As the highest-ranking Republican in Louisiana outside of the outgoing governor, Sen. David Vitter was expected to have an easy time making a lateral move to Louisiana's governor's mansion.
But an August poll shows him struggling to break out, tied at 21 percent with fellow Republican Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle, and behind Democratic State Rep. John Bel Edwards. (All candidates compete on a single ballot in Louisiana, with the top two, regardless of party, moving to a runoff if no one wins a majority.)
So Vitter, who has more campaign money than all the other candidates combined, decided he couldn't wait until the fall to get on the air.
But putting him on both sides of the screen makes it look like Vitter, a longtime politician, is one of the incumbents responsible for the current "budget mess."
Complicating matters, the current governor is a fellow Republican, Bobby Jindal. Insiders know that there is a bitter rivalry between Vitter and Jindal, and Vitter's swipes at the status quo are implicit potshots at Jindal. But the average Louisiana voter may only recognize that they are both in the same party, and consider them both part of the problem.
Vitter has been slow to engage, staying on the advertising sidelines while Angelle has owned the airwaves. Now that they're neck and neck, Vitter may need to sharpen his pitch.
But an August poll shows him struggling to break out, tied at 21 percent with fellow Republican Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle, and behind Democratic State Rep. John Bel Edwards. (All candidates compete on a single ballot in Louisiana, with the top two, regardless of party, moving to a runoff if no one wins a majority.)
So Vitter, who has more campaign money than all the other candidates combined, decided he couldn't wait until the fall to get on the air.
But the set-up of his first TV ad, "Today Tomorrow" is... awkward.
We see a split screen, each with Vitter. The one on the left stands under dark clouds, the other sunny skies. The point is to show that Vitter will lead Louisiana to brighter days, with a budget plan that "ends the waste" "expand[s] advanced skills training" to help people get jobs and "raise[s] teacher pay."But putting him on both sides of the screen makes it look like Vitter, a longtime politician, is one of the incumbents responsible for the current "budget mess."
Complicating matters, the current governor is a fellow Republican, Bobby Jindal. Insiders know that there is a bitter rivalry between Vitter and Jindal, and Vitter's swipes at the status quo are implicit potshots at Jindal. But the average Louisiana voter may only recognize that they are both in the same party, and consider them both part of the problem.
Vitter has been slow to engage, staying on the advertising sidelines while Angelle has owned the airwaves. Now that they're neck and neck, Vitter may need to sharpen his pitch.