Daily Ad Track

By Abby Livingston

Posted November 2, 2012 at 3:48pm

This is the post we have been dying to write for months — the meanest, most vicious, most depraved House and Senate political advertisements we were able to track down over the past year.

There is a certain art form to the knock-your-socks-off nasty ad. In this record breaking year, it takes more than ominous music, an indignant voice-over and grainy, unflattering, black-and-white footage to break out of the pack.

But there is a line, and a campaign can go too far. Some ads break through the clutter brilliantly and some have backfired in epic fashion.

For better or worse, the following ads broke through the clutter this year. Daisy, “Harold, call me” and Willie Horton almost seem quaint.

10.

Arizona Senate

Group sponsoring the ad: Jeff Flake for Senate and the National Republican Senatorial Committee

Candidate attacked: Former Surgeon General Richard Carmona (D)

Most awkward employee yearly review ever?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4k8sMJdIhJg&feature=player_embedded

New Jersey 3

Group sponsoring the ad: Shelley Adler for Congress

Candidate attacked: Rep. Jon Runyan (R)

Adler compares Runyan to Hurricane Sandy in a radio ad. Too soon. If ever.

Missouri Senate

Candidate attacked: Rep. Todd Akin (R)

A victim of sexual assault slams Akin. The only reason this one is not rated higher is because we saw it coming a mile away.

Michigan Senate

Group sponsoring the ad: Hoekstra for Senate

Candidate attacked: Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D)

So over the top that we could not even find it on Pete Hoekstra’s YouTube channel anymore.

California 30

Group sponsoring the ad: Berman for Congress

Candidate attacked: Rep. Brad Sherman (D)

Valley resident Mr. Miyagi could not have crafted a better political karate chop.

Wisconsin Senate

Group sponsoring the ad: Tommy Thompson for Senate

Candidate attacked: Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D)

Using 9/11 to paint one’s opponent as weak and unpatriotic feels so 2002.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-D0pRECu9u0&feature=plcp

4. Florida 18

Group sponsoring the ad: Allen West for Congress

Candidate attacked: Businessman Patrick Murphy (D)

West’s charges against Murphy pale in comparison to the others on this list, but the execution of this ad was flawless.

Rhode Island 1

Group sponsoring the ad: National Republican Congressional Committee

Candidate attacked: Rep. David Cicilline (D)

Extra nasty points for jamming the words “child molester,” “murderer,” “violent attacker” and the candidate’s name in the first seven seconds.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=aakFBXsk9HE

Colorado 6

Group sponsoring the ad: House Majority PAC

Candidate attacked: Rep. Mike Coffman (R)

Versions of this ad aired against several House and Senate Republican candidates. The tone has the sincerity of a public service announcement and the political instincts of Lee Atwater.