The Diversity Of An Edwards Ad

I hate to side with campaigns and against my fellow reporters, especially against two I consider personal friends and professional heroes, but I kind of have to agree with Eric Schultz and the Edwards campaign about the racial diversity ratio of their new Iowa ad.

Imagine the contrary scenario: what would happen if the Edwards campaign videographers and advertising teammates deliberately misrepresented the number of persons of color who attend Edwards events in Iowa.

If the Edwards campaign were broadcasting the ad in, say, Iowa, or Florida (whoops, not Florida, that would be illegal) or California, his crowds would be more diverse and the stock shots used to portray the crowds would be more diverse, right?

Of course, Iowa's lack of racial diversity is one of the reasons why the DNC decided to award an early primary slot to South Carolina and Nevada, and one of the reasons why many Democrats are so intent on shaking up the system entirely.

Comments

"Of course, Iowa's lack of racial diversity is one of the reasons why the DNC decided to award an early primary slot to South Carolina and Nevada, and one of the reasons why many Democrats are so intent on shaking up the system entirely."

The four early states system is actually pretty good, racially. With Nevada and South Carolina in the mix, you get African-Americans and Latinos involved in the early state process.

The real villain here is Michigan for trying to jump the line.

Posted by Petey | November 2, 2007 12:02 PM

"I hate to side with campaigns and against my fellow reporters, especially against two I consider personal friends and professional heroes, but I kind of have to agree with Eric Schultz and the Edwards campaign about the racial diversity ratio of their new Iowa ad."

Howard Wolfson is a Weapon of Mass Distraction.

Posted by Petey | November 2, 2007 12:06 PM

If there is a pay-off to this line of attack for Clinton, I fail to see it. Sharpton used this line of attack against Dean in 04 but Sharpton's goal was to get Sharpton's name in the paper. He was put up to it, of course, by a republican advisor thinking about the general election.

Posted by Gus | November 2, 2007 12:44 PM

I honestly don't understand why the press needs to keep telling us to be upset that Iowa is mostly white. It's one state in a big union. Not every state will be deeply diverse. That's America. I'm a liberal and this apologist "oh this state is too white" crap is just disgusting and unnecessary. As long as other states are involved in the selection process, there's no reason to hem and haw. Iowa wasn't selected because it was white--if that was the case, then we'd have a reason for concern.

Oh and I'm white. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Posted by Gary Jacobson | November 2, 2007 12:46 PM

Some MSM reporters like ABC's Jake Tapper are tools of Hillary's campaign. They will print anything thats given to them by certain campaigns.

Posted by wtf | November 2, 2007 12:50 PM

"Some MSM reporters like ABC's Jake Tapper are tools of Hillary's campaign. They will print anything thats given to them by certain campaigns."

I agree with entirely you about Tapper.

Ben Smith, OTOH, I like.

Posted by Petey | November 2, 2007 12:55 PM

I'm not an Edwards supporter at all, but I am with you all the way, Marc. This is a total b*llsh!t story. Shame on any journalist who would peddle it.

Posted by RaymondA | November 2, 2007 7:53 PM