Former State Senator Staci Appel released her Congressional campaign’s fourth district-wide television commercial today. Whereas Appel’s first three spots had an entirely positive message (see here, here, and here), the new ad contrasts her background as a lifelong Iowa resident with Republican candidate David Young’s 20-year career as a “Washington insider.” In a press release today, Appel’s campaign manager Ben Miller commented, “There is a clear choice in this campaign between Staci Appel, who has lived in Iowa her entire life and worked in Iowa to cut government waste and balance budgets, and David Young, who has spent the last 20 years in Washington, D.C and is part of the problem.”

For his part, Young is campaigning on a promise to bring “a dose of Iowa reality to Washington.” His campaign has also highlighted work he’s done for Iowans as U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley’s chief of staff, as well as his record of listening to voters’ concerns.

I’ve posted the video and annotated transcript of the new Appel commercial after the jump. Any comments about the IA-03 race are welcome in this thread.

UPDATE: Young’s “good meal” commercial hasn’t gone over well with many Republicans, according to The Iowa Republican blogger Craig Robinson. I’ve enclosed an excerpt from his post below.

Appel for Iowa ad “Insider,” launched on September 16:

Annotated transcript:

Female voice-over: Here’s David Young posing in an Iowa diner. (viewer sees footage from Young’s “good meal” ad)

But Young has worked in Congress for twenty years, starting with a Senator from Colorado. [Young’s image appears in a snapshot pinned to a map of Iowa; camera pans over the map all the way to Washington, DC, where another photo of Young is pinned. Words on screen DAVID YOUNG 20 YEARS IN WASHINGTON]

Twenty years as a Washington insider. [closer view of the snapshot of Young, with words DAVID YOUNG WASHINGTON INSIDER]

Twenty years ago, Staci Appel worked in business, helping Iowans save for retirement and college. [soundtrack shifts to more upbeat music, viewer sees photos of Appel talking with people in Iowa, words on screen STACI APPEL WORKING FOR IOWANS]

In the State Senate, she worked across party lines to cut waste. [photo of Appel speaking with someone at State Capitol; words on screen STACI APPEL WORKING ACROSS PARTY LINES TO CUT WASTE]

In Washington, she’ll support a balanced budget while protecting Social Security and Medicare. [footage of Appel talking with various people; words on screen STACI APPEL SUPPORTS A BALANCED BUDGET, STACI APPEL PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY & MEDICARE]

Staci Appel, Iowa common sense. [footage of Appel talking with a child, walking and talking with farmer; words on screen STACI APPEL IOWA COMMON SENSE]

Appel’s own voice: I’m Staci Appel and I approve this message.

UPDATE: Craig Robinson compared David Young’s first two general election ads to other commercials produced by Fred Davis, who handled Senator Chuck Grassley’s advertising in 2010 and Representative Steve King’s in 2012. Both of those ad campaigns were phenomenal in my opinion. I think Robinson is on to something here:

What Davis is so good at is creating a unique narrative for his clients.  When you look at his work for Grassley, he focuses on the little quirks in his personality.  The Twitter and lawn mower ads have nothing to do with being a U.S. Senator, and that’s the point.  For Steve King, Davis told the story about King going into business, then followed it up with a heavy dose of his work ethic.

Young is a unique candidate because he is a former congressional staffer running for office.  Some might think it wise for Young to focus on the area where he grew up and downplay his time in Washington.  I disagree.  I know Washington is not popular, but Young spent the last seven years serving as the Chief of Staff for Iowa’s most popular politician, Senator Grassley.

If I were Young, I think I’d run like I was an incumbent.  I’d want my ads to show me working on behalf of Iowans in Washington.  That’s a different narrative than Davis is used to using for his clients.  And perhaps that his why Young’s recent ads seem to be a little off key.