Political ads and Attack ads - Best ones in recent memory?
September 17, 2024 3:44 PM Subscribe
What are the most memorable political commercials and attack ads?
Looking for memorable ads, that were very effective, very controversial, etc.
US is ideal, but other countries are fine too.
Any level of government is fine.
Looking for video - TV, internet, social media.
Recent is better - I'm less interested in ads from before 2000.
Thanks!
Looking for memorable ads, that were very effective, very controversial, etc.
US is ideal, but other countries are fine too.
Any level of government is fine.
Looking for video - TV, internet, social media.
Recent is better - I'm less interested in ads from before 2000.
Thanks!
Gary Chambers (previously) knows how to make an ad, though unfortunately it didn't lead to an electoral victory.
37 Seconds
Scars and Bars
Stuck in the Middle (CW: gun violence)
A Real Life American Horror Story (CW: graphic depiction of at-home abortion)
America is Progressive
Wrong Place, Wrong Time (Unfortunate and much less serious CW: Slam poetry)
Historical Heroes
posted by papayaninja at 4:03 PM on September 17 [2 favorites]
37 Seconds
Scars and Bars
Stuck in the Middle (CW: gun violence)
A Real Life American Horror Story (CW: graphic depiction of at-home abortion)
America is Progressive
Wrong Place, Wrong Time (Unfortunate and much less serious CW: Slam poetry)
Historical Heroes
posted by papayaninja at 4:03 PM on September 17 [2 favorites]
I’m not a witch.
I’m nothing you’ve heard.
I’m you.
posted by moosetracks at 4:12 PM on September 17 [2 favorites]
I’m nothing you’ve heard.
I’m you.
posted by moosetracks at 4:12 PM on September 17 [2 favorites]
(Clearly going for “memorable” and “controversial,” not “best,” with this answer.)
posted by moosetracks at 4:16 PM on September 17
posted by moosetracks at 4:16 PM on September 17
Honestly flying “JD VANCE ❤️s OHIO STATE & PROJECT 2025” over a Michigan game was GOAT level campaigning.
posted by skookumsaurus rex at 4:36 PM on September 17 [1 favorite]
posted by skookumsaurus rex at 4:36 PM on September 17 [1 favorite]
The Political Experts React series from Pod Save America covers a lot of viral and otherwise noteworthy political ads.
posted by Gable Oak at 4:39 PM on September 17 [1 favorite]
posted by Gable Oak at 4:39 PM on September 17 [1 favorite]
Bernie Sanders's "America" was very effective as an ad in promoting his small-donor candidacy and claiming American heartland values for a socialist candidate. He didn't win, though!
posted by praemunire at 4:53 PM on September 17
posted by praemunire at 4:53 PM on September 17
There's a bear in the woods. So you better vote for Reagan.
posted by Rash at 5:43 PM on September 17 [1 favorite]
posted by Rash at 5:43 PM on September 17 [1 favorite]
When Congressman Paul Gosar's six siblings made an ad endorsing his opponent -- that was pretty amazing.
posted by virve at 6:45 PM on September 17 [4 favorites]
posted by virve at 6:45 PM on September 17 [4 favorites]
The ad that won NYC mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio the election
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:28 PM on September 17
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:28 PM on September 17
Just tried to find it, but it seems to have been taken off Youtube -
A 2012 ad, critical of Mitt Romney. It started with footage of Mitt Romney talking at one of his rallies or some other similarly sympathetic group, and he was throwing shade on Obama's environmental policy. At some point he says some punch-line kind of thing like "while I'm trying to fix the economy....Obama thinks he can fix the planet." The audience starts laughing and applauding that.
But then over the laughter and applause, they started showing footage of the damage from Hurricane Sandy, which had just recently hit; flooding subway tunnels, waves crashing over bridges, cars being washed down streets, flood victims crammed into school gyms - all of that set to the sound of this laughter and applause. Then the ad cut back to Mitt Romney back at the podium giving a smarmy grin, and the ad ended.
I remember seeing that and thinking "holy crap, Mitt just lost."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:41 AM on September 18
A 2012 ad, critical of Mitt Romney. It started with footage of Mitt Romney talking at one of his rallies or some other similarly sympathetic group, and he was throwing shade on Obama's environmental policy. At some point he says some punch-line kind of thing like "while I'm trying to fix the economy....Obama thinks he can fix the planet." The audience starts laughing and applauding that.
But then over the laughter and applause, they started showing footage of the damage from Hurricane Sandy, which had just recently hit; flooding subway tunnels, waves crashing over bridges, cars being washed down streets, flood victims crammed into school gyms - all of that set to the sound of this laughter and applause. Then the ad cut back to Mitt Romney back at the podium giving a smarmy grin, and the ad ended.
I remember seeing that and thinking "holy crap, Mitt just lost."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:41 AM on September 18
One of the most famous features a little girl. From LBJ's 1964 campaign against Barry Goldwater.
posted by SemiSalt at 4:37 AM on September 18 [2 favorites]
posted by SemiSalt at 4:37 AM on September 18 [2 favorites]
And the (surprisingly detailed) Wikipedia article on the Daisy ad SemiSalt posted.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 6:29 AM on September 18
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 6:29 AM on September 18
And the (surprisingly detailed) Wikipedia article on the Daisy ad SemiSalt posted.
Including a mention that Hilary Clinton asked the little girl, all grown up, to appear in an anti-Trump ad.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:41 AM on September 18
Including a mention that Hilary Clinton asked the little girl, all grown up, to appear in an anti-Trump ad.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:41 AM on September 18
Doors, MJ Hegar’s ad running for Congress in Texas in 2018. The ad went viral, she came close but did not win.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 10:39 AM on September 18 [1 favorite]
posted by TWinbrook8 at 10:39 AM on September 18 [1 favorite]
"Monster," released just yesterday.
Not sure how it fits your criteria, but it's the only ad that's ever made me cry, and I'm even crying just looking it up:
(CW: rape by family member)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHYeqeWl5-Q
posted by Jack Karaoke at 9:36 AM on September 19
Not sure how it fits your criteria, but it's the only ad that's ever made me cry, and I'm even crying just looking it up:
(CW: rape by family member)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHYeqeWl5-Q
posted by Jack Karaoke at 9:36 AM on September 19
Bush's 2004 windsurfing ad against Kerry was pretty effective at establishing the "flip-flopper" narrative
AOC's first big ad for her 2018 upset win against establishment Dem congressman Joe Crowley
Obama's hilarious 2012 "Big Bird" attack ad against Romney
Weirdest ads:
- Carly Fiorina's infamous "Demon Sheep" ad for the 2010 California Senate race
- UK PM (and MeFite!) Tom Watson does 5SecondFilms: Keeping You Warm and Keeping You Safe
- 2011 Tea Party attack ad on LA councilwoman Janice Hahn: "Give Me Your Cash, B*tch"
From the "beautiful losers" file:
Jason Kander assembles a rifle blindfolded from the 2016 Missouri senate race
See also: Come On, Ted from Beto O'Rourke's 2018 Texas senate race against Ted Cruz
And while it wasn't a traditional ad, the star-studded Obama "Yes We Can" video went mega-viral (in 2008 terms)
posted by Rhaomi at 10:06 AM on September 24
AOC's first big ad for her 2018 upset win against establishment Dem congressman Joe Crowley
Obama's hilarious 2012 "Big Bird" attack ad against Romney
Weirdest ads:
- Carly Fiorina's infamous "Demon Sheep" ad for the 2010 California Senate race
- UK PM (and MeFite!) Tom Watson does 5SecondFilms: Keeping You Warm and Keeping You Safe
- 2011 Tea Party attack ad on LA councilwoman Janice Hahn: "Give Me Your Cash, B*tch"
From the "beautiful losers" file:
Jason Kander assembles a rifle blindfolded from the 2016 Missouri senate race
See also: Come On, Ted from Beto O'Rourke's 2018 Texas senate race against Ted Cruz
And while it wasn't a traditional ad, the star-studded Obama "Yes We Can" video went mega-viral (in 2008 terms)
posted by Rhaomi at 10:06 AM on September 24
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posted by General Malaise at 4:00 PM on September 17 [2 favorites]