Democrat Foster Campbell is a long shot to win the Louisiana Senate race, and he's taking big gamble with his ad strategy: attacking Big Oil.
The oil industry is a major employer in Louisiana, but Campbell's latest spot criticizes oil companies for not spending on coastal preservation, and knocks his Republican opponent John Kennedy for taking their campaign contributions.
Using his opponent's full name, lest anyone think he's connected to the former president, Campbell says, "John Neely Kennedy is against that, because he's in the pocket of the big oil companies." An image of Kennedy's head is placed in a suit breast pocket stuffed with cash. "That's a shame. This is Louisiana's coast, and it belongs to our people."
The issue of the oil industry's environmental responsibility is a long-standing one for Campbell, running on the theme in several past, and unsuccessful, campaigns for Congress and governor. It's hard to see why his political consultants would think this time would be any different.
Oddly, one version of the ad, spotted by The Huffington Post, finished with Campbell saying he's "approves this message" while firing a shotgun, but another version on his YouTube channel and Facebook page ends with him caressing a baby. Presumably, the TV ad targets gun-friendly in-state voters, while the online version reaches potential out-of-state liberal donors who recoil at guns.
If a Democrat is to have a shot in Louisiana, he needs to be socially conservative on guns and abortion, which Campbell is. But that may not be enough in this Republican year.
The oil industry is a major employer in Louisiana, but Campbell's latest spot criticizes oil companies for not spending on coastal preservation, and knocks his Republican opponent John Kennedy for taking their campaign contributions.
Foster Campbell Wants Big Oil to Pay for Coastal Protection
Over aerial footage of the coastline, Campbell laments, "Every hour we lose a football field of land to erosion." Framing the environmental fight as an economic one, he says, "I've spent all my life fighting for working people and the middle class. I want the big oil companies that help damage our coast to pay for coastal restoration."Using his opponent's full name, lest anyone think he's connected to the former president, Campbell says, "John Neely Kennedy is against that, because he's in the pocket of the big oil companies." An image of Kennedy's head is placed in a suit breast pocket stuffed with cash. "That's a shame. This is Louisiana's coast, and it belongs to our people."
The issue of the oil industry's environmental responsibility is a long-standing one for Campbell, running on the theme in several past, and unsuccessful, campaigns for Congress and governor. It's hard to see why his political consultants would think this time would be any different.
Oddly, one version of the ad, spotted by The Huffington Post, finished with Campbell saying he's "approves this message" while firing a shotgun, but another version on his YouTube channel and Facebook page ends with him caressing a baby. Presumably, the TV ad targets gun-friendly in-state voters, while the online version reaches potential out-of-state liberal donors who recoil at guns.
If a Democrat is to have a shot in Louisiana, he needs to be socially conservative on guns and abortion, which Campbell is. But that may not be enough in this Republican year.