Campaigning on TV
September 27, 2007 | 12:48 PM
Elections and commercials seem to go hand in hand and this campaign is no exception. Party ads are peppering prime time across Ontario, and as the election nears, some of them are getting downright personal.
The Conservative's website boasts 14 ads, with the first seven acting as an introduction to leader John Tory. When the writ dropped, however, the party released a new quartet focusing on Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty's so-called broken promises. These were accompanied with a photo of McGuinty, panes of smashing glass and the tag line: "Dalton McGuinty. Promises made, promises broken."
A new set of PC ads were released on the eve of the Sept. 20 leaders' debate, again focusing on the theme of broken Liberal promises.
The NDP is fielding a smaller selection of four commercials on its site. One of the ads acts as an introduction to leader Howard Hampton, while the other three are like those of the Conservatives, focusing on McGuinty and Liberal promises, this time with the tag line, "Don't get mad, get Orange," a reference to the NDP colours.
One NDP ad shows a McGuinty headshot and words like "disappointments" and "letdowns" while another features McGuinty's face being covered with sticky notes and encourages voters to show "Dalton" that his record will stick to him.
The Green Party site shows a selection of ads, including a series of spoofs on Apple's Mac versus PC ads, with the hip Greens set against the "gray" parties of Ontario.
The Liberal string of seven ads focuses on the party's record in government, with McGuinty smiling and speaking directly into the camera. The closest he comes to slamming an opponent is when he says it would be a mistake to extend public funding to all faith-based schools.
What do you think of the ads? Do you think any have overstepped the normal bounds of political discourse? How would you rate them for humour, style and effectiveness?
Comments: (4)
ok last post i make hehe, I am tired of the political adds that say, 'oh look at me im better than him because he didnt do this, but i promise i will'. Now, that reminds an AWFUL lot of my 2 next door neighbours... and their 6 and 5... Tell me why are our leaders acting like children... I think that they should start telling us What they Are going to do, when there going to do it, and what will happen if they dont do it, no more bickering, and argurin, and finger pointing like a bunch of elementry students. (no offence to the kids) thank you bye
Posted October 10, 2007 09:43 PM
I like the ads better than Dalton McGuinty hanging around the elementry schools. Shouldn't they be in class.
Posted October 7, 2007 05:19 PM
I'm tired of the platform ads. I'd like to see more independant opinion advertising.
Parties will always portray themselves to look better than their opponents. That's what advertising is designed to do.
People need to hear people's opinions, and that is not something that will ever be reflected in a Party ad. Perhaps it needs to dissappear altogether, because it isn't the party you are buying into... it's the message written by their Advertising company. After all, some ads are just better than others.
Posted October 5, 2007 12:49 PM
I'm tired of the Liberal vs. Conservative ads. We see this in all elections and it is time for both parties to tell us their own platforms, not attack their rivals'.
Posted October 2, 2007 06:30 PM