New McCain ad targets Hillary voters: “Debra”

posted at 7:40 am on August 25, 2008 by Ed Morrissey

If anyone doubted that John McCain would target disaffected Hillary Clinton supporters, his new ad should convince the holdouts. The new spokesperson for McCain has some experience campaigning — she campaigned for Hillary and was an elected delegate for her in Wisconsin until she got a little too vocal about her dislike for Barack Obama:

I’m a proud Hillary Clinton Democrat. She had the experience and judgment to be President.

Now, in a first for me, I’m supporting a Republican, John McCain. I respect his maverick and independent streak, and now he’s the one with the experience and judgment.

A lot of Democrats will vote McCain. It’s okay, really!

Debra Bartoshevich made national headlines when she publicly announced her support for John McCain after Obama won the primaries. The Wisconsin Democratic Party kicked her out of the state delegation for her apostasy, which led to her offended appearance on a local TV station. In truth, the party had little choice but to eject her, and given the reception others have received in Denver, Bartoshevich may be better off in St. Paul instead.

I’d expect this to get some play during the Democratic convention itself. Team McCain says it will air in “key states”, but the timing of the ad’s release hints at heavy play this week. Having Bartoshevich make this pitch now underscores McCain’s willingness to fight for this election and getting creative and flexible in doing so.

Will this convince others to follow Debra’s lead? Eighteen million people voted for Hillary in the Democratic primaries. If McCain can capture 10-20% of those, this ad will be well worth it.

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It should be about character and not random collectivist loyalty to a party that has fallen down a rabbit hole. BRAVO Debra. I too am a registered Democrat who voted Republican, for President Bush and I’m proud of it.

Nastaran on August 25, 2008 at 2:28 PM

I doubt anyone but McCain thinks he’ll get a substantial number of Hillarites to vote for him. The RNC strategy with these ads is probably to get more disgruntled PUMAs than disgruntled conservatives to stay home.

The polling right now suggests that 25% of Hillbots will vote McCain. Perhaps more will stay home. Either way, PUMA works to Maverick’s advantage.

Pablo on August 25, 2008 at 3:37 PM

Uhm…McCain voted to confirm Ginsburg.

Yeah, back when the measure used to be that the POTUS was entitled to their nominee unless they could be demonstrated to be unqualified. Times have changed in the Senate.

Pablo on August 25, 2008 at 3:39 PM

That’s not a Hillary supporter.
That’s Hillary in a wig!

E-Mat on August 25, 2008 at 3:55 PM

That’s not a Hillary supporter.
That’s Hillary in a wig!

E-Mat on August 25, 2008 at 3:58 PM

Yes. Times have changed. Some people want to charge ‘traitor’ or ‘flip-flop’ on some issues that really have changed. Ginsburg is one of them. The other, is the question of drilling for oil offshore and in places like ANWR. When gas is $2 a gallon, one option seems extreme. When gas is $4 a gallon just a few years later, changing your opinion is not a flip flop. And your example of the climate in the senate from that many years ago is also very true.

wise_man on August 25, 2008 at 4:01 PM

Debra Bartoshevich, you are my hero! You are great American; one who places emphasis on your core beliefs rather than kneel to the bully pulpit of the party. I, too, was a Democrat. I sat in the street and was arrested for protesting the Viet Nam war. I was a fierce party advocate up until Jimmy Carter and his windfall profits tax. A business and economics major, I never understood his economic policy. After many heated discussions with several friends of mine and the local chapter of my party, I realized that it was more about voting your party, not your conscience that they believed in. I became an outcast; much like what was done to you. I have never looked back and have supported conscience ever since. I don’t always agree with the Republicans but I have never been called a traitor when I didn’t agree with them nor have I ever felt like I could not disagree with them, unlike my experience with the Democrats who seem to take it very personally when one doesn’t agree. CONGRATS on becoming your own person and speaking out! You will never be sorry!

ElleP on August 25, 2008 at 4:13 PM

Debra is truly brave. If I was in her position I would be afraid of the backlash. The Democrats are scary mean. So Kudos to you Debra. I was registered Independent for years. I was one of those Independents for Reagan. But I moved to New York for a few years. I relized that there really isn’t any middle ground. Liberalism is anything but inclusive. I’m conservative so now I’m a Republican.

I do have complaints against the Primary and what happened in it. And I can see changing to Independent again under certain circumstances. But for now Obama is a disaster I vote McCain.

petunia on August 25, 2008 at 4:37 PM

McCain is going to be blasting all kinds of ads I guess. Doesn’t he have to spend money this week?

myamphibian on August 25, 2008 at 4:46 PM

Comment pages: 1 2