I listen to Sox on WEEI and Gabs has a pretty big ad buy there.
Gabs tells that he doesn’t have gimmicks but really wants to govern – won’t use the job as a launching pad for higher office.
Specific proposals:
1. multiyear budgets
2. “top to bottom reviews” of every department
3. town meetings
4. getting more state business done online
Not bad. But not inspired.
His tone and the music are pleasant, almost cuddly, though – evokes a kind uncle, not a fighter. And none of his 4 proposals would seem to juice voters.
I suppose the intent to present him as a reasonable, capable guy who will take a “business” approach to gov’t.
Anybody heard these ads? What would you rate them on a 1 to 10 scale?
Please share widely!
For disclosure purposes, I am planning on voting for Chris. I like the ad and I agree it is a big buy based on the fact that I have also heard it on WEEI, Air America and WBZ. Also for the record, Chris does not need the radio ad to present himself as a “reasonable, capable guy” as you put it. Chris’life, accomplished business record and tireless work on after school programs and stem cell research demonstrate unequivocably the fact that he is a very good, intelligent and caring man who is both “reasonable and capable.” A man who would bring to the corner office the business backround that so many voters find appealing but one who is authentic, committed to many worthy social issues and straightforward consequently lacking the slickness of Romney and others. You indicate that Gabs’ specific proposals are “not bad but not inspired”. With all due respect, I think you miss the point. Running government processes, agencies and bureaucracies in an efficient manner is not glamorous or inspirational. It takes a practical approach and hard work. These proposals are practical solutions to solve some of the governments’ inefficiencies. Most importantly, since you remember this ad and the specifics of what it stated, it is obviously very effective.
The ad is meant to build a sense of trust in Gabrieli’s ability to turn the state around, not shock and awe. I agree with what greencape wrote.
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Other candidates in the race may be flashier or belt out a passionate speech full of liberal red meat, but none of theatre means a thing if you lack the skills and experience needed to govern.
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Chris Gabrieli has what’s needed to be an effective governor and a record to back it up.
Anyone with enough interest in politics to read BMG is not a normal voter. So while you like his style, and the ad conveys that style, that’s not really an answer.
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The same with me – the fact that I remember an ad means nothing….I’m not a normal voter, I’m weird enough to post on this website, too!
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An effective ad in a primary means: to what degree is it effective with WEEI listeners who don’t know him?
my brother who is a very conservative I, is impressed by Gabs and his spots. He doesn’t really follow politics and usually votes R so when he brought it up I was a bit surprised, many of his inlaws were talkin about Gabrielli also, a very unusual topic of dicsussion for his family functions.
…so you guys spoiled it for me. Ya, not bad but not inspiring. But, that’s OK. With Deval in the race, cede the inspiring and maybe claim “folksy” or “akward policy wonk”. On that level, I’d give the radio ads a high mark-an 8. Chris is having a friendly conversation with voters–one sided sure–but I can picture thousands of people in their cars having a conversation with Chris in their heads, while they sit in traffic or work outside, listening to the Sox.
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And, leftisright, don’t fall off your chair, because I’m goiing to agree with you…I’ve heard direct (and indirect) feedback from regualr folks that Chris’ TV ads are working and I expect the radio ads will have similar impact.
Straight and to-the-point, with a calm and friendly tone.
worry that we’re all raising all three candidates to ridiculous pedestals? Deval is the next MLK/RFK, Reilly is the scrappy underdog and Gabrieli is now giving FDR styled fire-side chats in the form of 30 second ad spots?
I don’t think they’re good at all. Ther is meat there. Vague ideas are ok, but he has to flesh yjem out soon, or he’s going to be toast.
If as you say Gabs is toast, then Deval is burnt toast. Last time that I checked Deval was pulling up the rear in the most recent poll and Gabs was in the lead. You seem to think that because Deval was the favorite amongst 58% of the 4600 people or 2660 people who attended the Dem convention that he is the favorite to win the primary. Present reality and history would beg to differ with you.
As I’ve been mulling this over, here’s what is fascinating about Gabs’ ad (when I saw “fascinating”, I mean only for uber-dorky folks who actually follow political ads):
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He is entirely focused on management, not on policy.
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That is, there is NOTHING about schools. Energy. Roads. Taxes. Health care.
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He’s basically saying – and I find this personally appealing, but don’t see how it galvanizes voters – that even if we keep all status quo policies, he’ll make them work much better.
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This is a non-partisan report card of all 50 states in terms of how well each one manages. MA gets a C+. Others – like Virginia, Kentucky, Minnesota – do much better.
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Seen through that lens, Gabs is THE ANSWER. Let’s stipulate that, if elected, this is how he would govern.
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My question is just: is that message how you win a primary?
Don’t the voters need to hear a message in order to vote for one. Gabs has been the lone voice on the airwaves. I think his messages have been very effective based on what I hear from “average Joes”. This fact seems to be supported by other bloggers less favorably disposed to Gabs than I am. By the time Deval gets on the air his message will by drowned out by many other messages.
I would personally give it a 5 out of 10, its very mediocre and the ideas are too small for what a governor should do, how will he fix health care? How will he implement the new law? How will he work with the legislature? What are his positions on crucial issues? Remember being vague on what you would do killed John Kerry in 2004 and it would kill Gabs in 2006, as for what the average voter thinks both of my parents are leaning towards Deval but my dad likes the ads that Chris has put out so Ill give it a general rating of 7 out of 10. Deval also has to get off his high horse and spend money on ads, I understand that building a grassroots campaign can work wonders but he needs to get statewide exposure too. Also where are Reilly’s ads, I thought he had the most money?