On Our Horizon
The recent Ad War in Virginia between former Attorney General Jerry Kilgore and Lt. Governor Tim Kaine reminds us here in Maryland the kind of ads we will see on our horizon in 2006.
The ads sprung from last Sunday's debate between the two men in which Kaine indicated his opposition to the Death Penalty. This lead the Kilgore to launch two emotional ads (here and here) blasting Kaine's opposition to the Death Penalty. The ads are so raw, so emotional, some analysts are wondering whether the Kilgore campaign, who had a lead prior to these ads, overplayed their hand and actually hurt their chances at a knockout.
All of these makes me wonder what kind of spots Democratic operatives will launch at the Governor's re-election campaign and the Lt. Governor's Senate Campaign in 2006. Will Maryland Democrats overplay their hand again like they did at the 2002 Debate? Will Maryland Democrats even be able to effectively respond after two sets of brutal primaries?
The point is not whether or not they will be able to respond. It is in being ready for when they do launch such an attack at Republican candidates. It is about being proactive, and not reactive, to desperate tactics. Kilgore's ads were made from a position of relative strength. It is safe to say that, at least in the case of the Governor's race, the O'Malley/Duncan survior will not have the luxury of being a strong candidate, and will resort to heavy tactics early and often next year.
Just a preview of the next twelve months...
The ads sprung from last Sunday's debate between the two men in which Kaine indicated his opposition to the Death Penalty. This lead the Kilgore to launch two emotional ads (here and here) blasting Kaine's opposition to the Death Penalty. The ads are so raw, so emotional, some analysts are wondering whether the Kilgore campaign, who had a lead prior to these ads, overplayed their hand and actually hurt their chances at a knockout.
All of these makes me wonder what kind of spots Democratic operatives will launch at the Governor's re-election campaign and the Lt. Governor's Senate Campaign in 2006. Will Maryland Democrats overplay their hand again like they did at the 2002 Debate? Will Maryland Democrats even be able to effectively respond after two sets of brutal primaries?
The point is not whether or not they will be able to respond. It is in being ready for when they do launch such an attack at Republican candidates. It is about being proactive, and not reactive, to desperate tactics. Kilgore's ads were made from a position of relative strength. It is safe to say that, at least in the case of the Governor's race, the O'Malley/Duncan survior will not have the luxury of being a strong candidate, and will resort to heavy tactics early and often next year.
Just a preview of the next twelve months...
posted by Brian Griffiths at 10:10 AM
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