MSA has had a long-standing relationship with Governor Howard Dean, MD throughout his career as Governor, during his race for the presidency and while he was Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. While Dean was Chairman of the party, MSA acted as principal strategists to the DNC, which enacted the unprecedented “50 state strategy” – that helped win control of the House, Senate, and take back the White House.
On behalf of the DNC, in 2006, MSA executed a seven state rural radio blitz that had important implications in local elections as well as the race to control the House and the Senate. In an unprecedented political maneuver, MSA devised a radio strategy that essentially shut the Republicans out of the markets they otherwise would have dominated. Waiting until right before the election and purchasing all of the available local air time, MSA produced multiple, state-specific, values-based scripts that were read live by local newscasters giving the local weather and traffic report. The campaign-style messages targeted rural and Christian voters and encouraged them to support Democrats without using negative, partisan rhetoric. It was the first time it had been done by any political party and it was widely credited with helping to turn some red states blue.
In 2008, after eight years of President Bush’s failed administration, Democrats had a unique opportunity to take back the White House. As Senator John McCain attempted to distance himself from disastrous Republican policies, MSA produced national advertising that held McCain accountable for those policies. This advertising campaign attracted national praise and attention from Tim Russert on Meet the Press and George Stephanopoulos on This Week with George Stephanopoulos.
The advertisement “Better Off,” features Senator McCain explaining to the American people that despite the stark reality to the contrary, he thinks we “overall are better off” than we were eight years ago. The ad closes with a question: “Do you feel better off?” A second ad “100,” holds Senator McCain accountable for his remarks regarding the War in Iraq.
