Coleman 'will pull down negative ads'
Posted: Friday, October 10, 2008 1:49 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under:
Congress, Ads
From NBC's Chuck Todd and Domenico Montanaro
This is one way to respond to an uneasy electorate. Fascinating decision and ploy...
From a Norm Coleman, incumbent candidate for U.S. Senate in Minnesota, press release:
“As of today I am suspending all negative campaign ads and am calling on those who support me to do the same,” Coleman said. “I’m doing this for two reasons. First of all, this is a terrible time for so many people with the financial crisis – with real concerns and fear about people’s jobs – about their life savings – and their children’s future and education -- when we are all bombarded with negative messages of real consequence. At times like this, politics should not add to negativity – it should lift people up with hope and a confident vision for the future. And second, I decided that I was not all that interested in returning to Washington for six years based on the judgment of voters that I was not as bad as the other two guys. I want folks to vote for me, not against the other guys.
“I have directed my campaign this morning to begin the process of immediately pulling any negative ad that I am personally responsible for approving -- I am also issuing a press release today calling on those who chose to weigh in on this race to honor my call for only positive ads. The fact is, there may be ads in the pipeline- fundraising letters -- direct mail -- YouTube or Web videos or other campaign messages that will filter out into the public over the next several days. I raise this because I want to avoid being caught up on a technicality while the good faith effort is being made to pull these ads down.
“At a time when we need unity, people want hope and that’s what I have offered and acted upon my entire life in public service. As many people know, my theme when I was running for election as Mayor of Saint Paul was that Saint Paul’s best days are yet to come. My mantra was hope plus confidence yields investment. And, I was right. Today, people need hope and a more positive campaign is a start.”
*** UPDATE *** As MSNBC's Adam Verdugo points out, interesting timing for the ad, considering this, per Hotline: A Minnesota Public Radio News/University of Minnesota poll showed:
Who Is Running More Negative TV Ads?
N. Coleman 48%
A. Franken 21
No difference 23
*** UPDATE 2 *** Franken's campaign responds:
"From the start, our campaign has focused on the change Minnesota needs. And we will continue to focus on our competing views of how our country has gone in the wrong direction, how we can curb the influence of special interests in Washington, and how we can get out of the tough economic situation we're now in.
"Given that this week's polls are clearly showing that Minnesotans are sick of Norm Coleman's campaign of character assassination, today's stunt rings as a cynical ploy designed to change the subject and avoid scrutiny of his own record. It's like an arsonist burning down every house in the village and then asking to be named fire chief.
"It's worth noting that even in his own statement, Norm Coleman makes it clear that he intends to continue attacking Al Franken. But we are proud of the campaign we've run, and we will remain focused on talking about the issues that matter to Minnesota and the change Al Franken wants to bring to Washington."
