Want to know what a well financed campaign looks like? Meet Michael Skelly.
To date, Skelly has released two other ads-- "On Top" and "Kids".
Today the Skelly campaign launched a new television ad, titled "Keeping Faith," which focuses on Skelly's experience balancing budgets as a businessman and reiterates a pledge he signed yesterday, refusing all pay raises until the budget is balanced.
The other two ads are stand out ads, but this one is the most powerful so far. While "Kids" introduced Skelly to the state and country, "Keeping Faith" shows a candidate committed to press the incumbent Republican and make his voting record a problem, not an asset.
John Culberson has voted consistently in favor of receiving a Congressional pay raise. He voted seven times in eight years in favor of an increased salary. In that same time period, the federal budget went from having a record surplus to a $400 billion deficit.
The ad subtly focuses on some very key issues this cycle were Skelly has a clear advantage-- renewable energy, a commitment to managing our fledgling economy, and an understanding of what voters want.
Up until this point, Culberson has stayed in Washington to play political games during the summer recess designed for members of Congress to go back to their district and hear from their constituents. Culberson has refused to listen to voters, and instead has boasted about trips to meet with his friend George Bush.
Skelly on the other hand is making the budget a moral issue. He is staring directly in the camera and taking a pledge to work toward a balanced budget (one of the least sexy issues).
It is an interesting strategy and in the times of economic woes, balancing the budget might be the winning policy in this tough race.
