Before I got sidetracked by the shocking news about Tom Latham, I was working on a post about Republican Mark Jacobs’ first television commercial, which hit the airwaves yesterday. Follow me after the jump for the video and transcript.

I’m not sure it’s a great use of campaign funds to advertise during the holiday season nearly six months before the primary, but Jacobs is the only Republican candidate for Iowa’s U.S. Senate seat who can afford to buy tv time. He may as well exploit that advantage. The Jacobs campaign went up on statewide radio earlier this month. This relatively small buy of $138,000 will run the introductory spot on cable statewide and on network television in the Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Sioux City markets through January 4. Sioux City is the home base for Senate candidate Sam Clovis, who needs a strong showing in northwest Iowa to have any hope of winning the nomination.  

Opening 60-second television commercial for Mark Jacobs, launched December 17:

The viewer hears only Jacobs’ voice during the ad. The lines sound like excerpts from his speeches during his announcement tour last month. JacobsforIowa.com is visible near the top of the screen throughout the commercial, and a cinematic montage of images changes rapidly. My annotated transcript:

Jacobs’ voice: Over the past few months I’ve had the opportunity to go all over this great state, meeting with a lot of great people. And I’ve listened to Iowans who farm our fields, who teach our children. [Viewer sees images of feet walking on a woodland path, Jacobs talking with and shaking hands with supporters, Iowa road signs seen from a vehicle driving down a highway, a tractor in a field, a teacher with a young girl]

And what I’ve taken away from them is this: Like me, you’re concerned that the opportunity to live the American dream is slipping away. [Photo of Jacobs as a child, standing next to his father in front of an old-fashioned station wagon. Words on screen: BORN AND RAISED IN IOWA Then images of Jacobs hugging child, then a lot of American flags flying in the wind]

But the Iowa values that brought me success in the business world now compel me to enter the political world. [Shot of rural home from a distance, then footage of Jacobs with his family in group hug, then Jacobs walking down a hallway with the word LEADERSHIP on the screen, then footage of Jacobs talking with words on screen PROVEN BUSINESS RECORD]

When Americans are gainfully employed, families do better, revenues to the government increase, and our deficits come down. [Footage of men walking wearing hardhats, kids washing an SUV, a girl swinging on a tire swing, the American and Iowa flags flying in front of the Iowa Capitol’s gold dome with a blue sky in the background]

What we need are more opportunities. American families deserve better. They deserve results.  [crowd shot, someone holding a hand-made sign that says JOBS, Jacobs talking to a group of Iowa reporters, shot of a handshake, Jacobs smiling, then a campaign sign that says MARK JACOBS]

And that’s why today I am announcing my candidacy for the United States Senate. [footage of Jacobs at the podium during his announcement tour, sound of applause, people applauding]

And if you send me to the United States Senate, I will make jobs for Iowa my number one priority. [footage of Jacobs mixed with images of different people working various jobs, a tractor in a field, another shot of Jacobs with the group of Iowa reporters]

I am running to restore the American dream, to create opportunities, and bring real-world, common-sense business perspective to Washington. [footage of Jacobs with sunny window and American flag, children playing, clothes hanging on a clothesline, Jacobs at the podium again, his wife giving him a kiss at the campaign event, journalists taking pictures, supporters smiling and clapping]

I’m Mark Jacobs, and I approved this message. [Images of Jacobs waving, standing in front of his campaign’s backdrop with logo; words on screen APPROVED BY MARK JACOBS AND PAID FOR BY JACOBS FOR IOWA]

I completely agree that focusing on bringing down unemployment is the best long-term deficit reduction strategy. No doubt Jacobs and I completely disagree on the best way to create good jobs.

Stylistically, it looks like a very professional ad. There are too many fast edits for my taste, though. It may be a bit too professional, as it leaves an impression of big money behind this campaign.

The Des Moines Register’s Jennifer Jacobs (no relation to the candidate) reported the details of the ad buy.

The Jacobs campaign is spending $23,000 on network TV in Des Moines, $17,640 in Cedar Rapids, $13,660 in Sioux City and $35,024 on statewide cable to play the ad today through Monday. There’s a break in the air time for Christmas, then Jacobs is back on TV Dec. 27-Jan. 4, spending $10,930 in Des Moines, $9,580 in Cedar Rapids, $6,195 in Sioux City and $22,414 on statewide cable.