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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: gamesmistress who wrote (23409)	1/7/2004 9:18:02 PM
From: LindyBill	Respond to of 793600

Ads Highlight Old Themes Three Democrats Get Down to Specifics in Latest TV Spots By Howard Kurtz Washington Post Staff Writer Wednesday, January 7, 2004; Page A05 Three leading Democratic presidential candidates are launching new television spots this week, but they seem designed more to reinforce their messages and target certain constituencies than to change the dynamics of the race. Rep. Richard A. Gephardt (Mo.) is trumpeting his opposition to international trade agreements. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (Conn.) cites his plan for paid family and medical leave. And former Vermont governor Howard Dean touts his health care record and opposition to the war in Iraq. "It shows how niche-oriented the campaign has become," said Darrell West, a Brown University professor who studies political ads. "In some elections there is one issue that is the 800-pound gorilla -- in '92 it was 'the economy, stupid' -- and everything else pales in comparison. This is an election with a lot of issues but no dominant one." Dean's image is so well established, West said, that for his rivals "it's going to be difficult to tear down Dean through advertising." A new Iowa ad for Gephardt says that "one candidate for president voted against NAFTA and the China trade agreement." Gephardt says that he will "push for an international minimum wage and raise our minimum wage," adding: "It's fair to our workers, and it's right for workers everywhere." Gephardt aides say the spot is aimed at farmers and union members who have been hurt by global competition, a theme that could also resonate in textile-heavy South Carolina. Other candidates have tried to blunt that message by calling for fairer trade agreements. Lieberman yesterday unveiled a New Hampshire ad that says: "He's the only one who's promised a new cut in tax rates for the middle class, not tax increases. The only one fighting for paid family and medical leave. He's the only one who's consistently taken a clear stand against terrorism and tyranny." Other candidates "have opposed terrorism and tyranny at different times," said Lieberman strategist Mandy Grunwald but not as "consistently" as the Connecticut Democrat. Dean seems content to recycle some of his oldest themes. A new ad in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina boasts that in Vermont he provided health care for most children and "a prescription drug benefit for seniors" -- a key voting bloc -- and "will repeal the Bush tax cuts to provide health insurance for every American." Dean's campaign, however, has said he would cover 30 million of the estimated 44 million uninsured Americans. A second Dean ad, airing in Iowa, says: "When some Democrats were supporting the war and defending Bush tax cuts, one candidate for president stood up to George Bush." The harshest ad this week is scheduled to debut today in Iowa as part of a $100,000 buy by the conservative Club for Growth. The group, which previously slammed Dean for promising to repeal the Bush tax cuts, uses ridicule in a couple's conversation. The man declares, "Howard Dean should take his tax-hiking, government-expanding, latte-drinking, sushi-eating, Volvo-driving, New York Times-reading . . ." His wife picks up the litany: "Hollywood-loving, left-wing freak show back to Vermont, where it belongs." Stephen Moore, the club's president, said the "humorous" spot may not hurt Dean with Democratic primary voters. "To us it's the first general election ad," he said. "We're taking it as a foregone conclusion that Dean is going to skate through the primaries unscathed." © 2004 The Washington Post Company