In Case You Weren’t Sure …

… what Campaign 2004 will look like, the RNC is starting it’s first ads:

With somber strings playing in the background, the commercial flashes the words “Strong and Principled Leadership” before cutting to Mr. Bush standing before members of Congress. Intended to call out the Democrats for their opposition to Mr. Bush’s military strategy of pre-emptively striking those who pose threats to the nation, the screen flashes “Some call for us to retreat, putting our national security in the hands of others,” then urges viewers to tell Congress “to support the president’s policy of pre-emptive self defense.”

I’m not sure which candidate with a prayer of winning is calling for a retreat (hint: none of them), nor whose “other hands” that refers to. Still, at this stage, the war could go either way for Bush. I’m not sure how it would play in the swing states, but a commercial using the “Bring it On” and Lincoln flight suit/”Mission Accomplished” episodes with a “make-believe is easy, we need leadership” tagline might be worth a shot.

AB