Bush And Gore in Air War
The CBS News Political Unit is tracking the campaign commercials of the presidential hopefuls. Sean Richardson analyzes a TV commercial from Al Gore that slams George W. Bush's record on education.
The Gore ad is a response to a Bush TV commercial that attacks the Clinton-Gore record on education.
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The Ad: Last Friday, the air war between Al Gore and George Bush began. Bush threw the first punch, but Gore was quick to punch back. Bush released a new ad in which he criticizes the Clinton-Gore administration for failing to fix Americas schools. Gore responded with a new 60-second spot, called Turning, in which he claims that Bush is using the same "dirty politics" that he used against John McCain.
Audio: George W. Bush: From South Carolina to New York, he used dirty politics to trash John McCain's record. Now he's running attack ads against Al Gore.
Al Gore has fought to put 100,000 new teachers in the classroom; for tougher standards to make sure our children are learning; to give parents more choice in choosing public schools. Now, for the first time, reading scores in the key grades of 4th, 8th and 12th are going up across America.
And Gore has a plan to bring revolutionary improvements to our schools: Smaller class sizes. Higher standards for teachers and students. Rebuilding crumbling schools. Turning around failing schools.
Bush's Texas record? Forty-fifth in the nation in SAT scores; an accountability system so full of cheating its under investigation; Texas ranked the 48th worst state in America to raise a child.
On the issue of education, America deserves a real debate, not more negative ads from George W. Bush.
Al Gore is ready. Is George W.?
Video: The ad opens with a picture of Bush and then cuts to a scene with John McCain and Bush. We then see the words Push Polling, Negative Attacks and Attack phone calls scrolling across the screen. The spot then cuts back to Bush with "Now he's running attack ads against Al Gore," appearing in text on the screen. The ad then shows Gore talking with school children and text emphasizing 100,000 new teachers. We then see a woman in a library and more text stating "Tougher Standards." The ad then proceeds to a shot of a parent going over homework with her children and text scrolling across the screen stating, "Al Gore gives parents more choice." The spot then shows children reading and text claiming "Reading scores are up in 4th, 8th and 12th grades." Next, we see a casually dressed Gore and text stating "Al Gore improvements in education." The ad then proceeds through a series of shots showing Gore interacting at schools with children and teachers. Throughout this collage text is scrolling across the screen reading "Al Goe - Smaller class sizes," "Al Gore - Higher Standards" and "Al Gore - Turns around failing schools." The spot then cuts to a shot of Bush and uses text to emphasize his record on education in Texas. The text reads, "45th in SAT scores, Accountability system under investigation" and "48th worst state to raise a child." The ad then shows text stating "America deserves a real debate on education, not more negative ads from George W. Bush." The spot closes with text stating "Al Gore is ready. Is George W.?"
Fact Check: No Inaccuracies.
Strategy: With this new spot the Gore campaign is able to accomplish several things. First, by criticizing Bush for going negative against Gore, as he did against McCain, they are wooing McCain supporters who are still disgruntled over the primary campaign tactics.
The second goal is to attack Bush's claim that he's a "Reformer With Results." Since early last week, the Gore campaign has been hammering away on Bush's education record and his proposed agenda. Doug Hattaway, Gore 2000 national spokesman, states, "On education, as on so many issues, George W. Bush is all hat and no cattle. His agenda could hurt public schools with a risky tax scheme that could force deep cuts in education."
Since Gore outlined his education proposal in Lamoni, Iowa, last May, hes attempted to label himself as the only candidate who can revolutionize schools. He's received the endorsement of the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers, but Bush isnt backing off an issue which is important for all Americans and a particular concern for those key swing voters, "moms."