Burnt Orange Report

Dean Campaign Shifts Gears..

By Byron LaMasters

The new theme is A Doctor Who's Delivered. The slogan reminds me of George Bush's slogan change after he lost New Hampshire to "reformer" John McCain. Afterwards, going into South Carolina, he (well Karen Hughes and Karl Rove) proclaimed himself to be a "Reformer with Results". As for Dean, his new theme (like Bush's SC theme) is heavy on biographical detail and focused on policy. It's an improvement, to say the least, but I don't think it's enough. We'll see..

Update: Howard Dean has a new ad in New Hampshire. It focuses on leadership, civil unions and standing up for what's right (opposing the war, again). I think that the idea for the ad is right - Howard Dean is a leader and he's a "Doctor that has Delivered", but the focus is off. He should focus on issues that more people can resonate with. The anti-war ads backfired in Iowa, and while this is a softer version of those, it's nothing new, and will likely have the same effect. The "Democrats were Silent" text at the end of the ad is more of the negativity that didn't work for Dean in Iowa. Does the Dean campaign get it? While signing the civil unions law was courageous, Dean would probably get more traction with an ad touting his work for health care for Vermont and focusing on his personal biography and family.

Update 2: Jim likes Dean's new ad. I don't really think that it does the trick. My thoughts aren't as negative as what Maura in VA says in a kos diary, but I agree with her more than I agree with Jim on this.