In a well-produced video, Ed Gillespie looks to connect with Virginia and motivate the conservative base:
Starting off with a quote from Thomas Jefferson about resistance to government and transitioning to George Washington on the dollar bill, Gillespie uses Virginia’s history of resistance to tyranny, its fierce independence, and a loyalty to the commonwealth as the theme for his latest social media ad.
Gillespie uses the familiar narrative that leadership is not just about what one says, but what one does. The implication being that his opponent, Sen. Mark Warner, has voted with Pres. Barack Obama’s policies 97 percent of the time overall and 117 of 117 times just this year.
The ad continues by showing where Gillespie has stood up for conservatives and confronted the liberal press. It also is explicit in that Warner is the president’s blank check on “reckless spending,” is opposed to a balanced budget amendment, and has supported ObamaCare.
The big finish comes full-circle in that Gillespie says that he is true to Virginia’s founding principles and recognizes that it’s not about the leadership, but the people they serve.
This is an ad that targets the patriotic spirit of Virginians. It implicitly acknowledges that Gillespie is the underdog against a strong central government – and a strong opponent, but that this vote is about Virginia’s liberty and freedom.
Will this video be a catalyst to motivating conservatives for a final push and vote?