November 02, 2007
No More Mr. Nice Guys
Hillary Clinton is the target of the first personal attack ad of the primary season, but it's not being sponsored by one of her Democratic brethren. No, it's Mitt Romney who is taking the first hard-core shot at HRC in a 30-second spot called "Experience Matters," which starts airing in New Hampshire today. In it, Romney stresses that America can't afford a president who hasn't even "run a corner store." And he brings up the loaded 'I' word again: "The idea that she could learn to be president as an internship just doesn't make any sense."
Though John McCain had already smacked Hillary in a television spot for voting for the Woodstock museum, the Romney ad has a markedly different feel; it challenges her skills and character. And it's timing comes as Hillary struggles to rebound from her most mediocre debate performance to date.
Though the Romney ad is further proof of the GOP's desire to take her on, there's a hypocrisy inherent in the message. On the one hand on the campaign trail, the GOPers are pushing the story line that HRC botched health care, is too much of a Washington insider to bring change to the White House and represents the worst of the Bill Clinton administration. On the other, and in this spot in particular, they're working to stress her lack of executive experience.
Meanwhile John Edwards clearly sees opportunity in the week's Hillary bashing. His campaign released a You Tube spot called "The Politics of Parsing" today that shows Hillary hedging her answers to questions on Iraq, Social Security and driver's licenses for illegal immigrants. The Edwards video only uses footage from the Tuesday Democratic debate.
The text of the Romney ad after the jump:
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY: "Hillary Clinton wants to run the largest enterprise in the world. She hasn't run a corner store. She hasn't run a state. She hasn't run a city.
"She has never run anything. And the idea that she could learn to be President as an internship just doesn't make any sense.
"I have spent my life running things. I've learned how to run a business. I've learned how to run a state. I ran the Olympics. In each case, I've brought change.
"And if there's ever been a time we needed change in Washington to bring strength to America, it's now.
"I'm Mitt Romney and I approve this message."
Posted at 10:19 AM
Comments
I don't support Hillary in the primary (but if she wins the nomination will support her in the general) but still think this is stupid.
She is in her second term in the United States Senate. She ran organizations, and was a law partner. This is not an internship.
If Mitt is so sure that this is the wrong experience, have him attack his own state's John Kennedy. He hadn't run anything but did pretty well with the Cuban Missile Crisis.
NaR | 11.02.07 11:48 AM
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Romney is such a flip-flopper himself and has no credibility at all. The guy simply blows with the wind. Conservatives need people like Hunter and Huckabee.
Tim | 11.02.07 12:35 PM
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