51 Comments - Anon - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 9:57 am: That’s a good ad. Clear and direct right to his base. Question is, does he have the money for it to make a difference? - Downstate GOP Faithless - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 10:01 am: I do believe it is exclusively cable in Cook and the collars…not sure the overall value though. - OneMan - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 10:06 am: The graphics are a bit much, other than that not bad. - soccermom - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 10:08 am: the music is a bit much. distracted me from what he was saying — although given my politics, that’s okay…. - Rudy - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 10:08 am: It’s fair, but not great. As far as these go, it does the job from a mechanical perspective. Brady looks a little labored as he speaks. The question was asked, does he have the cash to gain any value from a media buy of this sort? I’d venture to say no. Brady has had the damndest time raising a nickel. - Scooby - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 10:10 am: Weird stuff with his hands. And I miss his telegenic family. For a guy that’s a pretty polished speaker and did good ads the last time I didn’t expect him to look this awkward. - Moving to Oklahoma - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 10:18 am: Not bad. In fact better than I expected from Brady. He has done little to inspire me since he started running 5 years ago. He has always come across as a stuffy, robotic candidate from me. However this ad has good production value, and to be honest I didn’t expect that from Brady. - wordslinger - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 10:19 am: Pretty good, upbeat ad. The music is too strong. 7 - Amuzing Myself - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 10:20 am: Sure is different from the gloom and doom of the McKenna and Edgar (…I mean Dillard) ads as well as the Quinn and Hynes ads. Effective if he can get it seen enough. - Anon - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 10:24 am: Speaking of over powering music, does anyone remember the Gidwitz ads that had loud carnival music in the background? Now that was terrible. - dave - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 10:25 am: decent content, awful graphics/animation and annoying music. - Will Done - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 10:27 am: With the graphics, looks like Fox NFL pre-game show. - Burrito Bandit - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 10:27 am: 8/10. Good ad. It builds off his construction management background by talking about his “blueprint” for Illinois. I also like the graphics and images. Unlike the McKenna ad, it actually talks about a plan rather than just lay blame. Between that suit and shirt combo and Brady’s face he looks too tan. Like he has been at the beach or the tanning salon. But everyone in GOP country know’s Brady is totally broke and in debt from his last statewide race. I hope we learn how many points are behind this. - CircularFiringSquad - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 10:28 am: sheer genius…..reminds of those car dealer ads you see downstate….However he sounds good and does waste time of silliness like OutsiderAndy. I give Brady an A+ - OdysseusVL - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 10:31 am: I thought it is pretty bad. The coloring makes the whole thing look washed out. I don’t like the “I have a plan” message. Nobody else has one? What exactly is that plan. It seemed weak. 2/10. - Justice - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 10:31 am: Was that Bill Brady or Mitt Romney? He just seemed a bit awkward and not relaxed. I just have a hard time believing anyone with these bought ads. Sure, they look good, sound good, lots of loud music and other distractions, crammed into too little time, but I did not detect sincerity and did not come away thinking: “Gee, I trust this guy.” At least it was positive and he almost sounded genuine, almost. - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 10:33 am: I like it, very positive. There is a lot of info referenced in this ad, contribution limits, term limits, his tax plan, etc., so there is plenty of substance. The graphics are good, if a bit distracting. Clearly a professionally polished ad, with strong production value. 8.5/10 - Commonsense in Illinois - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 10:33 am: Doesn’t sway me…he stays with the mantra that getting out of a (insert latest number here) debt is something simple and can be done by simply cutting even more revenue. It’ll play well to the far right wing, but anyone with half a brain will know they’re being pandered to. Also, if you’re running for Governor, it would help to look gubernatorial…Business casual doesn’t cut it. - Easy - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 10:47 am: Gidwitz ads were so weird. Who would have ever combined Voldemort and carinval music. Frightening. I like the Blueprint angle, kinda neat. - Whatwhat - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 10:48 am: Standard RED MEAT fare for the right, Brady has been in office for years and now supports term limits. Sure dude! - Will County Woman - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 11:01 am: I rate Bill Brady’s ad an A. It’s a solid ad. He’s very easy on the eyes—wouldn’t mind looking at him for the next 4-8 years at all. So, appearence the ad works, and the graphics were nice too. The substance is good, and I love the sound of term limits. And, it’s great that someone is talking about it finally. - John Bambenek - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 11:01 am: Take a look at his term limits amendment. SJCRA77. Limits legislators to 10 years **in the same legislative district**, not 10 years in a chamber. Every 10 years they redraw the maps, you can argue right there they are different districts. To be thorough, they could renumber, and certainly they are different districts. Its term limits without the limit. - David Ormsby - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 11:06 am: Good ad. The message “a plan” is solid, simple. The audio and visuals align–absolutely crucial. If you are preparing dinner, you hear the message. If you are speaking on the phone and have lowered the TV volume, you see the message. Music beat, voice tempo matches graphic energy. This ad was designed for real voters living real lives who may catch a glimpse of an ad, not political junkie zombies hanging on every word, gesture and graphic design whirl. Effective. - Will County Woman - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 11:10 am: Some of you people are rating very harshly and unfairly; probably dyed-in-the-wool democrat types anyway. Spineless. It’s a 30 second ad and some of you people are knocking him for saying, “I have a plan”? This is just his intro ad giving voters a sense of who he is. of course circular firing sqaud meant, DOESN’T waste time like… - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 11:15 am: WCW, you’re not one to talk about knee-jerk reactions. Kindly keep your broadbrush comments to yourself. Thanks. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 11:23 am: Good ad, makes the point he is a “conservative”, a “builder” in truth and metaphorically. Brady has been out there for a while, in other races and such, so there might be a need for more “there” there. Good start, but the next ad needs a bit more to it. - One of the 35 - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 11:28 am: Shows both the candidate’s charisma and his lack of understanding of the severity of the problem. As Rich has stated numerous times, the fix requires both huge tax increases as well as huge cuts in programs and spending. There is no other way. - Big Policy Nerd - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 11:34 am: This is the best ad of the GOP primary so far…I agree with the Brady looks like Mitt Romney comment, he looks too polished up, like your stereotypical politician, he has got energy in the ad, but he is trying too hard. But what makes it a good ad is that he tells voters “I got a plan”, even if it has been blasted by policy wonks. Anyone know the firm who did the ad? Also, what is Brady’s debt from the last statewide race? Is it something like $400k?? It has got to be tough to put points behind this if you got no dough. - Scooby - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 11:40 am: When he says “the Blagojevich-Rezko regime” he enunciates like Kevin from The Office. - Obamas' Puppy - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 11:40 am: Bill Brady - “He is just a pretty face” - zatoichi - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 11:49 am: OK ad, but what politician does not say the exact same points every election cycle? Plan to grow jobs, cut taxes, term limits, change from the past. Specifically how and where has it worked? - Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 12:15 pm: It’s an OK ad. Kind of generic, but I liked the whole “I have a plan” approach. One negative though: seemed to start waiving his hands around more and his smile seemed a bit forced when he said “talk is cheap”, which jumped out at me as an unsupported sales pitch almost. I know it’s a short intro ad, but whoever mentioned including his family is right. Even a still would have gained the ad a point or two. They are a good looking bunch. 6.5 out of 10. - Windy - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 12:15 pm: i actually think this is pretty good. obviously, the $$ is not there to make this as beautiful as McKenna’s ad but as David Ormbsy said - this ad is not for insider political junkies but for the average joe. (if it was just for junkies, it would simply be posted here at the Cap Fax). Also, think it is more substantive than McKenna’s - clearly communicating several policies. but, obviously, this all is meaningless if the dollars aren’t there for many people to see it. and for the record, coming across as mitt romney-like in the Illinois Republican primary is not a bad thing. - RMW Stanford - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 12:19 pm: I think that it is the best ad of any candidate in the Governors primary so far. It is short, upbeat, presents a message and the entire it has Brady’s face and name right there so the voters know who the candidate. - Obamarama - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 12:35 pm: === Also, what is Brady’s debt from the last statewide race? Is it something like $400k??=== As of the end of the last reporting period, he had $652,762.91 in debt–about half of that to himself. He did, however, have about $420K on hand at the time as well. - Gregor - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 12:48 pm: Meh, the graphics are nice, they are very Fox-News/WCW-like, but good “eye-candy” nevertheless. I think he should have worn a tie. The “tax cuts solve everything” line/plan is not likely to resonate across party lines, or with people not already on drugs, but his base probably loves it. I hate the unmotivated “shaky-cam” at the end, it is something they put in to try to make things “hip” or “exciting”, but I’m not sure Brady can ever be made “exciting”, except in contrast to Jim Ryan, maybe. I hear enough of Brady talking live elsewhere than this spot to get an uncomfortable televangelist vibe off of him, I am not convinced he is sincere. Anyhow, I wasn’t going to vote for him because he’s a shill for Walmart, so my opinion may be invalid. - Ghost - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 1:07 pm: Overall it is peiced together well, but the I have a plan jumped out at me as a bit too pandering. IMHO voters are want a little meat on that bone, even if its just a soundbite example of the plan. - cook county R - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 1:14 pm: Good Ad. Different from the others and no where near as dull as Dillard’s and McKenna’s. It is nice to hear a candidate actually speak in their ad. The substance is typical of an introductory ad so its tough to criticize, Best GOP primary ad so far. As far as reaching enough people, It seems McKenna is the only one spending much as I have yet to see Dillards on TV. - Team Sleep - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 1:14 pm: Great ad - sans the music, of course. The music reminded me of one of those NBC “Now You Know” spots from the TNBC days. So far, this Brady ad and Alexi’s “bank savior” ad rank as my top 2. - just sayin' - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 2:01 pm: I’ve always thought Brady was slimy. This only reinforces that view in my mind. - Will County Woman - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 2:06 pm: @ John Bambenek - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 11:01 am I hear you, but stop looking at things glass half empty. it’s all in how you spin things. we have recall on the books, and of course the dems won’t break down all the ins and outs of it for voters. yay! glass half full? sure. - Responsa - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 2:11 pm: I thought he said a lot in just 30 seconds. Well produced. 9/10 - Dan S, a voter and Cubs Fan - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 2:21 pm: Good ad, to the point shows stable leadership. - nortsider - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 2:39 pm: Term Limits?? His whole speil is that he has more experience than Adam, thats why we are supposed to support him as the conservative. Hes all hat no horse. - Conservative Republican - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 2:50 pm: Very good ad. No one seems to note that Brady does all the talking in his ad, a big plus. The polling shows that many people are still not familiar with him. Thus the ad deftly shows him carrying an entire 30 sec spot with intelligence and energy. All the other ads rely heavily on voice-overs, which I think is particularly detrimental to McKenna, who remains equally unknown to the general public. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 2:51 pm: ===No one seems to note that Brady does all the talking in his ad=== Read more closely. - 2010 - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 3:01 pm: The messages were pretty clear and typical except the focus on term limits! What office does he want term limits for? Governor? Legislator? - downstate hick - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 5:19 pm: I think better than most so far this year. I give it a B+. He gets a clear message to his base without seemly too far right. - a downstater - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 5:46 pm: Brady’s ad is good & to the point. I’m sure it will be the first of several & sure more coming as will others after the holiday’s, It’s not the hokie stuff of mcKenna & dillard. He’s at least speaking himself, conveying an idea{s}, himself. At least it’s more than walking the streets of Chicago & fake hair wigs on the capitol or getting a former governor from 10 years ago, who wasn’t really wild about it, doing his talking for him. Clear & to a point. Best you can do in 15 seconds. Good effort. An A– - a downstater - Tuesday, Dec 8, 09 @ 6:38 pm: They just got to find something to gig Brady. ??? He appears viable, is about everywhere & seems to have much a bigger organization. Signs going & I know I’ve rec’d stuff in the mail & a guy at my door the old fashioned way. He’s got tyo be raising some $$. As to campaign debt ??, but I guess they’ll see where everyone’s at come early January & where it came from. If he is carrying any debt that’s substantial…he seems to be managing. Wonder what kind of shape Dillard’s in. Not much happening with him at all south of chicago. No signs or local activity at all. Mckenna & Adrewjewski got to be getting tired of spending their own cash & going nowhere. The ‘outsider” thing is getting old & old Andy seems to have left the air. Proft & Shillerstrom aren’t even registering anywhere. Ryan ?? It’s interesting to say the least. Least wise Brady is speaking for himself & has an idea whether you agree with it or not. - homebuilder - Thursday, Dec 10, 09 @ 9:01 am: The ad is great. Finally someone talks about term limits and real contribution limits. He is fresh and energtic. A clean break is what we need. He fits that bill. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.