Kevin -

You're wrong. It's brilliant. Funny. Hip. And, most of all, doesn't SEEM like a political ad.

Yeah, Kevin. U R wrong.

This is not only a good ad for Richardson, it's a send up of the Beltway and the dumbed down news. It manages to do that with humor, not moralism.

Is this the influence of Jon Stewart?

I don't understand "a resume but nothing else." His resume is his record, his experience, his qualifications to serve. Do you mean the commercial doesn't show any of his ideas about what he'd do in office? Wouldn't that be a different series of commercials? Or are you saying he's perceived as not having any ideas?

Sure, it's funny. It's a great sendup. It's something Jon Stewart would do. I agree.

But that doesn't necessarily make it a good ad for someone who wants to be president, does it?

Isn't the whole point of having a resume to demonstrate you have in fact done shit? What kind of argument is it that he has "only a resume'?

Has the discourse fallen to such a point where having demonstrated experience is now a demonstration of lack of qualification.

Maybe if instead of the other guy munching a sandwhich (a really boneheaded plot device IMO) they were having a beer while Richardson clears brush, would that be better?

The ad is great change from the lame crap we normally see...gives important info about Richardson that many people don't know and its funny.

What you're missing, Kevin, is this: the ad -acknowledges- the resume, but -highlights- the sense of humor.

The whole POINT is that there's more to him than a resume. He's actually poking fun at the way he's perceived. The cleverness is the message.

I like the ads, but they are marketed for someone just like me. I think at this stage of the game with voting still months and months away, these kid of ads serve as a nice calling card for those not familiar with him.

Got to disagree with you on this one Kevin. And I agree with the Ed, the first poster, It doesn't seem like a political ad, so it will stand out & get noticed for precisely that reason.

Keep thinking outside the box, Bill!

Again, yes you're wrong. 1. It's amazingly efficient at explaining his Accomplishments (which is resume-plus) for those who don't know... and I Did know most of it but was re-impressed to see it all together. 2. It capitalizes on Bush fatigue. It's an "adults in charge"- substance not flash message. Swift Loris made this point... but it's especially important in the immediate post-Bush era. 3. The interviewer cleverly pans the media who will Not want to talk about his qualifications.
Good ad.

Ah, Kevin.

isn't Richardson's whole problem that even though he's got a resume as long as your arm nobody really knows what he stands for?

No. His problem is that nobody knows anything about him -- period. These ads are clever ways to get some basic info across.

My only problem with the ad is that toward the beginning BR mugs to the camera in a way that I found to be goofy and highly unpresidential.

Sorry, Kevin, you're so wrong -- I don't like Bill Richardson, but this ad is wonderful. This ad reminds me that even though there are things I don't like about him, there's a lot TO like.

It reminds me that the worst Democratic ("Doesn't this make you a little over-qualified?") candidate would be WONDERFUL after what we've had.

I'm curious: who's going to be convinced to vote for Richardson by seeing this ad? I'm just not sure who it's aimed at.

On the other hand, I agree that it's early days and it's not like it's going to do any harm. I guess I'm just old school on this stuff: new media or not, the point of advertising is to define yourself and get people to vote for you. I'm really not sure this does that.

Kevin, I disagree.

People will try to say this isn't presidential, but if Ronald Reagan or Bill Clinton tried this, it would be hailed as the brilliance of a true communicator (or some crap). It was the 40th most viewed vid on YouTube today, poised to go into the stratosphere.

I'm curious: who's going to be convinced to vote for Richardson by seeing this ad? I'm just not sure who it's aimed at.

That is not the purpose of this ad. The purpose is to whet your appetite about the guy. The next series of ads will (hopefully) present his policy prescriptions in a similar entertaining fashion.

The target audience is those who know nothing about him -- ie, practically everyone.

I thought the ads were effective. They pointed out Richardson's greatest strength in a way that grabbed my attention.

Also, most political ads are deadly dull, so that any bit of humor is gratefully received.

I do see Kevin's point. These ads don't aim their humor at the least common denominator watcher. I suppose that could be a problem, unless Richardson makes sure not to show them to LCD-type voters.

Yeah, you're wrong Kevin. At the Moveon Town Hall, Richardson had the most coherent presentation on what to do abut Iraq. He's been very clear on what he stands for. And the resume makes a very clear contrast to the lightweight republicans.

I'm supporting nobody--all the dem candidates are better than all the republican candidates, so I don't care all that much who gets the nomination. Hagel might edge out Kucinich, but he's not in. And he's shown zero political courage at a time we desperately needed it from republicans, especially republican senators.

Yeah. You're wrong, Kevin. It's a cool ad.

It's a great ad -- designed to be a clever intro piece for Richardson.

I'm an Obama guy, but this is very good.

You're too close to the inside baseball stuff to see why this works.

I don't think he'd be well served with an ad series that outlined where he stood on: a. Iraq b. global warming c. health care d. and so on. Especially since his positions on these and other issues are probably only marginally different from those of the top 3. He's a second tier candidate who - if the only measure were qualifications and experience - should be a first tier candidate. These ads raise that awareness in a self-deprecating, humorous manner. I say brilliant!

At this stage of the game, Richardson needs name recognition. The ads do it for him... And more.

"Bill Richardson? Oh yeah. He's the guy with the who's done lots of stuff!"

Richardson's biggest problem isn't that he hasn't outlined his position on the issues--it's that no one knows he exists. We're 18 months out from the election, and it's WAY too early to be issuing white papers, despite what Obama's competition claims. People won't be following issues for months. Right now they're trying to get a sense of the candidates. Richardson's ads are great for that. He knows the issues, but he needs a platform to discuss them, first.

Like pretty much everybody else, I think you're totally wrong, Kevin.

This is a good ad to introduce people to Richardson and to put across his big strong point with some personality.

Gov. Richardson will also be on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno this week - the ad will play well there, I think.

This early in the campaign, those ads are great. It defines him as Mr. Resume. They give him credibility in terms of experience, and make him seem approachable for making funny ads.

Still plenty of time to differentiate himself on policy and issues. None of the Democratic candidates are spending much time and effort claiming their own special turf on the issues as opposed to their Democratic opponents (with the exception of Edwards, I'd say), they're all establishing or repositioning their identity.

Congress, Cabinet, Governor, Ambassador -- if Richards can get people focused on the strength of his experience over the bag of Senators he's running against he's gonna become a serious contender.

You're totally wrong. Great ads. Kevin, you've just outed yourself as a CNN watching fogie.

I'm with Disputo. I think his problem is most people don't know who he is, not that they don't know what he stands for. And they don't know because people generally don't care very much about policy.

Why policy wonks aren't higher on him, I don't know. All I've heard are some vague rumblings about "personal issues" but I'm not really sure what's behind that. Beyond that, I think everyone's so focused on the more glamorous Big Three that they don't give Richardson a second thought.

Will these ads work? I don't know. But you have to admit, after hearing them, you think, "Damn, this guy's got some qualifications." Foreign policy experience? Check. Executive experience? Check. Legislative experience? Check. I can't think of the last President we had who really was this qualified.

(Maybe in our political system, experience is a bad thing?)

Yeah, have to agree with everyone else. Bill Richardson's got no chance unless he gets out there and gets an edge. He certainly isn't get any airtime with the Beltway crowd. They're obsessed with the Hillary vs. Obama meme. Like Dean, Richardson's going to have to manufacture his own following through direct marketing, new media, the blogosphere, etc. Edwards has kind of realized this and so has moved left to pick up the former Deaniacs.

Kevin: "I'm curious: who's going to be convinced to vote for Richardson by seeing this ad? I'm just not sure who it's aimed at."

Me. And my wife.

We're Democrats and very interested in politics, but weren't paying much attention to Richardson, considering him a very long longshot, definitely a second-tier canditate. The ads changed our minds. Yes, just these two little ads. We were reminded of his exceptional experience and thought he had a sense of humor -- i.e. we now think he's a serious canditate and we like him. We're not ready to vote for him in the primaries, but we're certainly paying attention.

I'd say that's exactly what the ads are designed to accomplish. Nobody ought to be running "Vote for Me" ads this early in the process. These are simply "Look at Me" ads, and they're extremely effective as such.
___________________________

It makes me want to know more about him but honestly, is he going to cut taxes AGAIN if he is elected? Didn't the Bush tax cuts fuck us
(those of us making less than $250,000) over extra hard the last few years?

I agree with everyone else, these are excellent ads. A point, I have already seen this ad linked to in 12 different places today. More than even the clinton as big brother ad. And I like it. It's funny. Do I know what he stands for? No. Do I really know that about anyone at this point? Not really. The point is no one even knows who he is, these ads help break this. And in a way people will actually enjoy and talk about (not just online). Also, he is running on his resume, which you know and I know but most people don't. Right now is for candidates to play to their strengths, and these ads do that wonderfully.

Kevin: "Sure, it's funny. ... But that doesn't necessarily make it a good ad for someone who wants to be president, does it?"

Stop being a stick in the mud.

What do you want -- 30 seconds of sleazy innuendo gleamed from warped interpretations of the official public record, climaxed by "Call Sen. Clinton, and tell her it's time to admit her responsibility for the premature arrival of the 2007 hurricane season"?

Why do we expect out presidential candidates to be devoid of any concept of humanity?

These are funny, hip, and timely. The only problem is that some people might think he's George Tenet.

And hey ... if the goat is consenting ...

These ads are also a snarky comment and and acceptably civil and subtle pre-emptive attack on the degraded, moronic, illiterate, and frivolous press coverage Richardson (and other candidates) will be getting. How much time do you think the press will spend on these kinds of qualifications? Close to zero, that's how much, and what they do cover will be worthless or even harmful, since the idiot TV fluff-heads will dismiss it as wonky stuff the typical or swing or important voter is not interested in, or they will mangle it up with their ignorance.

These are good ads, and I don't see what is wrong with them at all. They speak to qualifications and accomplishments needed for political leadership.

Meanwhile, here's a video Bill Richardson probably doesn't want 90% of America - or at least those who oppose ethnic nationalism - to see.

Not run the "sodomizing of the goat" ad?

What, and write off the Lonely Cowpoke vote?

Kevin,
You are wrong. Brilliant ads.

Winning ads. They convey that Bill Richardson is the most qualified candidate for prez quickly and succinctly and with humor. They work because they are not the same-o boring political ads, and since Bill currently has low awareness, with enough exposure, his name recognition and qualifications should rise fast. It will interesting to see the impact on polling, which I speculate will be positive.

But that doesn't necessarily make it a good ad for someone who wants to be president, does it?

Look, lets be honest here.

At this point, Bill Richardson is trying to be noticed at all. It's an attention getter ad, nothing more.

Once a few people are paying a bit of attention, looking Presidential rather than just playing for different and disruptive to get people to pay attention may matter.

Now, its anything to get attention that doesn't actively repel people. This ad is probably as good as any.

Great Ads!!

Okay Kevin,
The ads are great...I laughed out loud, while totally getting the gist which is, Richardson is way more qualified for the Presidency than the current bozo. I'm 49 yrs. old and I just "shared" the spots with my 19 and 16 year olds, who will appreciate the spots like their old mom. BTW....some of us are aware of who Richardson is...and this sort of attention is a win-win as far as I'm concerned.

Effective ad, I think, for all the reasons cited above. Richardson can display his earnest side when the time comes. In these aDS HE makes light of earnestness, and this will be effective with the restless electorate that watches YouTube.

Pay no attention to the "concern troll", that's just Kevin as usual.

(Kidding Kevin, but you're wrong.)

Jim in AZ >"At this stage of the game, Richardson needs name recognition. The ads do it for him... And more..."

Absolutely !

With humor which is the thing MOST needed in politics & we ALL know it.

At this point in the cycle even the goat ads would probably be fine, not that I`m into any of that sorta stuff but still...

Mr. Richardson needs to be a 1st tier candidate this cycle for the good of "We the people..."

"Dogs bark at what they don't understand." - Heraclitus

Just to keep stacking against you, Kevin, I can't see anything wrong with them.

They are probably not aimed at me, but I thought them refreshingly different from the usual stiff fakery we get inundated with aroound election time.

They will raise his profile. How much, though?

Yeah, I think this is great stuff, and I'm (sadly) not young and hip. Besides, any political ad that doesn't have a soft focus family prancing around in front of an American flag is a definite selling point.

Extraordinary, Kev! You've managed to get everyone here to vote 100% the same way!

Too bad it wasn't your way. But still - heckuva job, Kevie.

I have to agree with everyone else. It's pretty effective. I previously had no opinion of Richardson except that a friend whose opinion I respect thought well of him; now I kind of like him, and if he shows up in another context I'm much more likely to pay attention.

Make the 1001 against you. I agree with the first comment.

The overqualified in the second ad is a huge slam against Bush, and a distinction Richardson wants to draw with Obama, Edwards and Clinton.

The overqualified in the second ad is a huge slam against Bush

all that, and a wry laugh for displaced tech workers .

N.B., BR's media consultants are Murphy Putnam, who just hired Phil DeVellis of "Hillwell" ad fame. So no surprise they're doing an interesting campaign like this.

Kevin, you are one of the smartest bloggers, and you are so off base (not only is your criticism wrong, it's not possible to see how you got there from the ads you posted) that I must conclude that you are

*trolling your own blog*,

probably to drum up some noise for your secretly favored candidate.

Not the first time you've done it, either.

I normally agree with you, Kevin, but I gotta chime in and say you're wrong on this one. Good ads.

I agree entirely. It shows that not only is Bill Richardson a bad advocate for Bill Richardson, but his campaign even thinks so.

Full disclosure: I'm from New Mexico and have always been a big Bill Richardson fan. Voted for him for Governor both times.

This ad is perfect Bill Richardson - sense of humor, self-deprecating, able to relate to basically everyone.

If it's Madison Avenue schtick, at least it does a good job of capturing the public persona that Richardson has maintained throughout his political career in New Mexico. Unlike many of the Republicans running, he hasn't reversed course on his various past positions.

To see more about him and his background, check out the NM State Government website at

www.governor.state.nm.us

He's prominently featured on the State home page, as well

www.state.nm.us

Kevin, don't underestimate the power of humor. I remember Bill Clinton advising that Kerry "needed to smile more". I think Bill knows what he is talking about.

"..."Dogs bark at what they don't understand." - Heraclitus"
Posted by: daCascadian on May 9, 2007 at 10:46 PM

I remember a quote from a Talking Heads album sleeve a long time ago.. "Cats like houses better than people." (David Byrne?) Ooops, that should be posted on Friday :)

Jessie Ventura showed what you can do when you inject a little bit of sophisticated self depreciating humor into your political ads. And unlike Jessie (smart guy, but a political neophyte), Richardson has the bonafides to back it up. When was the last time Hillary or Obama made you laugh? Let alone Giuliani, McCain or Romney, who just make you sick to your stomach.

Kevin -- yup, have to call you out as an ol' fart here on this one. These are pretty clever ads. What hits home is the idea that experience and qualifications actually count for something in a president. How long has it been since we've heard that? And it's what sets Richardson apart from the rest of the Dem field in many ways (he certainly lacks Obama and Edwards' charisma and name recognition, though). Combining the idea of leadership and competence with some clever humor strikes just the right note, it seems to me. I really hope these get attention from the MSM.

I'll agree with you Kevin. Richardson comes across as sort of weak and passive, and I guess we're supposed to identify with the interviewer--we're interviewing him for president or something--except that the interviewer is beyond obnoxious. I think it's a great concept, pulled off very, very badly.

(And incidentally, I'm in my twenties. So double bonus points.)

If Richardson is smart, he could play up his "non-presidential" image. With all the preening lightweights out there running for president, he'd have the whole "ordinary guy with an incredible amount of experience" sector all to himself.

After eight years of Bush, 2008 is probably the best year to run an anti-image candidate we will see in a long, long time.

I'm no Bill Richardson follower, but these ads are brilliant. They're like an auto-insurance commercial.

WTF?

I didn't even know he was running before these ads.

Now I do.

That's a *huge* difference.

Well he got my sympathetic support, I really dislike HR people and that commercial nailed it perfectly for me.

I think the ads are just fine as well. They're clearly not aimed at me, however, who grew up in New Mexico's 3rd, and therefore he was my representative before I was even old enough to vote. And then I got to vote for him as rep 3 times after I was old enough to vote and before I moved to another state. So maybe I'm not the best judge.

The issue that I think may bite him is his role in the railroading of Wen Ho Lee. I would think a large part of the Democratic base would be upset over that.

I think the goat sodomizing might work. Maybe a fake attack ad with some grainy footage. But he should wait for a sustained swiftboat type attack before he puts it out.

The worst part of the ad is the music. It's not a laugh track, but . . .

I like him simply because he seems the most likely to respond to the inevitable Rovian swiftboating in an appropriately vehement manner.

In other words, he won't pull a Kerry, cowering and stammering, when the GOP attack machine cranks up.

Love 'em, love 'em, love 'em!!! But I also love this line of yours: "...complete with chin scratching quotes from Jay Rosen and Jeff Jarvis." Now ain't that the truth. So we'll all off the lynch mob for today.

Kevin,

I agree with most of the comments, that you missed the boat here. I've kinda liked Richardson since he came out in favor of more reasonable drug laws, but nobody else even knew who he was for the last 4 years. He would poll 1% or less in on-line polls about who should be the next president. These ads will raise his profile, and get people to take a closer look.

He isn't my first choice now (Edwards is) but I'm glad he's in the mix. He raised the quality of the debate among Dems.

I like the ads.

59-yr-old matron, here (Independent): I enjoyed the ads -- but wouldn't care to hear them again. Richardson needs to move past his own resume -- that's all he ever talks about. I start to feel like he's got a beef that we're all not more impressed (the "you're over-qualified" remark seems like a slam at the voter). Implied is that he's already earned "President," but I'd like to know what he'd do if he had it.

Another you're wrong vote. In fact they should roll them out on TV for a month or so in Iowa, NH, Nevada as introductory ads, then move to a more serious issue ad. Starting with a light touch in this day and age never hurts.

To quote you, Kevin, your comments are, "wildly, bizzarely, wrong". Very funny! I hadn't seen them yet and I just sent it out to 30 friends! The line "not exactly what we are looking for" is brilliant!

Kevin, THIS is an example of what you're missing about what pollsters do.

Richardson has several goals with this ad -- and one of 'em is coming in second to Clinton in NY state, possibly even winning outright if she tanks someplace.

In the 60s and 70s, there was a classic ad for an adult education/diploma mill for "what you've learned in life" that ran constantly in the NY media market (somewhat less so nationally), in which Abraham Lincoln is being interviewed by a guy from an employment agency. The guy finds Lincoln's credentials pretty thin, even when Abe says "I've done a lot of reading, sort of on my own." He flips through his rolodex and keeps saying the qualifications the guy with the hat and the beard doesn't have.

Then the guy takes a bite of his sandwich, and says, "Hey, Lincoln: ya got a chauffeur's license?"

THAT's why the sandwich: give it enough reps, and the ad is worth 10 points in NY, NJ, Pennsvlvania and Connecticut.

For most americans, Education, not health care or the war on iraq, is the biggest problem. And Richardson stress that well in the second ad.

And he knows that he needs a palatable to the general public. And that´s nothing better to do that than somekind of humor.

"Might be a little overqualified" - What an interesting idea for leadership in not only the Presidential office, but in other government positions as well. Underqualifieds have put so many overqualifieds on the sidelines.

The clown interviewer comes off as a typical Shrub appointee.

Yeah, one more "Great Ad" voter, although I still believe that the Lonesome Cowpoke vote is being overlooked.

I thought it was great and since (according to the website at the end of the ads) the ads are airing in Iowa, it doesn't seem fair to say that they're just targeting hipsters. As a former Iowan, I think they'll do well there.

I think his problem is that outside of political junkies that frequent websites like this one, not a lot of people know who he is or what he's done. These ads should help with that.

My kind-of right-wing but mostly apolitical boss actually watched the Democratic debate. He told me the next morning that he kind of liked that Richardson guy but that he'd never heard of him. These ads will speak to voters like him.

Y'all have overlooked ONE OTHER aspect of these ads that make them work . . .

identification.

The viewer identifies with Richardson. Anyone who has endured a job interview with an empowered idiot -- and who hasn't? -- feels sympathy with him.

And, I concur with everyone who has pointed out that these are "first impression" ads, not policy ads.

Oh, that's good! And I don't even LIKE Richardson!

These are the kind of pieces you do just before you host SNL and AFTER you've been defeated in a Presidential race.It just makes him look like a goofball who doesn't acknowledge the seriousness of the position he's applying for.

I Abhor Hillary (Although I'd still take her over the current Pub offerings), and really like Obama; but am starting to feel that we could use a common sense guy like Richardson, while Obama could use more experience. I'd love to see Obama swallow his ego and run with Richardson. Which would head the ticket, I'm not sure yet.

Speaking as a moderate Republican who will almost certainly not be voting for my party in the next presidential election, I like this ad. It's a good introduction to Richardson, who I know little about except for when he worked in the Clinton administration. His resume is indeed impressive. Also, he comes across as low key, humble, and self-deprecating. How refreshing that would be in a President after what we've been through.

Edwards' poll numbers were languishing until the press conference announcing his wife's cancer had returned, which was carried by all major news outlets. People vote for who they see most on the TV. While going door-to-door for Edwards in 2004 I had someone point-blank tell me that's why she was voting for Kerry. Scary, eh?

So yeah, anything that gets Richardson exposure is good. Smart people will vote for him because he's a good candidate. Easily manipulated people might vote for him because they know who he is.

Bill Bradley's SportsCenter commercial was funnier.

What I like about it is that it slams the mentality of the media in the presona of the interviewer.
And frankly it makes a very valid point. Richardson says, look I want to be President and I have all these qualifications, but you won't give me the time of day to make my case. Whose the idiot here me or you?
The answer is obvious and rings true. That's why the ad works.

The ads are brilliant. Period. Instant classics.

Kevin,

You're horribly wrong. Exactly the right thing for Richardson to do. In fact, I think he should have been even more expressive (maybe raising an eyebrow at the end of the first ad, for example). This is the perfect mode of communication in today's world and it will introduce him to a whole section of the populace who probably can't find New Mexico on a map of New Mexico.

Still, he ain't gonna win. Not enough moola. But, he'd make a fantastic VP choice, giving heft to someone like Obama or Edwards, both of whom are a bit light in the resume department.

Yet one more aspect about this: You *choose* to click the link to check it out versus being possibly bombarded or annoyed by it being played on TV. I think it would be great if *all* the candidates would post up different ads that you can browse through and check out at the time of your choosing rather than all the blaring negative agitprop you tyically see on TV. I realize the ad will air as well, but wonder if this will affect content in the future?

mhr,

Still running your Woolite sales pitch to those in the Twelve Step Goat Sodomizing program?

Since I'm over 60 I guess I'm one of the "old fogies" to whom you refer. May I give one rousing cheer from the fogies for Richardson's ad? At this point in the campaign, candidates are introducing themselves to the public. This ad introduces Richardson brilliantly. Your instincts are usually spot on, Kevin. How did you miss so badly on this one? Well, on Romney, too.....but I still love the cats.

Another advantage of rolling it out on youtube was that after viewing it, I donated $50. that I wasn't planning to give today to help air it.

Sounds like a brilliant plan gone right.

My advice to the BR campaign is to follow-up this with ramping up publicity about his energy background and his policy prescriptions in order to coincide with the ramping up of gas prices culminating in $5/gal gas this summer.

Count me as a thousand-and-one to one.

I generally prefer Republicans to Democrats, but I have to admit that Gov. Richardson seems like the best of the lot to me.

And the ad is hilarious AND (I hope) effective. C'mon, Kevin.

"the ramping up of gas prices culminating in $5/gal gas this summer.
Posted by: Disputo on May 10, 2007 at 1:21 PM"

Don't count on it.

Why is Bill Richardson not managing a 7/11? Is he not the guy who was in charge of sending those Los Alamos secrets directly to China when he was national security admin? His governorship is only rivaled by Marion Barry's mayorship.

Damn. Took long enough for a troll to appear. Are all you guys on vacation or something?

I really dont understand the OP, and those that agree with it.

Everyone and their mothers are sick and tired of campaign ads that are all the same.

This is great.

Vampire, you are an idiot.

After investigators dropped the original accusations against Lee, the government conducted a new investigation and charged Lee with improper handling of restricted data, to which he pleaded guilty as part of a plea bargain.

Secrets were not sold to China through Wen Ho Lee, he just improperly handled the material.

As soon as Richardson (Then Secretary of Energy) found this out, he fired Lee.

I really dont know how this was "Richardson's fault", and I have no clue where you got "national security admin" from.

Richardson has helped to grow the economy of New Mexico by 80,000 new jobs, made record investments in the classroom, and cut taxes. He also has an approval rating of over 60% in a red state - dont talk about "how bad" his career as Gov. has been, make sure you know what you are talking about before you speak.

What made it work for me was that last line about being "overqualified". I know charisma is important for *winning elections*--but it has nothing to do with how well a person will do as president. I am so frustrated with ads that are nothinig but cheap emotionalism and empty candidates that are nothing BUT charisma. This effectively sets Richardson apart from that trend. I cheer with delight to see someone demanding a higher level of intelligence in this whole election process. I agree with some of the other posters: he seems to be a strong candidate in terms of being able to do the actual job, and if Richardson lacks charisma, let him pair with one of the ohter candidates who has some to spare (Obama's wild popularity suggests him as a possibility, and a stint as VP would be a great way for him to gain experience and come back as the lead candidate eight years from now).

I liked the ad too.

Oh, and that commercial mentioned above with Abraham Lincoln?

It ran here in Illinois too. I remember seeing it when I was a child.

BTW, I think a pairing of Obama and Richardson would be fantastic. Or with Edwards.

Kevin- you missed this one. It was a great ad. Compared to most of the schlock that you see run on TV this well done, informative, thoughtful and had a sense of humor. For political ads this will rank at the top of the list in years to come.

You're so wrong. You're "Hey-I-know-let's-invade-Iraq!" wrong.
These are good ads that are not only funny, but damn hardworking.
The ads:
*List Richardson's resume in a way that's not deadly dull
*Sell "Brand Richardson," i.e. "The Experienced Foreign Policy Guy" quickly
*Demonstrate that he does things differently
*Make a break with the D.C. ad agency establishment - hello blogsphere?

Nice work. (By Richardson. You, Drum, you get a time out. Go pet the frickin' cats.)

I'm 55, a certified oldster, member of AARP and everything, and I loved these ads. Here's why:

* They get Richardson's message out and give all the reasons why he should be president and someone else to say them. (makes it more credible)

* They're funny. I listen.

* Without stating it, they cut Bush to the core and make the point that if you want the old, clueless, GOP hacks like Bush, you won't vote for Richardson.

Very cool. The actor they got to be the interviewer is perfect. The writing is great.

The whole set up creates the wrong impression.Richardson comes off like a defeated fifty something guy who just got cannned and has to kiss the ass of a young kid just to get hired at entry level management.Look at Richardsons face.The poor guy looks defeated.

Even in jest I don't want to see a Presidential candidate interviewing for the Job of President.I want to see a candidate who IS the President.It's all about attitude.

It's called "being self-deprecating." As in, "I'm secure enough that I can have a little fun."

As opposed to, "I'm the Decider."

Or even, (in robotic voice): "Hello. I would like to have "A Conversation." Because I am interested in what you think."

For YouTube, these ads are pretty good. They could be good prep for something larger.

He has to be careful when explaining what he stands for. In the MSNBC Democratic debate he named conservative "Wizzer" White asa his ideal Supreme Court justice, and decried what he actually stataes was Democrat's always calling for tax increases.

He won't get my vote.

Gotta pile on here, Kevin, they're great ads. They could be improved, though (the interviewer is us, and some of us don't like to be made fools of so much).

The interviewer should be a pompous, preening, pundit, on a glossy TV stage set, and after the comment that Richardson's overqualified, he should ask "How are you at clearing brush?" Richardson spit take, fade to black...

OK, maybe that's over the top, but it would get my vote. :)

I totally disagree. Manipulative and malicious negative campaign ads are the downfall of democracy. This Richardson ad is a great piece that uses new and creative ways to show what he is for, not what he's against.

At the same time, it's a subtle critique of the broken media that only allows us to see rockstars and those rolling in the money. Richardson's definitely got the experience edge and given time, I think he will rise to the occasion and give the so-called "front-runners" a run for their money. More importantly, his presence seriously elevates the entire debate.

theThirdPaul, above, hit close to the same reaction I had:
>The clown interviewer comes off as a typical Shrub appointee.

To me, the subtext of this ad is that the viewer, as a voter, needs to put the sandwich down and look at the qualifications of the presidential candidates, not which one they would want to have a beer with. Bill Maher a little while pointed this out, maybe the person in charge of the country should be a bit better then the average person.

Kevin--The comments are running 1000 to 1 against you because the ads are terrific. Just for the record, I am (a) not a Richardson supporter, and (b) at 56, a bit long in the tooth to be considered a member of the YouTube generation.

I like it. It's unique, original, and distinguishes himself from the other candidates. Another "we should not be in Iraq" add would make him sound just the same as everyone else and wouldn't give anyone a reason why he is better than any other Democrat. It gives solid reasons why Richardson is a good candidate. And the fact that it is unique draws attention to itself and Richardson, which is what Richardson needs at this point.

I love this ad. Why is this guy not a front-runner, and why do I know almost nothing about him?

I'm sorry Kevin, but you are crazy. Sorry to be the one to have to inform you.

Heaven forbid the most qualified candidate should actually get some consideration.

And heaven forbid he's not a stuffy suit.

As for there being no information in these two sets of adds, there's as much information in these two adds as there is in any of the other 30 second spots for other candidates I've seen.