Political Ads

The TV ad that put Bush over the top The TV ad that put Bush over the top
An unscripted emotional encounter with the president, captured on camera, ends up a winner.
You can't teach an old attack dog new tricks You can't teach an old attack dog new tricks
Partisan hack David Bossie raised political sliming to an art form against Bill Clinton. Now he's out to smear John Kerry and Michael Moore. Why does anyone in the media still take him seriously?
Blog-rolling for votes and dollars Blog-rolling for votes and dollars
Political advertising on weblogs is booming, and some local candidates are raising big national money. Is the Web finally delivering on its revolutionary rhetoric?
MoveOn knocked out of Super Bowl
The upstart political organization learns that there's no right to free speech on network TV -- even for those who can pay for it.
Ad blusters Ad blusters
Two online entries out of hundreds in MoveOn's TV-spot contest compared Bush to Hitler, and Republicans cry "hate speech." But they're the ones who are twisting the truth.
Who's the meanest of them all? Who's the meanest of them all?
Howard Dean's Democratic rivals cry foul when he criticizes their policies. His sin? Doing so openly, on TV, rather than behind their backs
The foxes guarding democracy's henhouse The foxes guarding democracy's henhouse
Remember the McCain-Feingold campaign reform bill? The ideologues who control the Federal Election Commission are gutting it.
A case of mistaken distortion
A GOP powerhouse is forced to disavow a radio ad, aimed at African-Americans, that compares Social Security to "reverse reparations."
We interrupt this message
Why McCain's plan to target issue ads is vital to campaign finance reform.
Nader airs a new parody
And our ad critics are torn: Best campaign spot so far or a tired retread?
Texas video massacre Texas video massacre
The Democratic National Committee shoots -- and scores -- in an attack on Bush's record. Too little, too late?
Counterspin Counterspin
Frustrated Republicans say a New York Times story on the Bush campaign's "rats" offensive is revenge for the governor's "major league" gaffe.
Rats infest the GOP
Did the Republicans engage in subliminal advertising tactics with their Gore attack ad?
News flash!
New subliminal message detected in Gore ad.
The Republicans go negative
Salon's panel of advertising experts takes a look at a new ad from the Republican National Committee attacking Al Gore.
Democrats return fire Democrats return fire
A new attack ad that bashes Bush on healthcare has our panel cheering -- and jeering.
PETA on the spot PETA on the spot
The animal rights group's milk-mustached Giuliani sours critics' sensibilities.
Nader's priceless spot
Watch the Ralph Nader campaign ad MasterCard doesn't want you to see.
Al Gore's wonder years Al Gore's wonder years
Was the vice president more interested in playing house with Tipper than in a career in politics? Ad experts deconstruct the latest campaign spots.
The branding of a president The branding of a president
What makes you say, "Yes, that's it! That's real, solid Al Gore"? Advertising pundits ponder.
McCain's own Mozart
Composer Todd Hahn is a whiz at using digital technology to create soundtracks that win over voters' hearts and minds.
Air war
The men who would be president launch their TV campaigns, with -- Surprise! -- lots of smiling kids in the background.
Letters to the Editor
Robin Williams stinks (maybe); the WNBA doesn't need The Dunk; attack ads and the First Amendment.
Budweiser: Bad for your waistline -- and bad for America
Dick Morris is telling his clients to start running political-style hit attack ads. Here's Salon's exclusive look at the first crop.

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