2004 Presidential Campaign Blog

"No Mr. President" New John Kerry 2004 TV Ad

John Kerry Launches New Television Ad in Iowa to Counter Republican Party Spot
“No Mr. President, America’s united Against Terror”

November  23,  2003 Washington, DC –

John Kerry will hit the airwaves on Monday in Iowa with a new television ad to fight back against a recent spot released by the Republican Party regarding George W. Bush’s handling of the war on terrorism.

Kerry spokesperson Stephanie Cutter said, “John Kerry believes that George Bush’s failed and flawed go-it-alone policies have made our country less safe and more vulnerable to terrorism.  As President, John will restore America’s leadership, rebuild our broken alliances, and get back to the war that counts—the war on terrorism. If George Bush wants to make this election about national security, John Kerry is ready to take him on.”
Today marks the fifth round of ads from John Kerry’s campaign in Iowa. The ad will be aired in every Iowa media market. It shows President Bush on the aircraft carrier with the “mission accomplished” banner in the background as well as a photo of the Halliburton headquarters.

Text of Ad:
Announcer: George Bush’s ad says he's being attacked for attacking the terrorists. No Mr. President, America is united against terror. The problem is you declared “mission accomplished” but you had no plan to win the peace, and handed out billions in contracts to contributors like Halliburton.

John Kerry: I’m John Kerry and I approved this message because we can't go it alone in Iraq. We have to share the burden with other countries.  We shouldn't be cutting education and closing firehouses in America while we're opening them in Iraq.

"Tough" New Dick Gephardt 2004 TV Ad

Gephardt Ad in Iowa Responds to Dean Attack

Des Moines, IA - The Gephardt for President campaign today unveiled a 30-second television ad that will begin running statewide in Iowa on Saturday, November 22. Entitled "Tough," the commercial responds to an attack ad launched by Howard Dean this week.

"This ad sets the record straight," said campaign manager Steve Murphy. "Howard Dean is attacking Dick Gephardt for a position Dean took himself. We can’t beat George Bush with this kind of double talk."

The script follows:

"Tough"

Announcer: Howard Dean’s attacking Dick Gephardt for a position Dean took himself.
Audio of Debate Moderator: "Is that an up or down, yes or no, on the $87 billion per se?"
Dean: "On the 87 billion dollars for Iraq?"
Moderator: "Yes."
Dean: "We have no choice, but it has to be financed by getting rid of all the president's tax cuts."
Chiron: New York City Democratic Debate 9/25/03
Dean: "I don’t think this Iraq disagreement frankly rises to the level of a big campaign issue and I don’t, I don’t intend to make whether you voted for it or against the supplemental appropriation a campaign issue."
Chiron: "Iowa Press" IPTV 10/19/03
Gephardt: "I’m Dick Gephardt and I approve this message because leadership is about making tough decisions and sticking with them."
Chiron: Paid for by Gephardt for President and Approved by Dick Gephardt

"Healthcare Courage" New John Kerry 2004 TV Ad

John Kerry Launches New Television Ad in New Hampshire
Stands Up to Drug Companies and Insurance Industries

November  20,  2003 Washington, DC –

John Kerry hit the airwaves today with a new television ad in New Hampshire. The 30-second ad highlights John Kerry's record of standing up to George W. Bush and his drug company friends and doing what’s right for America’s families.

John Kerry is fighting to provide Americans with quality affordable healthcare, the very same coverage that the President and Members of Congress give themselves. He is fighting to lower prescription drug prices by passing along to consumers the rebates giant drug wholesalers get from the drug manufacturers; getting more affordable generic drugs to the market, giving states the flexibility to negotiate better deals, and allowing people to buy quality drugs from Canada.

Kerry Senior Advisor Stephanie Cutter said, “Instead of George Bush’s raw deal, John Kerry is offering a real deal that stands up to the powerful interests. Through this new ad, New Hampshire voters will know that John Kerry is ready to take on the HMOs and drug companies and fight for affordable health care for all Americans.”

Text of Ad:
John Kerry:  George Bush believes that what’s good for the drug companies and insurance industries is good for America, and he's wrong!

Announcer: John Kerry.  He has the courage to take on the drug companies to lower prescription prices for everyone. He’s taking on the insurance industry to lower your costs and get all Americans covered. And his plan gives everyone access to the same health coverage as Members of Congress.

John Kerry: I'm John Kerry and I approved this message because your family’s healthcare is just as important as any politician’s in Washington.

"Story" New Wesley Clark 2004 TV Ad

Clark Commercials

General Wesley Clark has entered the television ad battle in New Hampshire. The first commercials of the campaign hit the airwaves Tuesday in the Granite State.

The Clark campaign will spend $220,000 in the first week's blitz airing the commercial on WMUR, the only broadcast affiliate in the state, and cable outlets in New Hampshire. The campaign plans to spend another $1 million before the January 27 primary.

To pay for the first week's ads, the Clark campaign has launched an online fundraising promotion on the Clark04.com website. Supporters can donate to a special New Hampshire fund that keeps the ads on the air.

This is consistent with the activist roots of the campaign. Clark decided to run for President after a group of supporters used the internet to raise money and increase awareness of the General over the summer. This strong base of support has allowed the Clark campaign to hit the ground running and compete with candidates who have been running TV ads for months.

Ad Script:

Voice: The first bullet shattered his
hand.  The second and third hit his shoulder and leg.  As he hit the jungle floor, he rallied the troops and directed the firefight.  He remained with his unit until the battle was over. 
Now when we need a leader to clean up the mess in Iraq, he's the one who has done it.  In the Balkans he helped negotiate a peace between bitter enemies and led a multinational force that stopped a campaign of terror, liberated a people and brought peace without the loss of a single American soldier. 
He speaks four languages, but his actions speak more eloquently than words. 
He can get our country moving on jobs and health care. 
A quiet, real American courage, in a man who cares first about the people he leads. 
Wes Clark's life is simply an American story, but he will make an extraordinary American president. 

Clark: I'm Wes Clark and I approve this message.

"Bio" New Howard Dean 2004 TV Ad

11/17/03 (00:30)
Ad - "Bio" - Campaign ad profiling the Governor's life.

Narrator: He took classes at night to get into medical school. Worked in emergency room in the Bronx. And with his wife Judy, Howard Dean became a family doctor, hoping to make a difference one life at a time. He became Governor under the worst of circumstances and earned a reputation as a maverick and independent by turning a deficit into a surplus, creating jobs, raising the minimum wage twice and balancing budgets eleven years in a row. And while Washington talked, Howard Dean provided health care for nearly every child in his state and a prescription drug benefit for seniors. Now he is running for president to repeal the Bush tax cuts. restore a foreign policy that reflects American values and break the special interest gridlock to provide health insurance for every American.
Dean: We can stop the special interests, but not without your help. I'm Howard Dean and I approved this ad, because the truth is, the power to change this country is in your hands, not mine.

"Caucus" New Howard Dean 2004 TV Ad

11/17/03 (00:30)
Ad - "Caucus" - Campaign ad showing the amazing momentum of the campaign.

Narrator: Something different's happening.
Dean: The biggest lie that gets said at election time is if you elect me I'm going to solve all your problems.
Narrator:  Hundreds of thousands are joining together to take our country back from corporate special interests.
Dean: The truth is that the power to change this country is in your hands, not mine.
...We need jobs in America...Health insurance for every single American...
Narrator: On January 19th you can change America.
Dean: I'm Howard Dean and I approve this message because it's time to take our country back.

"The Courage To Take On Bush And The Special Interests" New John Kerry 2004 TV Ad

John Kerry Launches Iowa Ad Blitz
"The Courage to Take On Bush and the Special Interests"

November  17,  2003

John Kerry hit the airwaves today with a new television ad in Iowa.  In the 30-second ad, Kerry commits to the people of Iowa that he will continue to stand up to George W. Bush and the corporate polluters he defends, and fight for a cleaner, healthier and more secure America that's independent of foreign oil.

The ad -- which will be aired in every Iowa media market -- highlights John Kerry's record of doing what is right by fighting big oil and other powerful special interests and ensuring a healthy environment and a sound economy for America's families.  Today's ad is the second in just two weeks Kerry has released in Iowa.  Last week, the campaign launched an ad touting John Kerry's leadership and experience in foreign policy, national security and working with our allies in the pursuit of peace. 
Kerry Senior Advisor Stephanie Cutter said, "John Kerry is ready to fight and determined to win this race, and this Iowa ad offensive is just one more way we are reaching out to voters in Iowa to communicate John Kerry's vision for a stronger and safer America.  In the end, voters will know that John is the one candidate who will fight the powerful special interests, put the nation back on the path to prosperity, and will beat George Bush."

Text of the ad:
Announcer: George Bush- he let corporate lobbyists rewrite our environmental laws, sided with polluters not taxpayers.

And now he’s trying to rollback the Clean Air Act.

John Kerry.  He stopped George Bush and the oil companies from drilling in the Artic and he has a plan for energy independence.

John Kerry: I want to develop alternative fuels and more efficient cars. We’ll create 500,000 new jobs

and we’ll never have to send young Americans to war for Mid East oil again.

Announcer: John Kerry. The courage to do what’s right.

John Kerry: I’m John Kerry and I approved this message

Iowa Democratic Party Jefferson Jackson Day Dinner

John Kerry unveiled the "Real Deal" theme at the JJ Dinner emceed by Hillary Rodhan Clinton. John Kerry and Howard Dean had the largest presence at the dinner, followed by John Edwards. Dick Gephardt, with the help of organized labor, held a large rally outside, but the decision to not have more of a presence inside the Vetrerans Auditorium may have created an opening for John Kerry and John Edwards. During introductions of the candidates, Howard Dean appeared in the crowd surrounded by red & blue signs that read  "A New Day for Democrats." He gave a fiery speech stating "You have the power" as he pointed to various sections of the auditorium. The campaign built a large organization and looked unstoppable.

"Different View" New Howard Dean 2004 TV Ad

11/14/03 (00:30)
Ad - "Different View" - Only Gov. Dean has been consistent.

Narrator: October 2002. Dick Gephardt agrees to co-author the Iraq war resolution - giving George Bush the authority to go to war. A week later, with Gephardt's support, it passes Congress. Then, last month, Dick Gephardt votes to spend $87 billion more on Iraq. Howard Dean has a different view.
Dean: I opposed the war in Iraq, and I'm against spending another $87 billion there.  I'm Howard Dean and I approved this message because our country and our party need new leadership.

"Focus" New Joe Lieberman 2004 TV Ad

November 14, 2003

LIEBERMAN CAMPAIGN UNVEILS NEW N.H. AD

ARLINGTON, VA -- Joe Lieberman�s campaign today unveiled a new television ad airing in New Hampshire, in which Lieberman says he wants to focus the campaign on the issues that matter most to Americans expanding health care, giving tax cuts to the overburdened middle class, and protecting Social Security.

The ad, featuring Lieberman speaking from a diner, continues a series called On the Road with Joe. The ads show Lieberman confronting issues currently on the minds of the American people, and are intended to have a sense of immediacy in responding to the latest headlines. 

The ad will begin airing in New Hampshire today and may also be viewed by visiting joe2004.

In the 30-second ad, Focus, Lieberman faces the camera and says, The charges are flying back and forth in this campaign.  I don'''t think it's right to have raised a divisive symbol like the confederate flag.  Or to give up on principles like limiting the amount of money in campaigns, as John McCain and I have fought for.  I'm Joe Lieberman and I approve this message to focus this campaign on expanded access to health care, tax cuts for 98% of taxpayers, and deficit reduction to protect Social Security.  That would be a fresh start.