Rick Noriega: Service

How close are we to the 800 donor goal? (0.00 / 0)

I see that the netroots ActBlue page is already 12% there by itself. 

When did the fund raising drive begin and when is the end date?

I'm personally contributing to the eventual nominee fundraising efforts because I'm currently more interested in stopping Cornyn than in the primary, but I'd like to see a vigorous primary, too.

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by: StopCornyn @ Tue Jul 31, 2007 at 14:02:25 PM CDT

We will end the occupation in Iraq (0.00 / 0)

That's exactly what we need.

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by: sonia @ Tue Jul 31, 2007 at 14:48:17 PM CDT

On the ad (0.00 / 0)

I'm not a fan of the voice. Too stuffy, it sounds like it being read froma script.

THe video also contains way too many browns, it could use more primary colors, specifically when Rick is on screen.

Nice first try though, esecially if it is just to get the name out. Definately not ready for tv though.

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by: trowaman @ Tue Jul 31, 2007 at 16:51:02 PM CDT

You have to consider the budget. This is pretty good for a shoe string (0.00 / 0)

budget video. 

This is certainly more than good enough to rally the faithful through internet distribution, and I doubt there will be much TV (if any) in the primary.

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by: SouthTexasDemocrat @ Tue Jul 31, 2007 at 17:04:38 PM CDT

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definitely better than sock puppets n/t (0.00 / 0)

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by: Joe @ Tue Jul 31, 2007 at 18:05:51 PM CDT

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Beg to Differ... (0.00 / 0)

Watts will have up at least a 2 week 2000 point buy statewide before the primary.  Honestly, it might be far north of that, but I'd bet that's the absolute basement of his buy.  He'll also have a full mail program, phone program, field program, etc.  In order to compete, Noriega will have to at least do half of this (I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt on name recognition in Houston).  Watts will have AMAZING production quality in his ads.  Noriega simply has to match, if he'll have any shot at looking "legitimate" to the mass voters out there who don't read blogs and get everything they know about candidates from the occasional newspaper article and, of course, TV commercials. 

I'm not saying this to disparage Noriega, I'm merely stating this primary will be on a level we haven't observed in Texas in a VERY long time.  Honestly, I REALLY hope Noriega can compete, because I think a hard fought primary will increase turnout and be amazingly good for party building!  Plus, it gives the candidate that emerges AMAZING momentum and buys a whole lot of earned media in the local news reports.

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by: David O. @ Tue Jul 31, 2007 at 21:47:26 PM CDT

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Just curious... (0.00 / 0)

who exactly are you differing with?  Who said that Watts wouldn't be able to saturate the airwaves?

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by: Indigo @ Tue Jul 31, 2007 at 22:09:05 PM CDT

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Differing with the above comment... (0.00 / 0)

The person who said there wouldn't be much TV in the primary...

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by: David O. @ Wed Aug 01, 2007 at 08:54:43 AM CDT

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I guess I misunderstood, lol (0.00 / 0)

I took his/her remarks concerning TV as a way of saying Noriega wouldn't be on TV, not Watts.

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by: Indigo @ Wed Aug 01, 2007 at 12:02:19 PM CDT

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AMAZING Production Quality? (0.00 / 0)

  You may well be right that Watts will blanket the airwaves before March.  But if he's going to have "AMAZING production quality," he and his media team are going to have to step it up a bit.  Here's an article from yesterday's Roll Call by the esteemed Stu Rothenberg:

Watts Video Shows He Has a Ways to Go in Texas
July 30, 2007
By Stuart Rothenberg,
Roll Call Contributing Writer

  Having watched thousands of campaigns over the past couple of decades, I have come to understand that the candidate you meet in July of the off-year is not always the same person you see again 15 months later. Candidates, and their campaigns, often improve with experience, and they start to look better if and when their opponents start to fade.
  Texas Senate hopeful Mikal Watts is getting plenty of attention these days because he has committed to putting as much as $10 million behind his bid for the Democratic nomination (against state Rep. Rick Noriega, a favorite of some in the party’s net roots) and his challenge to incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R).
  A number of weeks ago, I noted my skepticism about whether Cornyn is beatable next year, and I’m not yet ready to change that tune. Yes, the Senator’s job rating in one June survey wasn’t intimidating, but most Republicans, and more than a few Democrats, have seen their numbers slide as a result of the public’s dissatisfaction with the state of the nation. We don’t yet know what the situation will be like next October.
  But my doubts about Democratic prospects in the race don’t mean I am ignoring the contest. Being a handicapper requires that I re-evaluate and reassess. And if, at some point, I’m convinced Cornyn is in serious trouble, I’ll be more than happy to note it.
  I haven’t yet met Watts, so I have little to judge him by except for his campaign bank account — currently standing at more than $4 million — and his Web site.
  His money obviously is impressive. But money rarely is enough. If it were the only thing that mattered, Michael Huffington (R) would have been elected to the Senate from California in 1994, Al Checchi (D) would have been elected governor of that state in 1998 (or at least won the Democratic nomination), Blair Hull (D) would now be a senator from Illinois and Tony Sanchez (D) might have come close in his Texas gubernatorial bid in 2002.
  So Watts’ wallet gets my attention, but where do I look after that? His video is one of the few things on his Web site, other than a bunch of photographs of early campaign events, a bio and a donation form. So I watched it.
  The first half of the four-minute, 15 second video is straightforward enough. Watts introduces himself and talks about his education, his parents, his own family and his interest in public service. He’s a trial lawyer, so it’s not surprising that he’s poised, articulate and polished.
  The second half of the video probably is the silliest, most transparent attempt to deliver a message I have ever seen.
  Watts wants us to know that he is a “fighter” and a “leader,” and he apparently thinks that viewers of his video are a little dense. You’d either have to be in a coma or not understand English to miss Watts’ message. The Democratic hopeful uses a form of the word “fight” 11 times in the last two minutes and 15 seconds of the video. And he uses a form of the word “leader” another eight times during that same period.
  In one section of the video lasting 37 seconds, Watts uses the word “fighter” six times — an average of once every 6.17 seconds:
  “I have been a fighter my entire career, fighting for the rights of average, working families here in Texas. And I have proven that I will stay in that fight and give it my all until we win. Texans are looking for a Senator who is a leader, who will fight for them. Someone who will fight for families here in Texas rather than special interests there in Washington. I am certain that as we travel around the state and see more and more good Texans, that my message of real leadership and real change in Washington is a message that is going to hit home here in Texas. I am confident that Texans will join me in this fight.”
  There are plenty of attributes that voters want in their candidates. They certainly want leaders and, at least now, forces for change. I certainly wouldn’t criticize Watts or any candidate for mentioning them. It’s the way he talks about them that is so aggravating. It sounds as if he thinks he’s the first guy to run on those buzzwords.
  And there are other things in the video, such as his statement, “I have traveled around all portions of Texas, and I have talked to hundreds of Texans — hundreds and hundreds of them actually.”
  The 2006 U.S. Census Bureau estimate of the population of Texas was 23,507,783. Watts says that he has spoken to “hundreds and hundreds” of Texans. He might have waited until he had talked to at least “thousands and thousands” of Texans before deciding that he had an idea what people in the state want.
  Then there is his comment that Texans have “come to expect leaders” like Lyndon Johnson, not “partisans like John Cornyn.” Well, Cornyn may very well be a partisan, but Johnson wasn’t one? Is he kidding?
  I’m not certain whether Watts’ rhetoric is classic political boilerplate or an effort to neutralize the positioning of Noriega, a state legislator and veteran of the war in Afghanistan. If and when I meet Watts, I may have a completely different view of him and his prospects. But for now, I’d suggest that he re-do his video, making it more professional and more thoughtful.

Stuart Rothenberg is editor of the Rothenberg Political Report .

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by: Buck Smith @ Tue Jul 31, 2007 at 22:09:50 PM CDT

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LOL! Well... (0.00 / 0)

Well, I had assumed Watts would be smart enough to at least hire a decent media firm to do his commercials... maybe I was mistaken but I HIGHLY doubt it.  I certainly assume the media firm DIDN'T do that commercial on their website, so you really can't judge them on that. 

As far as Noriega's spots, I'd hope they'll too be better than this video.  It's fine for the web, but it's not acceptable for TV. 

Make no mistake, this primary campaign will be more "hard fought" than the 2006 Governor's race in the general election.  I simply cannot see Watts pulling a Sanchez and utterly wasting that kind of cash with the DSCC looking on and letting it happen. 

Also, for what it's worth, Rothenberg was predicting last summer the Republicans would hold control of both chambers of congress... so I lost a whole lot of respect for good ol Stewie... :)

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by: David O. @ Wed Aug 01, 2007 at 08:53:35 AM CDT

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Check out the intro video Watts has up (0.00 / 0)

http://www.wattsfors...

For what it's worth, that's not exactly stellar production value. 

Big $$ doesn't mean a more effective campaign, or better ads. It means more quantity.  And that doesn't automatically translate into votes.

Just ask Tony Sanchez.

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by: shoeshinep @ Tue Jul 31, 2007 at 22:32:59 PM CDT

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I meant to suggest that Noriega would be relying on his strengths in (0.00 / 0)

motivating netroots and gathering endorsements instead of focusing on TV in the primary.

I expect Watts will have TV, radio, mailers, billboards, door hangers, block walkers, yard signs, and a GOTV effort.

Both pathways may work equally in the primary but I'm skeptical that the modest-budget model will get us a significantly better result than the Bill Moody versus Don Willett contest.  Moody worked his ass off and was an excellent candidate who had ten times the qualifications as Willett and had almost every newspaper's endorsement, and Willett was disliked even among many moderate Republicans.  Moody led all statewide Democrats with 45% of the vote against Willett's 51%. 

I tend to think we may need a new model if we really expect to break through to a new level of success in the general election, but I feel like the Noriega model may work equally well as the Watts model in the primary.

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by: SouthTexasDemocrat @ Tue Jul 31, 2007 at 22:44:48 PM CDT

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I hope Watts hires some people (0.00 / 0)

brave enough to tell him that he needs to look directly into the camera, especially if he is going to repeat that he is a "fighter" and a "leader" nearly twenty times in two minutes.

Or else the most amazing production values in the galaxy won't keep him from losing.

(The best -- and most brutally true -- advice is always free, Mr. Watts.)

Don't let the Blue Dogs getcha down. Primary them.

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by: PDiddie @ Wed Aug 01, 2007 at 07:37:28 AM CDT

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Corrected link for above (0.00 / 0)

http://blogs.chron.c...

Don't let the Blue Dogs getcha down. Primary them.

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by: PDiddie @ Wed Aug 01, 2007 at 07:38:38 AM CDT

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The voice is Glenn Smith's (0.00 / 0)

Trying not to sound like Glenn Smith.

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by: Orizaba 212 @ Tue Jul 31, 2007 at 20:35:19 PM CDT

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It's my brother (0.00 / 0)

A former Republican. His wife doesn't know he moonlights as voice talent.

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by: Glenn Smith @ Tue Jul 31, 2007 at 21:58:25 PM CDT

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So let me get this straight... (0.00 / 0)

That was Glenn's brother trying to sound like Glenn trying not to sound like Glenn?  Regardless, Noriega's message is on target.

Moreover, I find it odd that Watts describes himself as a "fighter" in a race against a army officer who has a distinguished service record in combat situations.  Watts walked into one there.

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by: J. Crosby @ Wed Aug 01, 2007 at 09:41:04 AM CDT

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sibling rivalry (0.00 / 0)

He never has gotten over it.

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by: Glenn Smith @ Wed Aug 01, 2007 at 10:31:05 AM CDT

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This is a good campaign video (0.00 / 0)

And it beats the butt off the video Watts had on his site when it was launched. It's in each potential nominee's best interest to use the internet like no Texas campaign ever has, but Noriega will certainly benefit more from technology utilization.

I hope to see more videos from Rick and Mikal.

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by: nhudson35 @ Wed Aug 01, 2007 at 00:19:46 AM CDT

Why are people impressed with Watts? (0.00 / 0)

The difference between the Noriega video and the Watt's video is the end result.  The way Watt's is throwing cash around, I'm sure he spend thousands on a video that has viewers, myself included, questioning his message.  Noriega's video probably cost a few hundred dollars to produce but the message is relevant and on target.  The end result is that the viewer knows what Noriega is all about after viewing the low budget video for the first time.  In one of the comment posts above, someone mentions that Watts will be spending a lot of money to buy 2,000 statewide points of tv time.  If Watts' tv ads are anything like his video ad, it doesn't matter if he buys 10,000 tv points ... the message sucks and voters will not have a good reason to cast a vote for Watts. 

Clearly, Watt's money cannot be used as an advantage if his campaign thinks that dead presidents vote. 

E. Zapata

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by: Emiliano Zapata @ Wed Aug 01, 2007 at 11:38:04 AM CDT

Web Ad (0.00 / 0)

I thought Noriegas ad was great for a start.  They'll get better, but it is a real good start.

Todd

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi

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by: Todd Hill @ Wed Aug 01, 2007 at 11:58:57 AM CDT

guess I'm missing it (0.00 / 0)

Not really a bio spot.

Definitely not a policy spot.

Nothing about policy areas in which he is an expert or holds a distinguished record.

He never says a word (including the disclaimer, which COULD be a violation).

I get that he served when ordered to do so...but no mention about his work on the border.

I don't see why this spot is so much better than Watts'. I don't even find them comparable as they clearly have different intended purposes.

This looks like an ad a repug would run against a Dem in the general election.

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by: colin @ Wed Aug 01, 2007 at 18:08:42 PM CDT

Good question... (0.00 / 0)

Are the rules for disclaimers the same on web ads as they are on TV ads?  If so, this ad is a clear violation, he doesn't "approve" the spot with his voice/pic on at the same time. 

I'm not as bothered by the lack of policy/facts as you are.  Personally, I tend to think Repub ads have been, on balance, more effective at creating an emotive "gut values connection" than Demo ads have been.  With that being said, I don't feel like this ad makes me FEEL anything, it doesn't create ANY semblance of a gut values connection (and I tend to respond VERY strongly to military ads given my background).  So, basically, I agree with you this ad wasn't particularly effective but I don't think more policy could have saved it. 

In my opinion, Watts single best message would be "COMPETENT" and "INTELLIGENT."  Both of those things directly relate to complaints people have about the current administration.  Noriega's message ought to be something that articulates his strength and "masculinity."  That appeals to both male voters (who want to be him/consider him a "bro") and female voters (who want to be WITH him/consider him someone who can keep them safe).  Although this is the same frame Bush has operated under, at this point I think Repubs have pretty much lost their branding on this.. and I don't feel like Cornyn ever particularly embraced it!

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by: David O. @ Wed Aug 01, 2007 at 22:33:10 PM CDT

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