Martin v. Bob and Big Oil

By now, you've probably read or heard about the latest piece of nasty back-and-forth business between Gov. Martin O'Malley and Robert L Ehrlich, Jr., the Republican challenger. It involves a radio attack ad from O'Malley's campaign linking Ehrlich to the BP oil spill. The Sun's political team has been all over it. Read some of the coverage here at the Maryland Politics blog. Beyond the bareknuckled ugliness of the attack and the degree to which it has clearly gotten under Ehrlich's skin, what fascinates me is how old media (radio) appears to have been far more effective than new media (YouTube video) in launching the attack. Take a look at this video that was posted at YouTube June 1 by Maryland Democrats. It's titled "Big Oil Bob" and I think it is much harsher and nastier than the radio ads that Ehrlich is now pushing back hard against. As such dirty ads go, this is a winner.



Note the visual imagery of dead and oil ravaged waterfowl to which Ehrlich is linked. Note the images of Ehrlich and his wife, Kendel, looking, well, somewhere between goofy and stupid. When you ad the audio of Ehrlich saying, "Drill baby, drill," along with Kendel's seemingly silly laughter, you have a fairly personal, down and dirty political attack ad. And yet, there was not that much impact. The video was only viewed 318 times in the past 16 days, and there is no instant counterattack from Ehrlich on his Facebook page. Now comes the radio attack ad this week, and even without the powerful visuals, it strikes a nerve -- at least with Ehrlich. Take a look at his instant video reply posted on Facebook Thursday. In only four hours, it had 133 views.



Why the instant reaction by Ehrlich to the radio ad? I believe that Ehrlich thinks he owns radio in this campaign by nature of the relationship he and his wife have with WBAL, and I think the Democrats found a way to rattle him. If I was the Democratic Party of Maryland, I'd be on the phone with WBAL this morning buying airtime just before and during the show Ehrlich hosts with Kendel every Saturday morning. You want to set the agenda of that show, run this ad. And if the station won't take your Democratic money, after you call the FCC, call me, and I'll write about it until the cows come home. With these attack ads, dueling YouTube videos, Facebook responses and the apparent power of the very old medium of radio to unsettle Ehrlich, this race is starting to look like it might still be a media feast. SOURCE: Baltimore Sun