Exclusive: Nancy Pelosi targeted in more than a third of GOP House commercials

[DonViejo]

Source: USA Today



Craig Gilbert, USA TODAY NETWORK Published 12:21 p.m. ET April 1, 2018 | Updated 11:18 a.m. ET April 2, 2018

WASHINGTON — Nancy Pelosi has long been a favorite target of GOP attack ads. But Republicans seem to be taking it to another level in this election cycle.

The House Democratic leader has been featured in roughly one-third (34%) of all GOP broadcast ads aired in House races this year, according to data provided to the USA TODAY NETWORK by Kantar Media’s Campaign Media Analysis Group (CMAG), which tracks political advertising. That compares with 9% in all of 2016 and 13% in 2014.

“Obama’s departure and the lack of a Clinton presidency has left Pelosi as the de facto stand-in as head of the Democratic Party” and shorthand to Republican voters for “liberal big government,” said Erika Franklin Fowler, a Wesleyan University political scientist who co-directs the Wesleyan Media Project, which analyzes broadcast advertising in federal elections.

The key example of the strategy so far this year was the hard-fought special election for Pennsylvania’s 18th congressional district, where 58% of GOP spots mentioned the San Francisco Democrat, according to CMAG.


Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/04/01/nancy-pelosi-targeted-republican-2018-midterm-congressional-commercials/469453002/

[RandySF]

1. It's going to fail spectacularly.

Anyone supposedly freaked out over Nancy will find another motivation to vote Republican.

[bettyellen]

2. This is divide and conquer again. Dems should not fall for this crap.

[zipplewrath]

3. Any evidence it works?

They can try this, out of desperation, but is there any evidence it works? I can't tell you the number of deplorables I know that wouldn't be able to pick her out of a line up. Most either don't know her name, or can't tell you what her position is. The most humorous are the ones that identify her as the "majority leader", or "House Speaker". One would think that'd piss of Ryan.

[TeamPooka]

4. Well, they don't have Hillary to demonize anymore and the GOP has to attack a woman

because misogyny is their thing, so there you go.

[sandensea]

9. +1

That's what it's all about.

Most Republican men resent accomplished women with strong personalities to no end - and Republican women resent them even more!

[OldHippieChick]

12. I've read that many are running against

Hillary as well. I'm sure they also put Elizabeth Warren's face on ads. When are Repuke women going to wake up?!??!?!?

[not fooled]

15. ++++1

Pick a Democratic woman, any woman.

[GentryDixon]

5. She was a very effective Speaker.

They are scared shitless of her & her ability to whip her colleagues.

[apnu]

6. Republicans: We have no arguments or ideas, so here's a scary boogeyman.

They've got nothing else. Its pathetic.

[Hortensis]

7. Could we refer them along to Sanders? Not a Dem, but

according to some articles Democrats have been replaced by him and he "has the people." Go get 'em!

[Mr.Bill]

8. The fact is

they are scared shitless of her, and this is proof.

[AllaN01Bear]

10. they keep going after her, and it fails misrably.

[lunasun]

11. Still waiting for those "Nancy Pelosi style politics" to take over the country. They have been on

Pelosi for so long . They never give up trying to get rid of a formidable rival . Ha ha powerful foe is staying

[Canoe52]

13. They sure are afraid of these women they keep trying to marginalize.

[Progressive dog]

14. Pennsylvania 18 was

"key example of the strategy". That strategy didn't work in a district Trump won by 20%.

[TheDebbieDee]

16. And Cong Pelosi should turn the tables on the

Republicans by "Endorsing" a few GOP Candidates! Make them $hit themselves and spend millions of $ disavowing her "Endorsement". Low-info republican voters will vote for the Dem just to vote against Pelosi!

Make the republicans pay and think twice about demonizing ANOTHER Dem!

Hillary Clinton should do the same just for phun!

[BaronChocula]

17. THE QUESTION EACH DEM SHOULD ASK ON THE STUMP...

Why is my opponent running against Nancy Pelosi? Does s/he even know what district s/he's running for?