IA-SEN

Grassley Ad Features Twitter, Texting -- And Nose-Piercing (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | September 13, 2010, 2:57PM

Ad from Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), "Grassley Works for Us - Twitter"

Check out this fun new ad from Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), who is expected to easily steamroll to a sixth term this year. It really does seem to be a truly rare instance of an older man trying to look cool for the younger generation -- and maybe just succeeding.

The ad opens with two older women worrying that Grassley has something called a "twitter," possibly believing it be some kind of dire medical condition -- when in fact, of course, it refers to the 76-year-old Senator's well-known usage of the popular website, complete with the shorthand and slang used by teenagers.

"I like to use new technologies like Twitter and Facebook, just to keep in touch -- and meetings in 99 counties, every year," Grassley says to the camera, along with visuals of his fingers working on a BlackBerry. "I'll tweet, I'll text, I'll do whatever it takes. I work for you."

The ad then closes with a visual that might never have been seen before in a Republican ad -- a young woman with a nose-piercing, depicted in a positive manner, declaring that Grassley works "for us." Remember that infamous Club For Growth ad in Iowa in 2004, ridiculing Howard Dean's supporters as a bunch of body-piercers? We've come a long, long way.

The TPM Poll Average gives Grassley a lead of 55.1%-34.6% over Democratic nominee Roxanne Conlin.

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