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Early in the presidential campaign, multiple Democrats jumped into the race with online videos that sounded a lot alike. They echoed a similar theme about listening to voters.

Now several months into the contest, the two leading Democrats in the field and one of the top Republicans are preaching another message. It’s a message that is as trite and true in presidential elections as red, white and blue campaign signs: change.

The “Ready For Change” ad of Democrat Hillary Clinton focuses on her work on behalf of families, children and veterans, as well as her vows to end the war in Iraq, provide health insurance for all Americans and achieve energy independence: “If we have the will, she has the strength. If we have the conviction, she has the experience. If we’re ready to change, she’s ready to lead.”

The “Change” ad of Democrat Barack Obama emphasizes his efforts to implement ethics reform, post federal spending details online and force lobbyists to disclose campaign contributions: “Barack Obama believes government should work for people, and together we can make that happen.”

And the “Change Begins With Us” ad from Republican Mitt Romney looks inward to the GOP’s reputation with voters: “If we’re going to change Washington, Republicans have to put our own house in order” by halting big spending, preventing illegal immigration and adhering to strict ethical standards. “When Republicans act like Democrats, America loses.”

Categories: Producer's Picks, Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, AdWatch

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Categories: Senate, Illinois, Sen. Barack Obama, Presidency 2008, Barack Obama

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Through no fault of his own, Sen. Barack Obama is seeing his name attached to negative ad after negative ad in the early months of the 2008 presidential campaign.

The most prominent is the “Vote Different” online video that paints one of Obama’s chief rivals, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., as the leader of zombie-like cult. That one hit close to the Obama campaign when the anonymous creator of the video, Phil de Vellis, was exposed as an Internet consultant to the campaign.

The ad closed by referring viewers to the campaign site for Obama, D-Ill. De Vellis said that neither the Obama campaign nor his employer, Blue State Digital, knew he had created the video, and he was fired from his job. Once his identity was known, de Vellis predicted: “This ad was not the first citizen ad, and it will not be the last. The game has changed.”

And indeed it has — especially for Obama, who may have to spend an inordinate amount of time distancing himself from online ads that attack his rivals. The latest examples target Clinton and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. (Ironically, the anti-Clinton ad is running at the Capitol Hill Broadcasting Network alongside a PollingPoint.com ad that asks whether voters support her — and the anti-McCain ad is paired with an ad that directs people to McCain’s Web site.)

The anti-Clinton ad, titled “Say No To Hillary,” recalls the sex scandal that led to the impeachment of her husband, former President Bill Clinton. “If she can’t control her husband,” the 30-second spot asks, “how can she possibly run the country?”

The jab at McCain, dubbed “Vote Different: No McCain,” focuses on his support for the war in Iraq and the policies of President Bush there. “John McCain — wrong on defense, wrong for America,” it says.

Both videos direct viewers to BarackObama.com. It could be a long campaign for Obama if the people who presumably support him keep working hard to make his name synonmous with negative advertising.

Categories: New York, Arizona, Illinois, Producer's Picks, Iraq, Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. John McCain, Sen. Barack Obama, Presidency 2008, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John McCain, AdWatch

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Get the latest word on the Democratic presidential primary battle, specifically the highs of New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and the lows of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.

Plus an early look at the New Hampshire Senate race in 2008, and a report on how conservative bloggers reacted to Focus on the Family’s James Dobson favoring former House Speaker Newt Gingrich over former Sen. Fred Thompson as a potential presidential standard-bearer for Republicans in 2008.

Oh, and please don’t let your children do the “Rove Rap” at home. Watch and you’ll know why:

Categories: New York, Illinois, Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. Barack Obama, Presidency 2008, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, HotlineTV, Newt Gingrich

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Remember that “conversation” Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton started when she officially began considering a 2008 White House run? Or the series of online conversations the New York Democrat has been holding periodically since then? They haven’t seemed much like conversations to her critics.

Well, now supporters of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, one of Clinton’s leading rivals for the Democratic nomination, are using Clinton’s “conversation” theme against her in an online video now spreading via YouTube.

The video, titled “Vote Different,” shows an auditorium full of zombie-like people entranced by an image of Clinton conversing. A woman being pursued by troopers flings a sledge hammer into the screen to snap the people (read: Democratic primary voters) out of their trance. The kicker text: “On January 14th, the Democratic primary will begin. And you’ll see why 2008 won’t be like ‘1984.’”

Categories: New York, Illinois, Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. Barack Obama, Presidency 2008, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama

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