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Campaign Ads

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Comedy

Every Political Ad Ever

You can't trust a guy with graphics like this.

Meredith Bragg and Austin Bragg | 9.15.2020 10:30 AM

Bloomberg-and-Steyer-Newscom

Campaign Finance

The Bloomberg and Steyer Fiascoes Should Give Pause to Speech Restrictionists

No amount of money can buy victory for candidates who fail to persuade voters.

Jacob Sullum | 3.11.2020 12:01 AM

upiphotostwo706283

Campaign Ads

In Debate Over Political Speech Online, Facebook Has the Constitution on Its Side

As surely as winter follows fall, Republican election victories are followed by unconstitutional attempts to restrict political speech.

Ira Stoll | 11.4.2019 4:00 PM

Donald-Trump-social-media-summit-7-11-19-Newscom

First Amendment

Democrats Join Trump in Seeking Balance by Policing Speech

The constitutional amendment they support, like the president’s plan to regulate social media, trusts the government to moderate our political debate.

Jacob Sullum | 8.14.2019 12:01 AM

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Election 2020

Mike Gravel: The Candidate of Anti-Imperialism, Direct Democracy, and Video Art

Friday A/V Club: The past and possibly future presidential candidate starred in some of the greatest, strangest campaign ads ever made.

Jesse Walker | 3.22.2019 11:05 AM

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Kirsten Gillibrand

Kirsten Gillibrand the Brave Enters the Democratic Presidential Ring

She's a centrist turned progressive.

Shikha Dalmia | 3.18.2019 7:00 AM

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Lyndon LaRouche

Lyndon LaRouche, 1922–2019

Friday A/V Club: The death of a charmless kook

Jesse Walker | 2.15.2019 8:30 AM

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Voting

6 of the Worst Campaign Ads This Election Cycle

Outing survivors of sexual assault, warning that Democrats "will be lynching black folk again," and other stupid campaign-ad tricks.

Joe Setyon | 10.19.2018 2:45 PM

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Campaign Ads

Candidate and Daughter Build Trump's Border Wall in Cringeworthy Campaign Ad

The ad also shows Ron DeSantis reading to his son from The Art of the Deal and teaching his daughter to say "make America great again."

Joe Setyon | 7.30.2018 2:35 PM

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Russia

Feds Announce Indictments of Russian Nationals for Attempting to Influence American Elections

Thirteen individuals and three companies accused of conspiracy against the U.S., wire fraud, and identity theft.

Scott Shackford | 2.16.2018 2:51 PM

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Donald Trump

Did 15 Years of War Win the Presidency for Donald Trump?

Or is partisanship such a strong indicator of voter choice that the specifics of a candidate's stances might not matter?

Brian Doherty | 10.30.2017 1:35 PM

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Election 2016

Trump Ads Were More Policy-Focused, Less Negative Than Clinton's 2016 Election Ads, Find Wesleyan Researchers

"Clinton's message was devoid of policy discussions in a way not seen in the previous four presidential contests."

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 3.9.2017 6:30 AM

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Donald Trump

Trump Official Misuses Term 'Voter Suppression' and Media Headlines Are Happy to Run With It

It's the campaign's own fault, but outlets are feeding the 'rigging' complaint.

Scott Shackford | 10.27.2016 1:15 PM

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Gary Johnson

Gary Johnson's Campaign TV Ads Stress Experience, Honesty, and Keeping Government Out of Our Pocketbook and Our Bedroom

Brian Doherty | 9.9.2016 4:47 PM

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Campaign Ads

Pro-Gary Johnson "Balanced Rebellion" Ad Viral Sensation of this Political Cycle

Campaign sponsored by pro-Johnson AlternativePAC gets over 17 million counted views from Facebook.

Brian Doherty | 9.7.2016 9:43 PM

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Gary Johnson

Gary Johnson-Supporting SuperPAC Thinks Polls Show They Nearly Doubled Support for Johnson in a Maine District

Traditional media still more important than social media or online, Americans Deserve Better PAC argues their results prove.

Brian Doherty | 9.7.2016 6:55 PM

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Gary Johnson

Gary Johnson Campaign Targets Seven States with Big Radio Ad Campaign

Colorado, Iowa, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Wisconsin are the Libertarian's main focus right now.

Brian Doherty | 8.26.2016 7:13 PM

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Gary Johnson

Dead Abe Lincoln Says: Vote Gary Johnson

New pro-Gary Johnson project "Balanced Rebellion" matches a voter most afraid of Clinton with voter most afraid of Trump so they both can feel good about voting for the Libertarian.

Brian Doherty | 8.26.2016 2:42 PM

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Gary Johnson

Gary Johnson SuperPAC Launching Huge CNN, Fox Ad Buy

Ad presents Johnson as for "tolerance, free enterprise, and a sane foreign policy" and reportedly cost PurplePAC a million.

Brian Doherty | 8.24.2016 8:40 PM

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Gary Johnson

In Presidential Tinder, Why Would You Swipe Right for Trump or Clinton?

Gary Johnson, capable of climbing mountains and not running his business into bankruptcy, represents the choice for peace, privacy, and equality, in a new ad from AlternativePAC.

Brian Doherty | 8.19.2016 3:57 PM

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Campaign Ads

Matt Kibbe of Johnson-Supporting AlternativePAC Talks About Gawker Report on $30,000 Spent on "Internet Memes"

Short internet videos make more sense to reaching a relevant audience than traditional TV ad buys, he says.

Brian Doherty | 8.17.2016 6:17 PM

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Gary Johnson

Johnson Rising! Libertarian Party Candidate Hits 12 Percent in New Fox Poll [UPDATED]

Other poll this week indicates he pulls more from Clinton than Trump. Fox poll shows him pulling 23 percent from independents, 18 percent from under-35s.

Brian Doherty | 6.9.2016 6:36 PM

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Election 2016

Nasty Politics

You learn more from negative ads than fluffy positive ones.

John Stossel | 5.18.2016 12:01 AM

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Campaign Ads

Would Clinton vs. Trump Be the Ugliest Campaign in History?

Attack ads circa 1800 suggest otherwise.

Justin Monticello | 3.19.2016 7:05 PM

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Citizens United

This Media Coverage Chart Shows Why Hillary Clinton Should Be Thankful for the Citizens United Decision

If Trump gets the nomination, she's going to need the independent spending.

Scott Shackford | 3.15.2016 11:10 AM

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Rand Paul

Liberty is a Flame That Needs Protection by Rand Paul, SuperPAC Ad in Iowa Will Likely Say [UPDATED]

Text of likely forthcoming Iowa Rand Paul TV ads paid for by PurplePAC says Paul is only protection against government "that tells us what we can and can't do. That spies on its own citizens."

Brian Doherty | 1.4.2016 4:20 PM

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Gerald Ford

Friday A/V Club: The Assassination Ad

The campaign commercial Gerald Ford wouldn't run

Jesse Walker | 5.15.2015 1:01 PM

Election 2014

Should Libertarians Vote Republican on Tuesday?

Amanda Winkler | 11.2.2014 4:00 PM

Election 2014

Was this Campaign Season the Nastiest Ever?

Amanda Winkler | 11.2.2014 11:00 AM

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Election 2014

This Is How Incumbent Politicians Game the System to Ensure Their Own Re-Election

No matter how angry the voters, incumbents always win

John Stossel | 10.29.2014 12:00 PM

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Election 2014

Senate Democrat Candidate: My Party Is Sabotaging My Campaign

Zenon Evans | 10.28.2014 12:10 PM

Campaign Ads

New York Times Highlights the Perils of Too Much Political Speech

Jacob Sullum | 7.28.2014 1:31 PM

Scott Brown

Ad Targets Scott Brown in New Hampshire

Hasn't actually announced a Senate run yet

Reason Staff | 1.8.2014 2:20 PM

Obamacare

Anti-Obamacare Ads Targeting Dems Launched

Two House Democrats in the sights

Reason Staff | 12.26.2013 5:20 PM

Texas

Wendy Davis to Be Targeted with Anti-Abortion Ads

Running for governor of Texas. Presumably there will be other issues to discuss at some point?

Reason Staff | 10.3.2013 2:20 PM

Massachusetts

Hypocritical Class Warfare in the Massachusetts Senate Race

Billionaire hedge fund Democrats attack "Wall Street insider" Republican.

Ira Stoll | 6.24.2013 4:30 PM

Rand Paul

Rand Paul-Backed Gun Group Targets Republicans

Group believes NRA too soft on protections

Reason Staff | 4.4.2013 1:52 PM

Richard Tisei

The Most Unconventional Campaign Ad of 2012 Cycle

Garrett Quinn | 11.1.2012 1:18 PM

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