Sam Clovis has been campaigning hard around the state since last summer, but contrary to what he’d hoped and planned for, he appears not to be able to run any of his own radio or television commercials before next Tuesday’s primary for U.S. Senate. Clovis’ total fundraising through the end of March was less than $300,000, and a strong statewide paid media campaign would cost at least that much. The Citizens United Political Victory Fund, which previously endorsed Clovis and gave his campaign $5,000, is stepping in with a small television buy on his behalf. $53,000 won’t buy many points, but it’s better than nothing. The commercial features 2012 Iowa Republican caucuses winner Rick Santorum. He endorsed Clovis earlier this month. As a talk radio host in northwest Iowa, Clovis among Santorum’s more influential supporters before the caucuses. After the jump I’ve posted the video and transcript of the Citizens United ad.
I’ve also enclosed below the video of Clovis’ recent meeting with the Des Moines Register editorial board. Listening to him speak on a wide range of topics, I so wished he’d be able to raise the funds to get his name and views out there. He should have been a phenomenally appealing candidate to the Republican base. He speaks with more authority than the others in the Senate field. I think Bob Vander Plaats hurt Clovis badly by spending so long dropping hints about his own possible Senate candidacy. If he’d ruled out running last summer, rather than stretching out his decision to promote a book project, Clovis would have had a better shot.
Maybe Clovis will do surprisingly well on a shoestring budget, as Ed Fallon did in the 2006 Democratic primary for governor. But I doubt Clovis will manage to keep State Senator Joni Ernst below the 35 percent threshold for winning the nomination outright on June 3. I have been wondering whether he might get some fringe benefit from Mitt Romney’s Iowa visit on behalf of Ernst, though. That will generate a lot of media coverage, and Romney isn’t popular in some conservative Republican circles.
Citizens United ad, “Full-Spectrum Conservative”:
Annotated transcript:
Rick Santorum speaks to camera: When I was campaigning across Iowa I had the privilege of meeting a lot of great folks. [music plays in background, viewer sees “Senator Rick Santorum” near bottom of screen]
Santorum still speaking to camera: One of them was Sam Clovis. Sam is a full-spectrum conservative: He is pro-life, pro-family, and understands how to get our economy back on track. [when Santorum says “pro-life, pro-family,” viewer sees photo of Clovis talking to group of older Iowans. When he talks about the economy, viewer sees footage of farmer sowing crop in field, then what looks like a view of the Iowa State Fair]
Sam will go to Washington to fight the radical Obama agenda. [footage of protesters, hands holding anti-Obama and anti-Obamacare signs are visible]
I know Sam Clovis, [viewer sees photo of Clovis]
and he is exactly the kind of leader Iowans need. [View shifts back to Santorum speaking into the camera]
Join me in supporting Sam Clovis for the United States Senate.
Male voice-over: Citizens United Political Victory Fund is responsible for the content of this advertising.