Its just a billboard [View all]

[grantcart]

Background: Trump and McSally ads have vanished from the airwaves in AZ. We see lots of Kelly ads (very well done) and some Biden ads (also very well done). I think it is wise that both Trump and McSally save their money and not run ads because they were just terrible.

Now we know why Trump is going dark and not just in AZ:

TRUMP CAMPAIGN HAS MONEY PROBLEMS

https://politicalwire.com/2020/09/07/trump-campaign-has-money-problems/

“Money concerns are very real for President Trump’s campaign — an unusual predicament for a sitting president, and one that worries veteran Republican operatives, with Trump so far behind in swing states as the race climaxes,” Axios reports.

“The campaign’s view is that Trump will get his message out, and he depends less on paid media than normal politicians. But the number of states Trump has to worry about has actually grown, and Joe Biden’s massive August fundraising haul has given his campaign a lift as early voting begins.”

The AP reports the Trump campaign had pulled most TV ads over the previous week, ceding the airwaves to Biden, who was outspending Trump by more than 10 to 1.

New York Times: “The light television spending and advertising blackouts in some key states have mystified allies.”

Also gone are the ads on the electronic billboards.

So driving on freeways in Phoenix last week I was struck by a beautiful electronic ad that had a single word "BIDEN" against a deep blue background framed by the beautiful iconic sunset colors on the AZ state flag. Its a pretty standard format for candidates of both parties but when it is done on an electronic billboard it just projected a simple and surprisingly beautiful message. There were a couple of lines in small print but I couldn't read it but could see the simple message a couple of miles away.

It would rotate off the electronic billboard and then we get dozens of personal injury attorneys all with the same messages. No I didn't have a wreck but I still need a check and yes I know that you don't get paid until I get paid.

Eventually the Biden sign would rotate in view but now I was at an angle and couldn't see the small print.

Curious no other political advertising on the billboards but over the last week or so I kept my eye out for it.

Yesterday I was close enough and at the right angle that I could see the smaller print.

Its just a billboard but damn it, it choked me up.

I found a yard sign that has the same message and design but doesn't do justice to how it looks on a gigantic electronic billboard.



This is AZ and some Republicans here are financing their own campaign of hope and unity. President Biden will be able to bridge across America and build bridges and consensus with a sensible non Trump Republican remnant on the many things we do agree on, like NATO, refugees and the environment.

If AZ Republicans can join Democrats to elect Joe Biden President and send Mark Kelly to the Senate then we have reason to hope that this agonizing nightmarish experiment in authoritarian nihilism is coming to an end.