Baaaaaaad: Worst campaign ad ever

By Michelle Malkin  •  February 4, 2010 11:37 AM

#demonsheep has now been immortalized as a running Twitter joke.

It’s the nickname of the truly bizarre (“freaky deaky,” Allahpundit calls it) campaign ad that McCain-endorsed California GOP Senate candidate Carly Fiorina is running against one of her Republican rivals, moderate House Rep. Tom Campbell.

It’s a mess — confused tone, bad metaphor (yes, Fiorina’s message seems to be that she’s the real sheep in the race), awful execution.

If this is how she’s going to run against her fellow Republicans, what disastrous ads will she unleash on Democrat Sen. Barbara Boxer?

Babs as Cujo? Or Carrie?

***

Conservative GOP candidate Chuck DeVore is having fun with Demon Sheep Fail.

Careful there, Chuck, or the Fiornia campaign will be casting her next ad against you with Demon Chucky from Child’s Play.

***

The strikes against Fiorina keep piling up.

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Posted in: Politics

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Comments


  1. #1
    On February 4th, 2010 at 11:44 am, Paul Revere said:

    I’m probably in the minority, but I liked this ad. :eek:

  2. #2
    On February 4th, 2010 at 11:44 am, cpodug said:

    Of course, it’s obvious to the most casual observer: Only in California!

  3. #3
    On February 4th, 2010 at 11:46 am, greenfairie said:

    Saw this last night on another site.

    W. T. F?

    Who was the tweaker who cooked up this ad?

    Go, Chuck DeVore.

  4. #4
    On February 4th, 2010 at 11:46 am, Regulus said:

    The imagery at the start was reminiscent of Monty Python’s Flying Circus fare.

    The connection with sheep is … well … I think that if the “demon sheep” was sneaking up with a pair of shears it’d have made more sense. But still — sheep?

    Time to hire a new ad agency.

  5. #5
    On February 4th, 2010 at 11:46 am, steveegg said:

    It sure seems like Carly’s using the same ad agency that helped her all-but-ruin HP.

  6. #6
    On February 4th, 2010 at 11:49 am, John Deaux said:

    Where’s PETA?

    From voters that act like sheep to pork laden budgets, all the way to their party logo. Democrats are giving farm animals a bad name.

  7. #7
    On February 4th, 2010 at 11:49 am, ThunderHawkk said:

    Oh, my… that is weird. I think Carly “Fiorina” is a nutter now.

  8. #8
    On February 4th, 2010 at 12:03 pm, jdtruly said:

    Clearly not the best ad but I thought it was attention grabbing. So it’s not on my worst list either. The wolf in sheep’s clothing was side splitting funny.

    I’m no great fan of Carly, but we need to stop shooting people in our own camp. She wouldn’t get past a primary in my district but my congressman wouldn’t get past a primary in her state. That’s why I live in Texas and not California.

  9. #9
    On February 4th, 2010 at 12:05 pm, swede said:

    Regulus said:

    Time to hire a new ad agency.

    Of the top ten phrases signaling you need a new add agency:

    #1 – It seemed like a good idea at the time.

  10. #10
    On February 4th, 2010 at 12:06 pm, walterc said:

    As creepy as the wolf in sheeps clothing was, the message made sense to me.

    My recommendation for California helping the rest of the nation would be to fence it off, and give it back to Mexico.

    Asking for a fiscal conservative coming out of California is like asking for a noncriminal to come out of Chicago.

  11. #11
    On February 4th, 2010 at 12:09 pm, RedDog said:

    She is an amateur politician after all. Looks like a big salary doesn’t translate into smarts.

  12. #12
    On February 4th, 2010 at 12:09 pm, DagneyT said:

    Asking for a fiscal conservative coming out of California is like asking for a noncriminal to come out of Chicago.

    You beat me to it! LOL

  13. #13
    On February 4th, 2010 at 12:10 pm, Freddy said:

    Ya know, if you slapped a nice little Hitler moustache on that chucky picture it would look like Henry Waxman. hmmmm …..

  14. #14
    On February 4th, 2010 at 12:11 pm, jdtruly said:

    You want a bad ad? Here’s one:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRgCOXaiDjQ&feature=youtube_gdata

    and, although it looks like a gag, it is real

  15. #15
    On February 4th, 2010 at 12:16 pm, Lan Astaslem said:

    So… fiscally conservative Californians are sheep? And Campbell is the wolf in sheep’s clothing? Carly thinks that fiscally conservative Californians want to consider themselves sheep? I’m very confused…

    That said, the ominous red-glowing-eye head-turns-into-the-camera shots made me laugh out loud. By the time it showed the guy in the demonsheep costume crawling away, it’s all I could do to keep from falling out of my chair!

  16. #16
    On February 4th, 2010 at 12:24 pm, Ed Mahmoud abu al-Kahoul said:

    Who watches 3 minute plus camapign ads?

    The glowing eyed demon sheep was funny, however.

  17. #17
    On February 4th, 2010 at 12:27 pm, Ed Mahmoud abu al-Kahoul said:

    Kind of reminds me of SNL spoof Barak Obama describing Martha Coakely as such a bad politician she couldn’t beat Dick Cheney for mayor of Berkeley…

  18. #18
    On February 4th, 2010 at 12:31 pm, Rogue Cheddar said:

    I thought it was pretty good for an Anti-Vivisection ad.

  19. #19
    On February 4th, 2010 at 12:32 pm, PhredE said:

    We really do need to build one big fence around California and use it as a test case to demonstrate what failure looks like to the other states.

    Re: Carly “how can I destroy your organization too?” Fiorina… sounds like another version of FAIL to me.

  20. #20
    On February 4th, 2010 at 12:47 pm, Mister P said:

    For those of us old enough, THE LBJ ad against Goldwater with a girl counting daisies while a nuclear bomb goes off will ALWAYS be the worst campaign ad ever.

  21. #21
    On February 4th, 2010 at 12:57 pm, cpodug said:
  22. #22
    On February 4th, 2010 at 1:10 pm, travlinman said:

    Some on here tried to take MM to task over Carly’s picture with the short (post treatment) hairdo a couple of weeks ago. Will those folks now take Carly Fiorina to task for showing herself with the same hairdo? Just wondering…

  23. #23
    On February 4th, 2010 at 1:12 pm, Hangfire said:

    Which is worse for the candidate – the ad or the McCain endorsement?

  24. #24
    On February 4th, 2010 at 2:03 pm, Roland said:

    That LBJ ad against Goldwater was certainly one of the worst in terms of being ugly and underhanded, but it was one of the best in terms of effectiveness.

    As to the ‘demon sheep’ ad: It was entertaining, but I doubt it was good politics. Nobody’s talking about how bad Campbell is, just how goofy Fiorina is.

  25. #25
    On February 4th, 2010 at 2:28 pm, swede said:

    Roland said:
    That LBJ ad against Goldwater was certainly one of the worst in terms of being ugly and underhanded, but it was one of the best in terms of effectiveness.

    Good analogy. It’s called the “Daisy Spot” and is an icon in political advertising. Based on an off hand, out of context remark by Goldwater it was inflamatory and unfair, but incredibly powerful. It tapped into the anxiety of the Cold War ’60s just a few years after the Cuban Missle Crisis, and set a new trend in political ads that continues to this day with this dopey sheep ad.

    While this attempts to tap into the anxiety about the national debt, the dopey premise and presentation of it misses the mark by a few lightyears.

    It’s kinda like the summary of the investigation into Amelia Ehrharts final flight…”Poor planning. Worse execution.”

  26. #26
    On February 4th, 2010 at 2:36 pm, love2rumba said:

    The ad is proof positive that she’s a liberal. Only liberals would make such a stupid ad…at least she actually got people to bank roll it rather than the taxpayers.

  27. #27
    On February 4th, 2010 at 2:37 pm, love2rumba said:

    That LBJ ad against Goldwater was certainly one of the worst in terms of being ugly and underhanded, but it was one of the best in terms of effectiveness.

    Oh well, he got his in ’68…

  28. #28
    On February 4th, 2010 at 2:44 pm, FirstSkirt said:

    The ad did do a good job of pointing out Campbell’s fiscal liberalism. The rest of it, not so much.

  29. #29
    On February 4th, 2010 at 2:52 pm, Pasadena Phil said:

    She’s far behind Campbell in the polls right now but far ahead of DeVore who is at about 8%. Once the Tea Party steps in for DeVore, this race will change dramatically. Campbell is much better than Fiorina but I would much rather be voting for DeVore in November.

  30. #30
    On February 4th, 2010 at 2:54 pm, swede said:

    love2rumba said:
    Oh well, he got his in ‘68…

    Not so much. LBJ declined the nomination and it was Hubert Humphry who ran against Nixon and got creamed.

    I think the LBJ era brought the first of many proclaimations that conservatism in the US is dead. That’s why I didn’t buy it in ’08 either.

    We’re baaaaaaaaaaack!

  31. #31
    On February 4th, 2010 at 3:35 pm, beenthere said:

    The ad was okay, but confusing. They had a mildly clever idea (i.e. Campbell is just like everybody else, a sheep when it comes to spending — why not have a closure with taxpayer “sheep” being sheared? — well, I think that is what they were trying to say). A bit on the long side as well and just how can it be said that Fiorina is a “proven fiscal conservative?” Really? I had no idea. Give me something to work with here. In short it could have been a good, effective ad, but they blew it.

  32. #32
    On February 4th, 2010 at 3:58 pm, Pasadena Phil said:

    This is even worse campaigning.

    Palin and Brown campaigning in AZ on behalf of McCain in March. End of Palin and Brown as friends of conservatives. Just arrived on the national scene and first act for both is to tilt at anti-conservative windmills.

    It will be a pleasure ending those three careers. If either appear later in support of conservative candidates, they should get booed.

  33. #33
    On February 4th, 2010 at 4:14 pm, Ed Mahmoud abu al-Kahoul said:

    Brown is from New England. He is about as conservative as anyone can be and win election in New England. That is, not very.

    If Palin campaigned for McLame after the primary, if he won, that’d be ok.
    Some sense of obligation, and even McAmnesty would be better than a Demonrat.

    She may not be the Next Big Thing so many were hoping for.

  34. #34
    On February 4th, 2010 at 4:57 pm, floridaobserver said:

    WTF, indeed!!!!!!

    Has she been smoking something? Who in the name of heaven thought this up?

    I like sheep. I like pigs. I liked the movie “Babe”. This reminded me of the movie. Then I saw the black sheep. I wasn’t sure where this was going and I thought “Is that Obama?” Then it was, no, wait, WTF????

    Then the devil appeared. THAT was not a wolf!!!!! And Campbell looked like such a nice guy.

    Maybe it was a parody of a political ad. Maybe I should pour myself a drink. Maybe Carly should let her hair grow.

  35. #35
    On February 4th, 2010 at 5:07 pm, floridaobserver said:

    Oh, crap, I forgot that she had cancer. I clicked the enter key and it hit me. I am SOOOOOO sorry. I am also mortified. I do apologize and am very embarrassed. Think before click. Crap.

  36. #36
    On February 4th, 2010 at 5:54 pm, Thomas said:

    Wow, that McCain sure is EVIL!

  37. #37
    On February 4th, 2010 at 6:21 pm, TomB said:

    Chuck Devore would be better, but Fiorina or Campbell would be a major improvement over Boxer. Not being a registered Repub I’ll have to trust the 19 Californians who are to make the right choice.

  38. #38
    On February 4th, 2010 at 7:19 pm, FireBlogger said:

    Yep, that’s my state politics. It’s that kind of idiocy that gave us Boxer, Feinstein (for life), Pelosi, Waxman, George Miller, maxine Waters, Karen Bass and her so central LA cabal.

    It’s a beautiful state but we have a habit of ignoring politics and for that we pay a heavy price.

    Should have been spit in 3 decades ago.

  39. #39
    On February 4th, 2010 at 7:20 pm, Pasadena Phil said:

    Isn’t it interesting that Sarahcuda is already becoming like McCain by attacking leading conservatives for attacking liberals.

    Talk about a flash in the pan.

  40. #40
    On February 4th, 2010 at 7:41 pm, Jimmie said:

    very poor…to long…to much Campbell, unless you were paying close attention for the full 3 plus minutes you would miss Fiornia all together…want to win? go positive what Fiornia will do let Campbell put his own name out there….I kind of like her but this kind of advertising won’t get the job done.

  41. #41
    On February 4th, 2010 at 7:48 pm, Bob69 said:

    I am not from CA either… I like the ad as it spelled out his position on taxes pretty well.

  42. #42
    On February 4th, 2010 at 8:05 pm, Teddy Kennedy said:

    Errah “Sheep do not have a God given right to acting jobs in this country”.

  43. #43
    On February 4th, 2010 at 8:06 pm, love2rumba said:

    I’m surprised she hasn’t yet come out with an ad that says, “Vote for me, I have a vagina”.

    The Ugly American on February 3, 2010 at 8:25 PM

    Be careful, she might do that…

  44. #44
    On February 4th, 2010 at 8:08 pm, love2rumba said:

    If Palin campaigned for McLame after the primary, if he won, that’d be ok.
    Some sense of obligation, and even McAmnesty would be better than a Demonrat.

    You’ve got to be kidding me…

  45. #45
    On February 4th, 2010 at 8:13 pm, love2rumba said:

    Isn’t it interesting that Sarahcuda is already becoming like McCain by attacking leading conservatives for attacking liberals.

    Talk about a flash in the pan.

    Well, she has slipped from no.1 to no.5 on the NYT Best Seller List…

    I expect it to go lower.

  46. #46
    On February 4th, 2010 at 8:16 pm, Teddy Kennedy said:

    Errah One can only hope that Ole Grimm finally catches Juan McAmnesty before election day. Did his wife and tramp daughter pull the duct tape from their yaps to complain about daddy’s stance on DADT the other day??!!

  47. #47
    On February 4th, 2010 at 8:20 pm, vsatt said:

    Floridaobserver, you’re forgiven. Cancer may be her excuse for the hair and a lesson to the rest of us not to be so quick to judge by appearances, but still the ad sucks! I’m in treatment myself and they say you get “chemo brain” which makes you seem like, in Rahm’s words, a f***ing retard, but I don’t think Fiorina can use that excuse any longer. At least I hope not, if so I’ve got a looooooong road ahead of me :)

  48. #48
    On February 4th, 2010 at 11:00 pm, Meloff said:

    Creepy, but very, very funny!

  49. #49
    On February 4th, 2010 at 11:02 pm, symrian said:

    Whichever media geniuses came up with this on Fiorina’s behalf…should keep their jobs. If they keep this up, they’ll cost her the nomination for us. Go Demon Sheep! Go Demon Sheep!

  50. #50
    On February 5th, 2010 at 1:33 am, mbabbitt said:

    As a Monty Python humor lover, I just laughed; it’s just nuts — and funny. Wrong on every level makes it right. And we are all still talking about it. Just enjoy it. I don’t know what it does for Carly, but I am still chuckling.

  51. #51
    On February 5th, 2010 at 2:47 am, Sanddog said:

    On February 4th, 2010 at 11:44 am, Paul Revere said:

    I’m probably in the minority, but I liked this ad. :eek:

    I thought it was hysterically funny! I am so sick and tired of the traditional campaign ads I’m more than ready for something this over the top.

  52. #52
    On February 5th, 2010 at 5:48 am, Roman Con said:

    Demon sheep make tastier Gyros.

  53. #53
    On February 5th, 2010 at 6:02 am, dtestard said:

    The ad is excellent, memorable, and effective.

    It’s so far out it cannot be rebutted without giving it credence… and not rebutting it gives it credence as well.

    Simply put, it is the ewe of all campaign ads.

  54. #54
    On February 5th, 2010 at 9:54 am, jangar said:

    What is that pic of? An evil conservative seeking to take your welfare away?

  55. #55
    On February 5th, 2010 at 10:24 am, revolution said:

    I think it’s time to say goodnight to Fiorina.

  56. #56
    On February 5th, 2010 at 3:13 pm, Bogtrotter said:

    This is your candidate…….This is your candidate on drugs.

  57. #57
    On February 6th, 2010 at 10:30 am, JohnnyAngel said:

    What the phack was that? I’m going to have nightmares over this.

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