POLITICIAN ACCIDENTALLY AIRS POSITIVE AD
Commercial Praising Opponent Quickly Pulled
An Indiana candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives apologized to supporters last night for airing a so-called "positive ad" praising the attributes of his opponent in the race.
"Once I found out that this ad was airing, I pulled it immediately," candidate Bud Phelan told supporters last night at a rally in Gary. "Positive ads have no place in this or any political race."
Viewers across the state were shocked over the weekend when the Phelan ads praising Phelan's opponent, Carlton Burriss, began airing.
Instead of the customary ominous drumbeats, unflattering black-and-white photos and damning quotes taken out of context that have become staples of negative ads, the spot stuck to the facts as it praised Mr. Burriss's ample qualifications and outstanding record.
Senior members of Mr. Phelan's party privately lambasted their candidate for airing the positive ad.
"If he's doing this positive junk now, it makes you wonder what he'll do in Washington," one party pro said.
In the Phelan camp, aides to the candidate were scrambling to explain the last-minute decision to "go positive."
"It was a total goof on our part," said one campaign staffer. "After all of the terrific negative ads we've run, though, it seems a shame to think that this campaign is going to be remembered for the one positive one that slipped out."
As of late last night, the Phelan campaign was working overtime to remedy the situation, producing an Election Day attack ad claiming that their opponent wants to raise taxes, kill senior citizens, and sleep with a pony.
***Borowtiz Reports****
Commercial Praising Opponent Quickly Pulled
An Indiana candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives apologized to supporters last night for airing a so-called "positive ad" praising the attributes of his opponent in the race.
"Once I found out that this ad was airing, I pulled it immediately," candidate Bud Phelan told supporters last night at a rally in Gary. "Positive ads have no place in this or any political race."
Viewers across the state were shocked over the weekend when the Phelan ads praising Phelan's opponent, Carlton Burriss, began airing.
Instead of the customary ominous drumbeats, unflattering black-and-white photos and damning quotes taken out of context that have become staples of negative ads, the spot stuck to the facts as it praised Mr. Burriss's ample qualifications and outstanding record.
Senior members of Mr. Phelan's party privately lambasted their candidate for airing the positive ad.
"If he's doing this positive junk now, it makes you wonder what he'll do in Washington," one party pro said.
In the Phelan camp, aides to the candidate were scrambling to explain the last-minute decision to "go positive."
"It was a total goof on our part," said one campaign staffer. "After all of the terrific negative ads we've run, though, it seems a shame to think that this campaign is going to be remembered for the one positive one that slipped out."
As of late last night, the Phelan campaign was working overtime to remedy the situation, producing an Election Day attack ad claiming that their opponent wants to raise taxes, kill senior citizens, and sleep with a pony.
***Borowtiz Reports****
