Check out this fun new ad from Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), who is expected to easily steamroll to a sixth term this year. It really does seem to be a truly rare instance of an older man trying to look cool for the younger generation — and maybe just succeeding.
The ad opens with two older women worrying that Grassley has something called a “twitter,” possibly believing it be some kind of dire medical condition — when in fact, of course, it refers to the 76-year-old Senator’s well-known usage of the popular website, complete with the shorthand and slang used by teenagers.
“I like to use new technologies like Twitter and Facebook, just to keep in touch — and meetings in 99 counties, every year,” Grassley says to the camera, along with visuals of his fingers working on a BlackBerry. “I’ll tweet, I’ll text, I’ll do whatever it takes. I work for you.”
The ad then closes with a visual that might never have been seen before in a Republican ad — a young woman with a nose-piercing, depicted in a positive manner, declaring that Grassley works “for us.” Remember that infamous Club For Growth ad in Iowa in 2004, ridiculing Howard Dean’s supporters as a bunch of body-piercers? We’ve come a long, long way.
The TPM Poll Average gives Grassley a lead of 55.1%-34.6% over Democratic nominee Roxanne Conlin.
And for old time’s sake, here’s that Club For Growth ad:
