American people. Remember, it is "We the People" who will make the selection, not you.
Posted By: dmortell @ 01/28/2008 9:34:52 PM
Comment: Factcheck article by Justin Bank is just a little bit half-truth. At the time the mini-ads were made, the most "recent" CNN poll did show that Edwards beat all Republicans. I think when you have a column called "Factcheck" you should be doing what it implies -- checking the facts. Mainstream media think they can shape this race - even "select" the next Democratic nominee by ignoring John Edwards. Please don't insult the intelligence of the American people. Remember, it is "We the People" who will make the selection, not you.