64-Year-Old ‘Kennedy for President’ Ad Remade By Super PAC

A Super PAC spent $7M on a media placement during the Super Bowl, but only 36 hours to produce the spot. And they were able to run it with no input or approvals from the client. Who does that? Answer: American Values Super PAC.

The spot contains no original thinking. It’s merely a clumsy recreation of an earlier commercial that ran 64 years ago. This lost reference begs the question, which part of the electorate is this ad for? The octogenarians?

Let’s view the original.

The New York Times reports that a substantial portion of the PAC’s funding, about $15 million, came from Timothy Mellon, grandson of Andrew Mellon and a Republican donor who has also given $10 million to a super PAC backing former President Trump. According to the newspaper, certain members of Robert Kennedy Jr.’s family dislike the ad and continue to frown upon his campaign for President.

“I’m so sorry if the Super Bowl advertisement caused anyone in my family pain,” the candidate wrote on Twitter on Sunday night. “The ad was created and aired by the American Values Super PAC without any involvement or approval from my campaign. F.E.C. rules prohibit Super PACs from consulting with me or my staff. I love you all. God bless you.”

I realize that Super PACs don’t know how to make good advertising, but this was a missed opportunity. Instead of placing the nephew’s image over the presidential uncle’s, why not make an original statement about why an independent run for the highest office in the land makes sense today? His candidacy is meant to be disruptive. Why not make his ads disruptive, as well?

Please note that I’m not on Kennedy’s side. I’m on the side of much better political advertising. A disruptive ad from an independent candidate would interest people to learn more. Kennedy is currently not part of the mainstream media’s campaign coverage. This ad might have changed that score too and earned him millions in earned media impressions.