McCain Plugs Michigan Solon
The CBS News Political Unit is tracking the latest campaign commercials. Jane Ruvelson takes a look at a TV commercial for Michigan Sen. Spence Abraham that features Sen. John McCain.
The Ad: Michigan Sen. Spence Abraham, who is running for re-election against Democratic Rep. Deborah Stabenow, has released his third campaign commercial. The spot, called Fair Share, features Sen. John McCain praising Abraham for his hard work on behalf of Michigan's highways. The ad is running statewide for the next few weeks.
Audio: Announcer: When Michigan wasn't getting enough highway funding, Spence Abraham went to work.
McCain: I remember during the highway bill, Spence was really fighting for Michigan. He'd go senator to senator...
Abraham: ... almost door to door to make it clear that this time, Michigan taxpayers were going to get their fair share.
Announcer: The result: 68 percent more highway funding. $350 million more a year.
McCain: You know, we have a saying about the United States Senate: There's show horses and there's workhorses. Spence Abraham is a workhorse.
Visual: The commercial opens with a scene of a clogged freeway and features McCain and Abraham speaking to the camera.
Fact Check: No inaccuracies.
The Strategy: With Fair Share, Senator Abraham capitalizes on Michigan residents' esteem for John McCain, who captured the support of many Independents and Democrats and won the state Republican primary with 51 percent of the vote. McCain's endorsement helps establish Abraham as a diligent public servant and one who gets results. Previously, Abraham's Senate accomplishments have been largely unknown in Michigan.
McCain's testimonial is especially notable because he voted against the transportation package which allocated the highway funds described in Fair Share. The package earned McCain's ire because of the $900 billion of pork barrel projects it contained; however, he was supportive of parts of the legislation, including a measure championed by Senator Abraham. Specifically, Abraham fought to return a portion of the federal gas tax to the states. He was successful and Michigan has $350 million in highway spending to show for his efforts.