Iowa Machine Shed TV commercial creates a stir - AP [View All]

My title? republicans eating their own!!


A complaint has been filed with the Federal Election Commission over television commercials being aired by a Republican candidate for Iowa’s 1st Congressional District with opponents claiming the spots are a cloaked effort to boost the candidate’s image.

Brian Kennedy, who also is seeking the Republican nomination, filed the complaint over commercials being run by Mike Whalen, which promote Whalen’s business the Iowa Machine Shed.

The commercials feature Whalen sitting at a table in one of his restaurants talking about his business philosophy and how he’s tied to the land in Iowa.

Kennedy said the commercials are more about touting Whalen’s candidacy than the restaurant, and allow him to use corporate money in the image-making effort.

<snip>



http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051130/NEWS09/51130012/1056

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Couple of notes in this race - Kennedy is losing the money race BIG TIME! and can't get any press/media attention - I guess he'll get it now.

Also, here in Black Hawk County two of the republicans running for County Supervisor walked a very fine line using their business advertising colors and symbols in their campaign advertising. Democrats filed an ethics complaint and the board basically said what they were doing wasn't right, but not bad enough to get fined. republicans jumped all over Democrats for being poor sports. Now they're attacking one of their own. Fun.

Last I think this only helps Bill Dix (even though Whalen has the most money, if he gets a slap on the wrist for this are republicans going to want someone with baggage in the race against a clean Democrat) because he's staying out of the fight and just plugging away. (Remember Dean/Gephardt in the Caucuses?)