Listenting to the growing chorus of complaints about the competence of gubernatorial campaign of Ken Cuccinelli, one most frequently hears that he “doesn’t have a message” or that his entire campaign consists of simply slamming the ethics-challenged Terry McAuliffe.
That’s not entirely fair, nor is it accurate. Cuccinelli’s biggest problem is that he and his allies are getting blown out on TV by McAuliffe and his network of allies — especially in the expensive DC market. Anyone watching TV in DC can see the stark difference in ad volume.
According to Washington Post reporting, McAuliffe has spent $3.9 million on TV versus $2.9 million for Cuccinelli; McAuliffe allies have spent an additional $1.1 million versus just $477k for Cuccinelli backers.
Cuccinelli, in fact, has invested plenty of his resources attempting to define and develop his jobs message — the problem is that the other side has dumped a load of highly focused, effective, simple anti-Cuccinelli advertising that he’s “focused on his own agenda — not on us.”
Cuccinelli’s ‘agenda’ — according to the other side — centers around the issues of abortion, alleged anti-woman viewpoints, and other hot button issues that have driven his unfav near or even above 50%, according to some polls.
Unfortunately, the spending disparity will continue to grow, and there no easy strategic answers for the GOP candidate.
However, the charge that Cuccinelli hasn’t attempted to develop his rationale more fully is unwarranted. The other side simply has too big of a cash disparity, and a more potent negative message.
Gordon Hensley