CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – Candidate for governor Tim Michels is a shining example of the benefits of good advertising. He spent $12-million of his own money on high-quality TV, cable, internet and radio ads. He won the Republican primary over Rebecca Kleefisch, even though she had much more political experience, and was a better debater and public speaker.
You’d expect Tim Michels to re-up with his ad agency and produce more and better commercials for the general election against Tony Evers. And yet since winning the primary last month, Tim Michels’ advertising has almost disappeared. It is Tony Evers and his political action groups who’ve been advertising. And they’re run mostly negative ads that Michel’s hasn’t responded to. The claims: “Tim Michels will allow 18 year olds to buy AK-47s,” “Tim Michels will allow guns in school,” and “Tim Michels will fund private schools and allow Milwakee’s schools to go bankrupt.” They all end with the same tag line: “Tim Michels is too radical for Wisconsin.”
Well, the ads are gross distortions. Most political advertising is.
My concern is this: Tim Michels is still unknown to a large number of voters. If his opponent claim that Michels is a right-wing radical, and he’s not even on the playing field with his own ad campaign, that’s the impression that will stick. He’ll be defined by his political opponents.
So, Tim Michels, where’s the advertising? Where’s the commitment that you are going to work at least as hard and spend at least as much to win the general election as you did the primary?
This is a dangerous time for those of us who don’t want four more years of Tony Evers. The polling suggests the race is close. One campaign is being aggressive. The other is strangely silent.
I’m worried that Tim Michels is blowing it right before our eyes.
Chris Conley
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