State - AdWatch Rep. Dingell airs TV ad critical of GOP challenger

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) -- The campaign of long-serving Democratic Michigan Rep. John Dingell is airing its first television ad. The 30-second spot entitled "Watchdog" criticizes Dingell's Republican opponent, Rob Steele, a cardiologist from the Ann Arbor area. The announcer says Steele approves of "tax cuts for wealthy Wall Street bankers" and "tax loopholes for corporations that ship our jobs overseas." Steele campaign manager Mike Marzano says the 55-year Dearborn incumbent "must feel threatened if he's going off on things like this." The ad began airing Tuesday on cable outlets and comes about a week after state Democrats launched an anti-Steele website. Steele has said the site shows the party is concerned about the 84-year-old's political future. TITLE: "Watchdog" LENGTH: 30 seconds. AIRING: Began airing Tuesday on cable. PAID FOR: By the John D. Dingell for Congress Committee. SCRIPT: John Dingell: "I'm John Dingell and I approve this message." ANNOUNCER: "John Dingell. America's watchdog. Cracking down on Medicare waste. Holding BP -- not taxpayers -- accountable. Keeping tainted food off the shelves. "Now meet millionaire Rob Steele -- Wall Street's yes man. Yes to Wall Street control of seniors' Social Security. Yes to tax cuts for wealthy Wall Street bankers. Yes to tax loopholes for corporations that ship our jobs overseas. Wall Street over working families? Say 'no' to millionaire Rob Steele's Wall Street agenda." KEY IMAGES: The ad opens with upbeat music and a picture of a smiling Dingell. It shows the congressman chatting with citizens, and the announcer's words appear in written form next to the video footage. About a third of the way in, the mood of the ad changes abruptly. The music becomes foreboding, and the screen darkens. A still picture of Steele appears and moves slowly around as the announcer's words pop up as he says them. The ad contains footage of Dingell -- himself 84 years old -- sitting and talking with an older person and accuses Steele of putting "Wall Street" in charge of Social Security. ANALYSIS: Dingell, who is the longest-serving member in the history of the U.S. House, and state Democrats are amping up their attacks on Steele. The TV spot comes about a week after the party launched an anti-Steele website, that, like the ad, tries to paint the 52-year-old cardiologist from Washtenaw County as too wealthy and out-of-touch to relate to voters in southeastern Michigan's 15th Congressional District. Steele, a political newcomer, probably wouldn't pose much of a danger to Dingell, who has been in office nearly 55 years, in a regular election year. But this time around, with an anti-incumbent mood prevailing throughout the country, anything seems possible. So Dingell goes hard at Steele in this ad, trying to tie him to "Wall Street," the perceived problem behind the ongoing recession that has struck Michigan particularly hard. Dingell held a 9-to-1 cash-on-hand advantage over Steele through mid-July, and he's putting some of that campaign money to use here, hoping to put a halt to any momentum his challenger may have going for him with 40-odd days remain ing before the Nov. 2 general election. Steele's campaign manager, Mike Marzano, said the ad shows Dingell is anxious about his chances of winning re-election; Dingell campaign manager Jason Ellenburg said his candidate will continue to be aggressive, no matter the opponent. Other candidates in the 15th District race include Aimee Smith of the Green Party, Matthew Lawrence Furman of the U.S. Taxpayers Party and Libertarian Kerry L. Morgan. Published: Thu, Sep 23, 2010