Puff Puff Vote ... for Herman Cain

[Care Bear]

This has to be one of the weirdest campaign ads ever produced. What message is Herman Cain trying to send? And does he know his chief of staff looks like a Chicago cop?

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2011/10/herman_cain_ad_smoking_cigarette.html

 

[Mizzougrad96]

The latest CBS poll has him leading...

 

[Armchair_QB]

The latest CBS poll has him leading...

I'm starting to think Herm is taking a page out of Art Carlson's campaign manual.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4viyv_carlson-for-president-part-2_fun

 

[Lieslntx]

I thought there were rules against showing people smoking in ads. At least the ones shown on TV. Am I mistaken?

 

[Mizzougrad96]

This is definitely the strangest primary season of my lifetime... Not like I have any real memories of anything before 1984, but this has been one strange ****ing campaign, in part because whoever comes out of this has a pretty good shot at winning.

 

[Care Bear]

I thought there were rules against showing people smoking in ads. At least the ones shown on TV. Am I mistaken?

I think this was originally a viral video that is now getting play on TV.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

This is definitely the strangest primary season of my lifetime... Not like I have any real memories of anything before 1984, but this has been one strange ****ing campaign, in part because whoever comes out of this has a pretty good shot at winning.

It still reminds me of 2004, but the party is switched. There's a vulnerable incumbent, but the other party's candidates seem like the Island of Misfit Toys.

I believe Cain is the next Trump/Bachmann/Perry, doomed to plummet once the newness wears off. All it will take is a few more people figuring out what 9-9-9 would really do for them.

It's totally out of character for the GOP. It's typically the Democrats who cough up the list of weirdos for the primaries. The Republicans have traditionally been much better at lining up behind a clear candidate. Eventually I think it almost has to be Romney, but getting there has been a long, strange trip.

 

[FileNotFound]

This ad absolutely has to be a gag. Saturday Night Live couldn't have concocted something as funny.

 

[Care Bear]

What is the point of the smoking? Herman Cain just doesn't give a ****? Or are they taking a shot at Obama? Or is everyone involved in that camp simply flying high on angel dust and catnip?

 

[PCLoadLetter]

What is the point of the smoking? Herman Cain just doesn't give a ****? Or are they taking a shot at Obama? Or is everyone involved in that camp simply flying high on angel dust and catnip?

It almost has to be sucking up to a certain demo. I'm guessing they're targeting a certain group of potential voters and determined that a high percentage are smokers.

 

[Boom_70]

I think the purpose is to symbolize personal freedom and that Herman Cain won't be telling you how to live your life at every turn.

The ad reminded me a bit of the old Artie Johnson skit

"Very interesting but stupid"

 

[YGBFKM]

He's got my vote!

 

[The Big Ragu]

Herman Cain may know little about foreign policy or diplomacy. But he knows a lot about publicity. And he knew that the smoking thing would get attention. Same deal with 9-9-9. It's catchy. Along with his personality, it gets him noticed.

I'd bet that most Americans can't name one person running as a Republican right now. Just having name recognition can get you to the top of the polls at this stage. And that seems to be the tact Herman Cain is taking.

 

[Boom_70]

Also think it's designed to get people talking about Obama still smoking.

Creates a bit of a dilemma as to how Obama camp should respond.

 

[Iron_chet]

I eagerly await the next Herman Cain ad with the Honey Badger guy narrating.

"OOH look at that...Herman Cain don't care, he just doesn't give a ****"

"Watch out says Mark Block"

 

[Greenhorn]

Script for the next Cain campaign ad:

Cain:

"Hi I'm Herman Cain. I've never been elected to anything in my life and that is why I think you should vote for me as President of the United States."

 

[Boom_70]

Script for the next Cain campaign ad:

Cain:

"Hi I'm Herman Cain. I've never been elected to anything in my life and that is why I think you should vote for me as President of the United States."

I kind of like " Hi I'm Herman Cain and I actually held a real job before deciding to run for President"

 

[Care Bear]

Update from first link:

Update: The Smoking Man, Mark Block, told Fox News this afternoon that there was no deeper meaning to the smoking scene:

“The message behind the ad was to our supporters that we’re on a roll. We’re excited about what’s happening. There was no subliminal message. In fact, I personally would encourage people not to smoke. It’s just that I’m a smoker. A lot of the people on the staff said ‘Just let Block be Block."

However, he soon added:

“I tell you, you walk into a veteran’s bar in Iowa and they’re sitting around smoking and you know we are resonating with them. I’m not the only one that smokes in America for God’s sake."

 

[Greenhorn]

Being a lawyer is not a real job? Teaching at a university is not a real job?

 

[Boom_70]

This could be the most important cloud since the Goldwater mushroom cloud.