Bush Launches Debate Attack Ad

Commercial Portrays Gore As A Hypocrite

(CBS)  The CBS News Political Unit is tracking the latest campaign commercials. Jane Ruvelson analyzes a new ad from George W. Bush's campaign attacking Al Gore on the presidential debates issue.

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The Ad: Wednesday, the Bush campaign launched a new ad entitled Credibility criticizing Al Gore for committing to debate "anytime, anywhere" but subsequently rejecting a three-debate proposal made by Bush. The 30-second spot will be added to other Bush ads currently being aired in 17 battleground states.

Audio: Announcer: Labor Day weekend, Governor Bush accepts a record five national debates. March 14th, Al Gore says he'd debate on CNN. July 16th, Al Gore said he'd debate on NBC. When it was politically convenient, Gore said he'd debate "anytime, anyplace, anywhere." Now that Governor Bush has accepted, Gore says, "unacceptable." Does Al Gore now mean debates depend on his meaning of "anytime, anywhere?" If we can't trust Al Gore on debates, why should we trust him on anything?

Visual: Credibility opens with footage of Bush speaking in a panoramic frame with a black background and the words "Governor Bush accepts a record 5 national debates" underneath. A similar screen appears next with footage of Gore with the date "March 14, 200" and then "July 16, 200" underneath. The screen then goes to black while displaying "Gore said he’d debate anytime, anyplace, anywhere. June 25, 2000" and then "Now that Governor Bush has accepted, Gore says, ‘unacceptable.’ " Footage of Gore returns to the screen with "anytime" and then "anywhere" written underneath the footage. The screen returns to black and "If we can’t trust Al Gore on debates, why should we trust him on anything" appear. At the bottom of the screen "Paid for by Bush – Cheney 2000, Inc" is displayed.

Fact check: Credibility is misleading. Though Gore did agree to the debates mentioned in the ad, and has subsequently said he won’t take part in them, Gore has also said Bush's proposal can't substitute the debates proposed by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates.

The Strategy: Less than a week after the Republican National Committee released an ad questioning Gore's credibility, the Bush campaign uses Credibility to highlight the same by portraying Gore as a hypocrite on the debate issue.