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Rubio Ties Crist To Obama In New Web Ad For Florida GOP Senate Primary
Former Florida state House Speaker Marco Rubio, who is running a conservative primary challenge in the Republican Senate primary against moderate Gov. Charlie Crist, is all set to use Crist's support for the stimulus bill against him. Rubio now has this new Web ad, tying Crist directly to President Obama:
As Greg Sargent says: "It isn't every day that a politician seeks to turn a race into a referendum on his opponent's support for a President with an approval rating in the 60s, but these aren't ordinary times for today's GOP."
Obama might be popular with most Americans right now, but he's unpopular with the people who count in this race: The folks who will be voting in that Republican primary.
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Josh
Matt
Eric
An excerpt from this cross-posted comment:
Speculation?
May 12, 2009 2:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ehhhh, don't agree. That image looks like two images clumsily juxtaposed, and the swirling motion made me slightly queasy.
If the makers of the ad had really wanted to throw out the "He's gay!!" innuendo, aren't there images of Obama and Crist embracing? And the ominous music should be dumped.
But then, what do I know? I'm not a homophobic ultra conservative Republican voter, voting in the Florida primary.
Which will be when, exactly? Over a year from now?
Seriously?
May 12, 2009 2:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Its never too early to protect your party's purity of essence from thought-criminals, comrade.
May 12, 2009 3:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fluoridation is the key to health-care reform.
May 12, 2009 5:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, he's right, fella. The kiss suggestion is there, the dance approximation. This stuff works on many complicated levels -- you need to hear how film people think, it's beyond wild. Here they're not saying anybody's gay (thought it's got those lovely overones), that's not the point. It's that special trust, that true closeness... Crist tenderly placing his fate and his state's fate and his grandchildren's fate, with giddy feelings of joy, into the caressing hands of the Usurper. The *Black* Usurper, for all you Floridian Republican bigots out there!
Ooooh, I *love* this! MARIO IS MY MAN! WIN WITH MARIO AND TOOMEY!! :) MARIO, MARIO, MARIO!
May 12, 2009 3:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, you're right on the head (sorry) as I say below. Plus, love that soundtrack! (Can I get that as my mobile ringer I wonder?) Ooooh, Marco, I wantcha to rock this Crist's world!
May 12, 2009 3:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, **MARCO**, my new hero! MARCO, MARCO, MARCO!!!
May 12, 2009 3:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, man. Thanks for the laugh.
But I remain unconvinced.
And here's why. There's no question that brief exposure (say, less than 50 msec) to stimuli can influence reaction times in visual cognition tasks. From there, you could extrapolate that maybe, just maybe, that influence could extend weeks (there's some evidence that it can), months, or, in this case, over a year. You could, but I think, lacking any evidence to the contrary, that it would be a stretch.
Leaving aside the question of how long such an effect can last, let's consider the stimuli in question. The swirling images could act as a visual mask, thereby diminishing any impact the image of Obama and Crist has.
A more effective ad would probably be one in which the swirls were dropped altogether.
Although I think the purpose behind them was to make viewers think PAISLEY! And I think we all know what that means.
May 12, 2009 3:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
OK, forget the swirlies and forget the dance. And pardon my misuse of the word subliminal. Just look at the expression on Obama's face. Eyes closed, lips pursed. It really does suggest to me that they're about to kiss. OTOH, AIUI YMMV (depending on tire inflation).
May 12, 2009 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think in the still photo that Kos has, you're absolutely right. I just didn't get that sense from this clip.
What's AIUI YMMV mean?
Signed,
Hopelessly clueless.
May 12, 2009 5:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, you're right on the head (sorry) as I say below. Plus, love that soundtrack! (Can I get that as my mobile ringer I wonder?) Ooooh, Marco, I wantcha to rock this Crist's world!
May 12, 2009 3:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nice, so Rubio wins the primary by firing up the base, but loses the general by (a) turning off the Indys and firing up the base, or (b) turning off the base and getting the Indys.
(Hmm...that sounds like the generic GOP problem.)
May 12, 2009 4:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here’s the video of Crist announcing his bid for the Senate. I’m curious to see how, if at all, Crist’s prominent appearance in the documentary ‘Outrage’ will affect his campaign.
http://www.gotchamediablog.com/2009/05/charlie-crist-announces-bid-for-senate.html
May 12, 2009 5:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Who are the Dem candidates in Florida. If Rubio would be seen to have a legitimate chance against the eventual Dem candidate, I think he has a real chance to get the nod over Crist, in fact I think Crist might be forced out of the way. Rubio is young, photogenic, and non-white - three things the GOP is in desperate need of.
I think Crist will keep the big name Dems out of the race because he'd be a shoo-in if he wins the GOP primary. If Rubio beat Crist, he'd be running against second-string Dems.
At least Crist will claim the moderate ground in the primary, forcing Rubio into wingnut territory.
May 12, 2009 6:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let's not forget that, just like here in upstate NY, there are many areas in rural Florida with a significant number of people who are registered as Republicans primarily because that helps in getting along with local/county officials (If you're a registered Republican, your tax assessment won't be raised, or similar off the radar influences.). Given a choice between Crist and Rubio, they'll vote for Crist.
May 12, 2009 7:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Another possibility is that Rubio isn't really planning on winning this seat, but is raising his profile to go after Nelson in 2012. His primary attack on Crist will actually help Crist win as he'll be painted as a mushy moderate and certified "Obama luver". Come 2102 you'd have the then 70 year old Nelson up against the 41 year old Rubio.
Cornyn isn't no dummy.
May 12, 2009 7:33 PM | Reply | Permalink