Clinton and the trust issue
Posted: Monday, November 19, 2007 10:55 AM by Domenico MontanaroAds
From Domenico Montanaro and Lauren Appelbaum went up with a new health care ad in Iowa and New Hampshire over the weekend, featuring a man who says he asked for Clinton's help when his insurance company would not cover a bone marrow transplant for his son. She came through, he says, and adds, "Now her opponents are saying that Hillary can't be trusted? I trusted this woman to save my son's life. And she did."
Interesting that the campaign would choose, in a 30-second ad, to bring up Clinton's trustworthiness. In our most recent NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, Clinton received some of her worst scores on the question of whether she is "honest and straightforward." Among all voters, only 34% gave her good scores on the topic; 39% rated her poorly. Among Democrats, 49% gave her good scores, compared to 20% who did not.
But compare those numbers to her leading rivals. Among all voters, 51% said Obama's "honest and straightfoward," 17% did not. Among Democrats, his numbers spike: 75% gave him good scores versus just 10% who did not.
*** UPDATE ***
Per New York Times: “Clips of four men praising the senator for bringing money, jobs and services to constituents. ...Joseph Ward, a father in Lisbon, N.Y., says that when his son needed a bone marrow transplant, Mrs. Clinton’s office assured him that the hospital would help absorb the cost.
"SCORECARD: This is Mrs. Clinton’s first ad in her 2006 Senate race, and it is characteristically on message, focusing on her work for New York without any allusion to a possible presidential bid. But the subtext -- that she can win over skeptics -- is one that could be applied in a presidential race. And there is no mention of the Iraq war, which Mrs. Clinton voted to authorize, a subject that has become increasingly problematic for candidates across the board."
Hat tip to reader “modernwoman, Anytown,USA” for remembering that Ward was in an earlier ad. And to Ben Smith at The Politico for the video.
Here’s the transcript: "Joe Ward" [piano music in background] : Let me tell you a little story. My son Joel had a terrible illness. He needed a bone marrow transplant. But our insurance wouldn't cover, and we couldn't afford. We called Senator Clinton and asked for help. Her office called the next day letting us know the hospital was going to absorb the cost of the transplant. Now her opponents are saying that Hillary can't be trusted? I trusted this woman to save my son's life. And she did.
CLINTON: I'm Hillary Clinton and I approve this message.
