Ad Watch: Mmmm...pancakes...

The Tories and Liberals went neg earlier this week. And now, Jack Layton, running to be PM, is on the attack...against Michael Ignatieff

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Election ’08 Ad Watch: Doodling Dippers

Initial Reaction: That's...different.

Ad Intent: These ads are basically Jack reading off the NDP strategy verbatim (with pictures!) so I don't think it takes a political mastermind to crack the intent behind them.

Tag Line: "For strong leadership on the side of everyday families blah blah blah"

Things That Work: They certainly get the message across, given that they are probably the least subtle ads of the entire campaign.

Things That Don't: Cartoons? I thought the NDP was trying to portray itself as a credible party.

Alanis Moment: "Jack's got one hand in his pocket..."

Memories: NDP to take aim at Harper, shrug off Dion

Cliche Score: 2 - I think we can safely say that by this point in the campaign, any reference to "kitchen table" or "50 billion in corporate tax cuts" deserves a cliche point.

Grade: C
I must say, the original "new strong" NDP ads have grown on me during the campaign - they've got a great beat and they get the message across. But these ones? Yes, they are so incredibly simple they'll get the message across so you can't write them off completely. But they're lame.

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PS - I've seen a few new Tory attack ads on TV but they're still nowhere to be found on conservative.ca, or on youtube.

Election ’08 Ad Watch: Here Come the Greens

Also: Democracy, Poverty, Nature, Economy,

First Impression: And I thought the Tory ads had low production values...

Ad Intent: Introduce voters to May, and portray her as an "anti-politician".

Tagline: There is no tagline! What a maverick party!

Things that Work: I've already said I like the train tour so it seems as good a place as any for a fireside chat commercial. And I'm sure most grade 12 English classes could figure out some sort of good political metaphor for the movement in the background.

Things that Don't: I'm left searching for the gravol...not so much from the train movement as from the idealistic platitudes.

On the Air? Does anyone know if these are actually airing on TV? Given that I was viewer number 201 on youtube for one of the ads, I sincerely hope so.

Cliche Score: The average score for the five ads is about a 3, just for some of the gems May churns out. Among my favourites: "it's not about the politicians, it's about you", "the other parties lost the thread of democracy", and "when you talk to a single mom".

Rating: I'm not going to go easy on the Greens and rate them on a different scale - if they want to play with the big boys, they get treated the same.

With that in mind, the issue ads don't work, because they don't give anyone a compelling reason to vote Green over the grits or dippers. So the economy one gets a D, poverty gets a C, and the environment gets a C - the environment one is especially disappointing because it's a topic the Greens have the potential to hit a home run on, and instead all we get from May are aimless platitudes. The Liberals have done a much better job with their environmental ads so far, mainly because they were willing to get messy and land some punches (and they actually tell people what the Liberals are promising to do).

That said, I'm going to give the "grassroots" and "democracy" ads B grades. And that's because they do give you a reason to vote Green - mainly, as a protest vote. The biggest chunk of Green voters aren't voting for them because of the environment, they're voting for them as a "none of the above" option or because they're sick of politics as usual. So if May can introduce herself to Canadians and play on this, well, maybe some of them will take the time to go vote for her on the 14th.

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Election ’08 Ad Watch: Bushwacked

A new website and new Liberal ads attacking Harper on the economy and foreign policy. Do they work? You be the judge!

(and watch for a surprise cameo from an old face in the third one)

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I would also post the latest Tory ad that links fear of the Green Shift to the economy but it has yet to be posted on the Tory site or youtube. I assume this is because everyone in the Conservative war room has been fired by this point in the campaign...

Election ’08 Ad Watch: Pot Pourri

I don't have the time to do a full recap of each of them, so here are a few recent ads for your viewing pleasure. Feel free to snark away in the comments section - the Bloc using a mime in their ad certainly sets up quite a few punch lines, j'imagine.

Election '08 Ad Watch: Jack Attaque

I don't intend to review all the Quebec ads that come out this campaign since, by most of the definitions offered, I'm not a member of the Quebec nation. I will do a quick overview of them at some point, if only to get an idea of the Quebec strategies the parties are using.

But the NDP "Bush Ad" is just so darn impressive that it's worth taking a look at.



First Impressions: And I thought the new Batman movie was dark...

Ad Intent: Harper = Bush = scary

Tagline: Le Pouvoir de Changer

Things that work: It's incredibly powerful with great imagery guaranteed to make you take notice and give you chills - some of the effects are almost subliminal (watch the little kid's head explode at the 5 second mark). It attacks Harper on the issues where he's vulnerable and there doesn't appear to have been much of a "they've gone too far" backlash.

Things that don’t work: Very little, except for the one knock I'll mention when I grade it.

Soldiers in our Cities with Guns: The black and white, larger than life leaders, soldiers, and tanks, gave me a strong "World War 2 Newsflash" vibe. I'm thinking that was probably intentional.

Do You Like Handcuffs: A pair of shackled hands appear as the image under the words "esclave des petrolieres".

Cliché Score: 3 (The Harper-Bush comparison is worth a point. The black and white in an attack ad is worth a point. The military imagery is worth a point.)

Grade: A-
It's an A+ ad on it's own. Still, I need to dock them some marks because I'm not convinced the NDP are actually fighting the Tories for votes in Quebec. NDP votes will come more from the Bloc, so it's debatable how much this will actually help them.

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Previous Ads: See the softer side of Steve, Bad actors love Harper, Jack Attack, THE Green Shift, Viva Los Vegas

Election ’08 Ad Watch: Harpernomics

The Liberals finally drop the gloves:



First Impressions: This must be one of those fun Where's Waldo videos...now where did they hide Stephane?

Ad Intent: Attack Harper and frame The Green Shift as an economic issue.

Tagline: Let’s get started. (I have yet to see a strong tagline/slogan from any of the parties so far this campaign)

Things that work: The Liberals actually attack on the economy, which is good (not the economy...attacking on it). It's an effective attack that backs it up with a positive message about the Liberals.

Things that don’t work: I'm not sure the "last place to invest" attack will resonate much outside of Ontario, so I'd be running this one almost exclusively there.

I Guess the Cowboy Picture was Unavailable: The black and white pose of Harper is possibly the most flattering picture ever used in an attack ad - the man looks 20 years younger in it.

Cliché Score: 1.5
The Canadian flag gets half a point. Saying "turn the page" while literally turning the page on the screen is worth a point (and kinda clever). Normally I'd give out a point for the "black and white" attack picture but it's a good picture of Harper so no points for that.

Grade: B+.
It's not what I'd call a memorable ad, but it should be an effective one.

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On the air? As always, be sure to report actual sightings of the ads in the comments section. I'm curious where they're airing, how often, and on what kind of shows.

Previous Ads: See the softer side of Steve, Bad actors love Harper, Jack Attack, THE Green Shift, Viva Los Vegas

Election ’08 Ad Watch: Viva Los Vegas

See also: Slot machines, roll the dice

First Impressions: Thank God they’re back to cheesy attack ads! More than a week of warm, fuzzy, sweater vested Steve, and I might have started to like the guy.

Ad Intent: I think this one is pretty self explanatory.

Tagline: Let’s not risk it all on Stephane Dion. Get it? Dice! Risk! Get it?

Things that work: The gambling metaphor gets used so often in politics, I’m inclined to think it’s brilliantly simple to go literal on it. (btw, as I think about it, “brilliantly simple” may be the best way to describe the Harper government)

Things that don’t work: Is there anyone who seriously believes Dion will raise the GST? Maybe it will fool some people but that’s a bullshit argument right up there with “Stephen Harper will ban abortions” if I ever heard one.

Playing the Odds: You know, if every Canadian who has ever played scratch ‘n win, slot machines, or craps, votes for Dion, we’re probably looking at a Liberal majority.

Cliché Score: 1. Yeah, they’re a bit cheesy, but the only cliché point I could give it was for “shrugy Dion” which wouldn’t even be a cliché, if not for the fact that variations on that picture have donned conservative.ca daily for the past year and a half.

On the air? Has anyone seen these ads on TV yet?

Grade: C+. It does what it’s supposed to, but there’s a certain “been there, done that” to it.

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Previous Ads: See the softer side of Steve, Bad actors love Harper, Jack Attack, THE Green Shift,

Election ’08 Ad Watch: THE Green Shift

First Impression: Does anyone else have an uncontrollable urge to go recycle something?

Ad Intent: Sell the Green Shift to Canadians, highlighting the positive aspects of it. Portray the Liberals as having a plan for the environment.

Tagline: "This is just the beginning of what we will do with our great country Canada. "

Things that work: Frames the Green Shift in a way that people should be able to support it – polluters pay, green jobs, clean water, tax cuts, etc. Good visuals used throughout it.

Things that don’t work: Will it really make someone casually paying attention to the TV stand up and want to vote Liberal?

Cliché Score: 1.5 - We’ve set the precedence that a Canadian flag is worth 0.5 points. “our great country Canada” is worth a point.

Grade: B. A good way to introduce the plan (3 months after it was launched) and stake out the environmental turf.

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Previous Ads: See the softer side of Steve, Bad actors love Harper, Jack Attack

Election '08 Ad Watch: Jack Attack

Initial Reaction: The NDP attacking the Tories rather than the Liberals? Nice for a change...

Ad Intent: Attack Harper directly on the "leadership" question. I presume this is part of the NDP strategy of painting themselves as a more effective opposition than the Liberals.

Tag Line: We Need a New Strong

Things That Work: Jack sounds good at the end - this was a rare occasion when I didn't feel like punching him in the face.

Things That Don't: Some of the connections Jack tries to draw are weak: "Destroying the environment while you pay record gas prices"...huh?

Cliche Score: 2 points (1, for the subtle US flag. 1 for using drum music in an attack ad. )

Grade: B It's an enjoyable ad and it's a clever way to attack Harper, but it's debatable what it really tells people about the NDP.

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Previous Ads: See the softer side of Steve, Bad actors love Harper

Election '08 Ad Watch: See the Softer Side of Steve

Also: Stephen Likes Veterans, Stephen Likes Immigrants

Initial Reaction: Who is this man and what has he done with the vindictive bully I've come to know and love over the past three years?

Ad Intent: Soften Harper up. "Uncle Louis" him, some might say.

Tag Line: "We're Better Off With Harper"

Things That Work: Harper sounds more genuine than the "average Canadians" who were raving about him in the first wave of ads.

Things That Don't Work: He likes veterans. He likes immigrants. He likes his son. So?

A Leader...of Fashion Trends: Stephen Harper tries valiantly to make sweater vests trendy again!

Cliche Score: Couches and fireplace in each ad gives 3 points total. Talking about why you love veterans and your family is worth 2 points each...talking about why you love immigrants is worth 1 point. The Canadian flag also gets half a point, and the soft sensitive music gets 1 point for each ad it's in. Add it all up and you get an average cliche score of 4.2 for these ads.

Grade: B+ It's like diving at the Olympics - you need to factor in the degree of difficulty. And making Stephen Harper look human has a very high degree of difficulty. Hence the good grade.

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Review of Previous Tory Ad

Election '08 Ad Watch: Bad Actors LOVE Harper

The first election ad is now airing (I saw it twice on Toronto TV over the weekend) so it's time to roll out my first recurring election post series - a review of Election '09 Election '08 commercials. I'm hoping to post similar reviews to all the election ads that appear during the campaign.



Initial Reaction: I know it's hard to find an actor willing to work for the Tories these days but would it have killed them to do a few more takes so that people sounded almost sincere?

Ad Intent: Revive the "Tim Hortons" myth that worked in '05/'06, soften up Canadians on Harper, and set things up for the eventual framing of the election as being all about leadership.

Tag Line: "Strong leadership on your side"

Things That Work: The girl at the end hits out of the park with the "I'll be voting for the first time and I'll be voting for Stephen Harper".

Things That Don't Work: Sweater vested and smilling Stephen Harper looks like he wants to steal my soul.

Grey Power: Is it just me, or did they dye Harper's hair grey to make him look "wiser" in this ad?

Cliche Counter: 4 (Guy with tool belt and pick-up truck to show he's hard working "average guy". Children on playground. Veteran with medals. Two visible minorities.)

Grade: B-

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SCHEDULING UPDATE: This ad aired 4 times last night during The Daily Show/Colbert Atlantic Canada feed I was watching...looks like a heavier East Coast media buy than the Toronto one to me.

Your Dalton Day Link Round-Up

-I thought the same thing when I watched QP yesterday. I'm not sure Jean Lapierre is necessarily the best person to be revealing the inner thoughts of Jean Chretien's mind.


-The Tories have unleashed a new line of attack on Dion, claiming that a Liberal government would plunge the country back into deficit. I think even Tories will agree this isn't likely, for the exact same reason I don't expect Harper to ever ban abortion or bring back the death penalty - it would be political suicide to run a deficit in this day and age. But it is interesting to get a sneak peak of some of the themes we'll see during the next election, expected to be called in...ummm....ahh....well...


-The Bloc are also advertising...they target the Tories on a wide range of policy positions.


-While I did miss all the fun of the Ontario elections in the fall, the OYL elections figure to be just as intense. Jacob Mksyartinian is running for re-election with OYL Beyond, while Mary Rose Brown is running for President with OYL Roots. Being new to the scene, I don't know all the players, but I would like to put in a good word on behalf of bloggers Justin Tetreault and Danielle Takacs, along with Elyse Banham and Chris Drew, who I hear is running for VP Policy on a "fund faith based schools" platform.