Clinton's '3 a.m.' Ad Won Few Converts, Survey Finds
By Aaron Blake, The Hill ~ Despite all the hoopla over Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s (D-N.Y.) “3 a.m.” ad, political insiders say she suffers from a lack of credibility in the spot, and independents were not swayed by her message, according to a new survey.
The ad, which questions whom people would want to answer a phone ringing in the White House during the early morning hours when “something’s happening in the world,” has crystallized Clinton’s argument that Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) lacks experience.
A survey of 220 political insiders by Wilson Research Strategies of Washington and Oklahoma City, however, shows reviewers gave the ad a 4.3 out of 10 for its credibility and a 4.5 for its appeal. Independents were especially harsh, giving it a 4.4 overall.
Some observers have argued that such attacks on Obama might backfire in the general election.
A Zogby poll this week showed Americans, by a wide margin, would rather have GOP nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) answer the 3 a.m. call than either Democrat. McCain led Clinton 55-37 and Obama 56-35 in that category, while Clinton and Obama were virtually tied.
Republicans and Democrats rated the ad highly for strength of message and memorability, and each gave it a 5.6 overall.
Obama’s response ad, in which he lays out his foreign-policy credentials and his vote against the Iraq war over the sound of the ringing phone, earned slightly higher marks, including a 5.8 overall from Democrats and a 5.3 from independents.
“Clinton’s 3 a.m. ad is not as effective as media coverage made it out to be,” said Wilson political director Tyler Harber.
The ad, which questions whom people would want to answer a phone ringing in the White House during the early morning hours when “something’s happening in the world,” has crystallized Clinton’s argument that Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) lacks experience.
A survey of 220 political insiders by Wilson Research Strategies of Washington and Oklahoma City, however, shows reviewers gave the ad a 4.3 out of 10 for its credibility and a 4.5 for its appeal. Independents were especially harsh, giving it a 4.4 overall.
Some observers have argued that such attacks on Obama might backfire in the general election.
A Zogby poll this week showed Americans, by a wide margin, would rather have GOP nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) answer the 3 a.m. call than either Democrat. McCain led Clinton 55-37 and Obama 56-35 in that category, while Clinton and Obama were virtually tied.
Republicans and Democrats rated the ad highly for strength of message and memorability, and each gave it a 5.6 overall.
Obama’s response ad, in which he lays out his foreign-policy credentials and his vote against the Iraq war over the sound of the ringing phone, earned slightly higher marks, including a 5.8 overall from Democrats and a 5.3 from independents.
“Clinton’s 3 a.m. ad is not as effective as media coverage made it out to be,” said Wilson political director Tyler Harber.
posted by Mike McCarville @ 10:24 PM
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