Harri Anne Smith’s 1st TV Ad Airs Tonight
Republican state Senator Harri Anne Smith begins airing her first television ad tonight in her quest to win the race for AL-02.
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May 6, 2008
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Good ad. Does all of the things that a successful ad for a Republican in Alabama should.
Comment by Terry — May 6, 2008 @ 5:09 pm
She avoided saying “Christian” a gazillion times, so it is the best ad I have seen (and I AM a Christian).
Comment by Anonymous — May 6, 2008 @ 5:16 pm
I agree it is nice for her not to say christian over and over, and I too am a christian.
It is a feel good ad and i think it works well for now. it does suit her well. she has a twang to her voice i can do without but i guess that is the geneva county in her. it will help with some voters and others will think she sounds less than impressive.
Comment by Viewer1 — May 6, 2008 @ 5:44 pm
By the way Danny - have you previously put up links for woods, love and schmidtke ads? Fair is fair.
Comment by Viewer1 — May 6, 2008 @ 5:45 pm
well yeeee hawwww…what they do up thar in washington sure effects us bumpkins back home. Congress cud use a little redneck? I mean slocumb….slocomb.
God help us all.
Comment by Marty — May 6, 2008 @ 5:50 pm
Danny HAS put up links to all the previous ads . . .
Comment by Anonymous — May 6, 2008 @ 5:59 pm
I think it is a nice foundation ad. It seems more sincere than Woods or Love, but it should be followed by some more “issue-based” ads.
Comment by Anonymous — May 6, 2008 @ 6:01 pm
Why are people so daggum whiney on here. Danny isn’t being fair, seriously shut up. Danny puts up everything that comes to him. He is impartial, quit accusing him of being biased. He puts up news that is good or bad for everybody, no matter the party. If he doesn’t report it, he doesn’t know about it.
As for the ad, I applaud her for not trying to tell us how big of a Christian she is. I think that we need a Christian representing us, but don’t run on the fact that you are a such a great Christian. If you want to tell me about how great of a Christian you are, then there better not be a skeleton or even a single bone in your closet and no one on God’s green Earth has a closet that clean. The fact that you are a Christian should be in your bio and that is it, don’t use it in your campaign slogans because it cheapens your faith.
I like the ad, it is the best of the race so far (although that doesn’t say much). I think the line of “Congress could use a little Slocumb” was great and will end up being her line for the rest of the race. I’d be interested to see how much the ad changes the polling numbers.
Any info on where the ad is being run, what stations and areas?
Comment by Earning their money — May 6, 2008 @ 6:08 pm
Good question, Earning. Is this a cable buy or a network buy? There is obviously a major difference.
Comment by Will — May 6, 2008 @ 6:12 pm
I’ll admit that it’s a pretty good ad to start out with. Good enough that it might allay some of the concerns about her campaign’s professionalism.
Comment by SamfordDem — May 6, 2008 @ 6:15 pm
OMG - did she say “up there in Washington”
Has she ever left the State of Alabama? No, I’m serious….has she?
Comment by Bev — May 6, 2008 @ 7:18 pm
why is the theme to the Beverly H running through my head?????
All the yokels in CD 2 will eat this up though. But the voters that have good sense will just roll their eyes.
all that being said - the line of washington could use a little slocomb is good. I just wish she didn’t sound so country. if she makes it to DC and they listen to her they will think she is from appalachia. but it is her - the ad is her through and through. just as good or better than other ads I have seen and I agree on all that “I’m a bigger Christian” that you approach that the others candidates have taken is poor.
Comment by Wallace — May 6, 2008 @ 7:25 pm
Best of the ads so far. Not trying to demagogue (yet).
Simple and straightforward. She seems like a likable enough gal.
(For the type of gal you could hitch a plow to)
Comment by Real Talk — May 6, 2008 @ 8:13 pm
This ad has run for the past two mornings (at least) on the local NBC affilate in Montgomery. Not sure if it has been on other stations, but I’ve seen it on Channel 12 both yesterday and today during their morning news programs.
Comment by Anonymous — May 6, 2008 @ 9:01 pm
Got to admit that is a good ad. Got to give kudos when they are due. And, thank you HAS for not telling me you are more christian than me. I may have to vote for you just for that.
Comment by Seriously — May 6, 2008 @ 9:24 pm
The lobbyists or rent seekers, were in nothing inclinable to their request; but, which was worse, did injure them most outrageously, called them prattling gabblers, lickorous gluttons, freckled bittors, mangy rascals, shite-a-bed scoundrels, drunken roysters, sly knaves, drowsy loiterers, slapsauce fellows, slabberdegullion druggels, lubberly louts, cozening foxes, ruffian rogues, paltry customers, sycophant-varlets, drawlatch hoydens, flouting milksops, jeering companions, staring clowns, forlorn snakes, ninny lobcocks, scurvy sneaksbies, fondling fops, base loons, saucy coxcombs, idle lusks, scoffing braggarts, noddy meacocks, blockish grutnols, doddipol-joltheads, jobbernol goosecaps, foolish loggerheads, flutch calf-lollies, grouthead gnat-snappers, lob-dotterels, gaping changelings, codshead loobies, woodcock slangams, ninny-hammer flycatchers, noddypeak simpletons, turdy gut, shitten shepherds, and other suchlike defamatory epithets; saying further, that it was not for them to eat of these dainty cakes, but might very well content themselves with the coarse unranged bread, or to eat of the great brown household loaf.
Harri Anne, you go girl! and clean up the Alabama legislature while you are at it!! (apologies or Rabelais)
Comment by Publius — May 6, 2008 @ 9:25 pm
It seemed to me that the ad was clearly promoting a Wiregrass vs. Montgomery-area campaign. Although the opening shot could have been much better, I did like the American flag, the SOLD sign in the yard, and the produce sign that reads “Local” and “Fresh” just behind her that the production staff slipped in. I feel subtly and unknowingly patriotic, confident that things will soon bounce back economically, and that she would be a fresh dose of somebody-like-me in Congress.
Comment by Anonymous in Bham — May 6, 2008 @ 9:31 pm
I was pretty impressed with that ad, and I’ve seen quite a few in my day.
Also, #’s 11 and 12, I really don’t think that the southern accent is a drawback. As one who has worked in DC and with clients in NYC I’ve found that the drawl can be used quite effectively. Depending on the occasion I’ve been known to use it to goad people into underestimating me or to differentiate myself.
I’ve had great success with those two tactics.
Comment by Political Junkie — May 6, 2008 @ 10:09 pm
Wallace in #12, aka Bev in #11, aka Marty in #5… I was clear in another post this week (that is still on the front page of the blog) that I do not care to have a person using different screen names to post multiple times in a thread of comments. You made your point. If you want to keep saying it, I ask that you use the same screen name instead of trying to make it appear that more than one person is jumping in with a similar opinion.
Thank you.
Comment by Danny — May 7, 2008 @ 8:13 am
Good ad. I have been critical of her campaign but that was well done. It will connect with a large portion of her district. Country is the way to go. She can’t out Montgomery Love. She has to out Country them.
Comment by Tobie — May 7, 2008 @ 8:42 am
Thanks for your comments Danny. I agree. I will say that we have a lot of “Anonymous” posts on here and that is a problem as well. But I know there is really not a good way to police that.
In terms of the ad of Smith’s, I think it is professional and does have a very small town / home town feel to it. Good visuals in it as well. I do agree that she sounds rather southern - but then again this is southeat Alabama.
Comment by JT — May 7, 2008 @ 8:49 am
I have one question. When she says the word “family” she is pinning something on someone in uniform or buttoning his shirt, or something. It gives the absolute impression that she has a son or husband in the military. I know she does not have a son. Is her husband in the military? I do not think so. So who is the guy and how is she related to him? If the person is not related, does anyone else care about the misleading scene?
Comment by BigAL — May 7, 2008 @ 8:59 am
That is her husband Charlie. He is active in the guard and has been for many years. It mentions that somewhere on her website.
Comment by Concerned Citizen — May 7, 2008 @ 9:04 am
Her husband was or is a National Guardsman. Let’s not be so quick on the draw with our ire that we start shotgunning falsehoods and conjecture.
From the Republican minded supporters on here, I expect the primary to stay positive and focused, and the run off to be an absolute blood bath.
Comment by Real Talk — May 7, 2008 @ 9:07 am
big al has never let a good story get in the way of the facts though
Comment by Anonymous — May 7, 2008 @ 9:11 am
Give me abreak. That is why I asked the question. And I will say that I am very glad that it is true.
Comment by BigAL — May 7, 2008 @ 9:17 am
JT, aka Wallace, Marty, Bev, et al,
I have better things to do than watching out for people trying to game the comments of the site. It’s the best argument to be made for requiring readers to register with a valid email address before they are allowed to leave comment, and you are making it strongly.
So do us a favor please, and use only one name in a thread. I already asked you once this morning, plus the post from earlier in the week.
Thank you for affirming the comments, JT. I ask you kindly to heed them.
Danny
Comment by Danny — May 7, 2008 @ 9:20 am
Her husband is in the Guard or Reserve, a COL I believe. (and it does appear to be him in the ad). To comment 24, you are correct that the GOP primary will be positive but the run off will start some real mud slinging. Unfortunately, Bobby Bright will just sit back and enjoy it.
Comment by JT — May 7, 2008 @ 9:20 am
That is clearly her husband and he is a National Guard Col. so you are correct.
Comment by William Wyatt Wallace — May 7, 2008 @ 9:40 am
Don’t you like people like #25. You ask a legitimate question and then they attack you instead of answering the question. I have learned that when that happens, it is most likely a campaign operative. They are monitoring this and other forums and as soon as someone ask a question or presents some facts (that may be negative toward the candidate), they immediately begin attacking the person instead of addressing the question or facts.
And by the way, I would like to thank HA’s husband for his service as well as any other serviceman/woman reading this post. I want to challenge everyone out there to thank a man or woman in uniform and buy them lunch if you see them at a restaurant. My wife and I try to do this on a regular basis and the servicemen/women are very appreciative.
Comment by BigAL — May 7, 2008 @ 10:16 am
Big Al don’t try to play innocent. You were called the scene misleading when everyone with even half a brain picked up that it was her husband Charlie. You ask is her husband in the military and answer I don’t think so, but obviously he is and has been for a while if he is a Col.
And you are one of the worst of quickly trying to spin a situation like that with a complete untruth, might as well change your name on here to Big Jay.
Comment by William Wyatt Wallace — May 7, 2008 @ 10:25 am
I said IF THEY ARE NOT RELATED IT IS MISLEADING. You obviously cannot read or understand the english language. How about letting someone else read to you and explain the words to you? I was very careful in the way I asked in case they were related.
Comment by BigAL — May 7, 2008 @ 10:41 am
You implied that it was misleading, once again don’t try to play the innocent card.
Comment by William Wyatt Wallace — May 7, 2008 @ 10:49 am
Read the post. I in no way did so. And I said that I am glad that is true and I mean it. Words mean things and I am careful about what I say and I am careful about the way I read things. Take the time to read and reread something before you comment on it.
Comment by BigAL — May 7, 2008 @ 10:54 am
Big Al said “It gives the absolute impression that she has a son or husband in the military. I know she does not have a son. Is her husband in the military? I do not think so.”
take that quote out, throw it in a press release and see who is mislead…none of this matters because big al can’t admit mistakes. not to mention it is way off topic, but in an effort to minimize these types of false remarks, it needs to be pointed out.
Comment by Anonymous — May 7, 2008 @ 11:21 am
It would appear that a number of people cannot read in the eyes of Big Al. Or maybe Anon. was correct and Big Al cannot admit a mistake.
Comment by William Wyatt Wallace — May 7, 2008 @ 12:05 pm
Does she really say that Congress has a big impact on our moral values in Alabama?
Comment by Roy — May 7, 2008 @ 12:46 pm
No.
Comment by Anonymous — May 7, 2008 @ 12:55 pm
“…congress has a big impact here, from taxes to moral values…”
Comment by Anonymous — May 7, 2008 @ 1:32 pm
It could have meant that, but I am going out on a limb and saying that Congress’s (not sure if that is grammatically correct) values have a big impact on Slocumb. Makes a little more sense that way.
Comment by William Wyatt Wallace — May 7, 2008 @ 2:33 pm
I bet this is what we will get in the next commercial:
“Slocomb is the place to be;
Farm livin’ is the life for me…”
Comment by Anonymous — May 7, 2008 @ 6:41 pm
That’s funny.
Comment by William Wyatt Wallace — May 8, 2008 @ 8:58 am