Thursday, Dec. 09, 2010
John McCain, "J.D. Huckster"
It's unclear whether we're watching a political ad or a late-night infomercial in the first moments of this spot from John McCain. And that's exactly what makes it so effective. The Arizona Senator, facing a primary challenge from former Congressman and radio host J.D. Hayworth, pulled a clip from the Tea Partyer's days as a spokesman for a shady company that promised "free government money." The spot hoisted him by his own small-government petard, simultaneously charging ideological hypocrisy and showing Hayworth at his most unsenatorial. Like the infomercial, Hayworth's once powerful primary challenge proved too good to be true. McCain cruised to an easy victory aided in part by this ad.