You read about it on the homepage last night, now here's the actual video. This is the first television (read: not web) ad of the 2012 cycle, which is hitting New Hampshire's airwaves starting today:
It's pretty textbook stuff -- hit your opponent on his rhetoric and record, then pivot to an upbeat and positive message about your vision for the country. Whether you like Romney or not (on that note, you may be interested in my forthcoming story in Townhall Magazine), one of his undeniable strengths is his team's excellent ad men. You know who else is circulating a pretty decent spot? Michele Bachmann. The not-so-subtle message? All of my opponents are untrustworthy RINOs:
Notice who doesn't get a mention: Guys like Huntsman and Santorum. In other words, Bachmann is punching up. The 'no surprises' tag line might be pretty effective for her if a lot of voters didn't already believe that she herself is rather prone to, um, surprises. Incidentally, mentioning Santorum reminds me to post a video from the little-watched, untelevised social issues forum from over the weekend. In this clip, Santorum mentions the health struggles of his seventh child in the context of discussing abortion and health care policy. This is a powerful story (grab some Kleenex):
This may have been Santorum's most memorable and moving moment in any debate. Too bad so few people saw it.
UPDATE - Lefties are hopping mad because Romney's ad took some of Obama's words out of context. The clip of The One saying "if we keep talking about the economy, we're going to lose," is candidate Obama quoting a McCain strategist during the last campaign. Romney should have provided the context, or not used the clip...but the McCain advisor's appraisal in 2008 definitely applies to Obama's predicament in 2012. Which is why Obama supporters would prefer to froth over the context of a Romney ad rather than discuss, say, the economy.
UPDATE II - ABC News' Jake Tapper reminds squealing Democrats of a much less honest ad Obama ran against John McCain, which was chock-full-o' quotes taken out of context.