Former U.S. Attorney Matt Whitaker was the first Republican to enter the race for Iowa’s open U.S. Senate seat but has struggled a bit in the fundraising department. Whitaker ended 2014 with $232,092.45 cash on hand in his campaign account, including $50,241.07 in loans from the candidate and $28,525 that can’t be spent until the general election period (if Whitaker were to win the Republican primary).

Considering that Whitaker’s campaign spent just under $60,000 during the last three months of 2013 without running television or radio commercials, it’s clear that Whitaker won’t be able to afford much (if any) television advertising before the June primary.

However, campaign commercials aren’t the only way for a candidate to raise his name recognition. Central Iowa viewers of the winter Olympics on NBC Sports have seen a lot of Whitaker these past couple of weeks. The cable tv ads are promoting his law firm, not his Senate campaign, but they hit on several themes that will resonate favorably with rank-and-file Republicans. Follow me after the jump for my unofficial transcript of the spot for Whitaker, Hagenow and Gustoff LLB. I would like to know whether any Bleeding Heartland readers living outside the Des Moines media market have seen the same commercial on cable, either during Olympics coverage or at other times.

Whitaker went into private practice after his tenure as U.S. Attorney in Iowa’s southern district ended in 2009. While many law firms do advertise on television, I don’t recall seeing any commercials for Whitaker Hagenow Gustoff before this month. (I hope some Bleeding Heartland reader will correct me if I’m wrong; I am not a heavy consumer of cable television.)

The ads clearly promote the Whitaker Hagenow Gustoff law firm. Its name, address, phone number, and website take up most of the screen at the beginning and end of the commercial, and appear in a banner near the bottom of the screen for much of the ad. During the middle part, words scroll down the left side of the screen: “Areas of Practice: white-colllar criminal defense, business and employment disputes, estate planning and probate, business start-up, business transactions.”

Here is my annotated transcript:

[Viewer sees Whitaker Hagenow Gustoff name and contact information]

Woman identified as “Sam, client” speaks: I think that Matt and the firm matched the integrity and honesty that anybody would be looking for.

Woman identified as “Wendy, client” speaks: They worked with us and made us feel very comfortable.

Woman identified as “Jacque, client” speaks: Once I talked to Matt, I felt so much better and at ease. I always would recommend him to my other friends.

Wendy speaks again: Whatever was in our best interest, you know, they weren’t here for the business, they were really here to take care of us.

Whitaker speaks to the camera (text identifies him as “Matt Whitaker, Former U.S. Attorney”): At Whitaker Hagenow and Gustoff, we stand up for our clients’ rights, we defend their liberty, and we help protect their private property.”

[Viewer sees Whitaker Hagenow Gustoff name and contact information]

This commercial is fair as far as I understand campaign finance rules, because it doesn’t say a word about Whitaker’s U.S. Senate race. Again, it’s not unusual for law firms to advertise on television. At the same time, I doubt it’s a coincidence that Whitaker’s law firm suddenly decided to fund tv ads promoting its work defending rights, liberty and private property. It’s also striking that the clients in the ad refer only to “Matt” and not to any of his law partners or associates by name.

Whitaker is far from the first candidate to use tv spots for a business to raise his profile. Republican Peter Teahen did the same during his 2008 campaign in Iowa’s second Congressional district. I recall hearing in 2010 that Democratic State Senate candidate Rick Mullin was featured in some ads for his family’s awning and siding business in Sioux City.

Any relevant comments are welcome in this thread.