McCain on air in NH
Posted: Thursday, September 27, 2007 12:06 PM by Domenico Montanaro
From NBC’s Mike Memoli
McCain advisers said on a conference call this morning that his New Hampshire ad buy is meant to build on what they feel has been a good month for the campaign, as evidenced by the latest poll showing him closing in on Romney and Giuliani.
"From our perspective we sensed this progress was occurring and wanted to capitalize on that, and continue to wage an aggressive and robust campaign by putting these ads up," said campaign manager Rick Davis.
Both new TV ads include footage of a wounded McCain being interviewed in a Hanoi prison. McCain media strategist Mark McKinnon said that the campaign wanted to draw more attention to McCain's "rich and compelling life story." "We made a lot of assumptions about the fact that voters know the story when in fact they really don't," McKinnon said.
In "One Man," a narrator says McCain "sacrificed for his country," and also says he "had the courage to call for change" in the face of a "flawed" Iraq strategy. Both ads also show footage of McCain with Ronald Reagan. But the camp says it isn't making a push just to Republican voters. And in fact, the other ad -- called "Live Free" -- notes Americans have "lost trust in government" in light of Katrina and Congressional scandals. "They're looking for leadership," the ad continues. "New Hampshire, you know who he is."
The camp wouldn't disclose the exact details of the buy, but said it is a "full blown buy." And, the advisers added, the spending will be seen in the upcoming FEC report, though they wouldn't hint where the senator would stand.
McCain will make another swing through the Granite State this Saturday and Sunday. He was last here with the "No Surrender Tour" two weeks ago.
*** UPDATE *** From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
The campaign calls this "a significant statewide ad buy" running on radio and TV on WMUR.
Here are the full transcripts:
Script for "One Man" (60 seconds TV)
INTERVIEWER: How old are you?
JOHN MCCAIN: Thirty-one
INTERVIEWER: What is your rank in the Army?
JOHN MCCAIN: Lt. Commander in the Navy ... Hit by either missile or anti-aircraft fire, I'm not sure which. I ejected and broke my leg and both arms.
INTERVIEWER: And your official number?
JOHN MCCAIN: 624787
ANNOUNCER: One man sacrificed for his country
One man opposed a flawed strategy in Iraq
One man had the courage to call for change
One man didn't play politics with the truth
One man stands up to the special interests
JOHN MCCAIN: Stand up. We're Americans, we're Americans and we'll never surrender. They will.
ANNOUNCER: One man does what's right, not what's easy
John McCain
JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approve this message.
Script for "Live Free" (:30-TV)
ANNOUNCER: America at risk
Americans lost trust in their government
They're looking for leadership
A leader with the judgment and experience to keep us safe
The courage to change Washington
Fix our toughest problems and restore our trust
The character to put America's interests before his own
New Hampshire, you know who he is:
JOHN MCCAIN: Live free or die!
ANNOUNCER: John McCain
JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approve this message.
Script for "Courage" (60 seconds RADIO)
ANNOUNCER: John McCain, prisoner of war, Hanoi, 1967:
INTERVIEWER: How old are you?
JOHN MCCAIN: Thirty-one
INTERVIEWER: What is your rank in the Army?
JOHN MCCAIN: Lt. Commander in the Navy ... Hit by either missile or anti-aircraft fire, I'm not sure which. I ejected and broke my leg and both arms.
INTERVIEWER: And your official number?
JOHN MCCAIN: 624787
ANNOUNCER: One man believes Americans want a leader, not a follower
"No other candidate has the guts to do the same," wrote the Union Leader
One man has the courage to stand up to the special interests
And the judgment and experience to be commander in chief
New Hampshire, you know who he is:
JOHN MCCAIN: Live free or die!
ANNOUNCER: John McCain
JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approve this message.