Let the slinging begin: Political ads hit the air in primary campaign
In the latest of an early onslaught of political ads this campaign season, viewers are shown the Illinois Statehouse dome with Rod Blagojevich's infamous mop of black hair atop.
"For far too long, Illinois has been ruled by the hair," the TV announcer says. "Corruption, waste and flagrant spending have left us in horrendous debt, with some calling for taxes to be doubled."
The ad touts the candidacy of Republican Andy McKenna of Chicago for governor. And - hitting the airwaves just before Halloween - it isn't even the first ad to ride voter dissatisfaction with Blagojevich, let alone the first ad.
Voters won't go to the polls for the primary until Feb. 2 and even some of the candidates hitting the campaign trail have yet to file petitions to get on the ballot, like McKenna. But already they have been hit with several TV and radio ads in the race for governor.
The early pace may make it seem like viewers will be inundated with political ads for months as candidates hope to solidify their "brand" and distinguish themselves in crowded fields.
On the Republican side of the race for governor, the first TV ad went up in August with state Sen. Matt Murphy of Palatine running a limited spot on downstate cable criticizing an opponent for supporting tax hikes. Murphy later dropped out of the race to run for lieutenant governor.
Then in late September Adam Andrezjewski of Hinsdale, perhaps one of the least known candidates in the seven-person GOP field, started running cable ads.
But the biggest ad buys have come on the Democratic side.
Early this month, Comptroller Dan Hynes laid out his plans for tax hikes to fix the state budget. Gov. Pat Quinn quickly responded. The two now appear to be locked in an ad race that may only increase over the holidays if both candidates can keep raising enough money.
The Republican side also appears to be set for a steady escalation, ensuring viewers could be inundated with TV ads for a full three months before election day.
The seven declared candidates, most of them relatively well financed, are hoping to get their names before voters early while winning over certain demographics in the party. McKenna's TV ad comes after radio ads for state Sen. Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale and DuPage County Chairman Bob Schillerstrom of Naperville. Other declared candidates in the GOP primary governor include state Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington, conservative commentator Dan Proft of Wheaton and former Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan.
While candidates are expected to spend even more campaign money on radio and TV ad buys after the new year, some observers expect only positive spots to run over the holidays, if any at all.
"We are going to lose about three weeks in this campaign to the holidays," said state Sen. Terry Link of Waukegan, who is running for lieutenant governor in the Democratic primary. "It really shortens the campaign season up."
That means the most blistering attacks will likely be saved for the monthlong sprint to Feb. 2 after New Year's Day.
The proliferation of ads before the new year will depend on cash, and with so many Republicans vying for support, there may not be enough for most candidates to sustain three months of expensive Chicago-area television and radio. But all of those candidates are also struggling to get voters to remember their names.
It is a conundrum candidates are now debating internally. Dillard has said he expects fewer ad buys in the race over the holidays followed by a dramatic expansion in the new year. "Clearly the early primary changes the dynamic of the race," Dillard said.
The relatively unusual prominence of campaign ads around Halloween is directly tied to the early February primary date.
Democratic lawmakers pushed through a change to move the primary date up from March last year in hopes of helping Barack Obama secure the parties banner in the presidential race. Efforts to push it back to March have failed.
Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk of Highland Park has started running radio ads touting his opposition to Obama's push for government-run public health insurance as part of his health care reform measure. Kirk has been attempting to win back Republicans who have been upset with his occasional votes that go more along Democratic lines.
Other declared candidates in the Senate GOP primary include real estate developer Patrick Hughes of Hinsdale, Internet commentator Andy Martin of Chicago, former Harvey alderman John Arrington, retired downstate judge John Lowery and historical researcher Kathleen Thomas of Springfield.