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Political Commercials

Political commercials can run the gamut, from ads that attack an opponent to ads that build up the candidate, from ads that are meant to turn out certain demographics to ads that are meant to keep certain demographics at home on election day. The best political commercials are those that create a lasting impression in the minds of their viewers, that impact all those who watch them regardless of their political orientation. The three best political commercials in the last forty years are "Daisy," "Weekend Passes," and "Wolves." While these commercials are all different, they each created a visceral reaction in their viewers that helped their candidates get elected. In the final analysis, the best political advertisements are those that foment a gut reaction in their viewers irregardless of their political leanings. By this measure, the three ads discussed in this paper are the best political advertisements ever created.

In 1964, Lyndon Johnson aired perhaps the most famous and most effective political ad in the history of presidential elections. Entitled "Daisy," the ad showed a little girl standing in a field as a voice counted down. When the voice reached zero, a nuclear explosion can be seen in the background. The ad portrayed Johnson's opponent as a cowboy who would invite nuclear war if elected. It was only shown once, and never mentioned Johnson's opponent's name, but it created such a stir in the media and among the public that to this day it is considered the greatest political ad in the history of the medium. "Daisy" basically preyed on the fears of the public, and its impact on the viewer was tremendous. The ad demonstrated the power television has to make an emotional argument that sways its viewers (Riechers).

In 1988, Ronald Reagan benefited from one of the most infamous political advertisements in the history of television. Entitled "Weekend Passes," the ad was unique because it was put on the air...

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Political Commercials. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 13:39, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1704175.html