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May 2010 Special Elections

How did IWV help take a Republican in President Obama’s home state from trailing in a special election, three-way race to beating two democrats?

Simply put, we remained true to philosophy that we get into races in which we think we can make a difference. We used strategy, a $250,000 television ad buy and a clever companion website.

In April, IWV commissioned GEB International to conduct a study in Hawaii gauging voters first, second and third choice candidates in the race and which data points resonated most with voters when it came to describing Rep. Ed Case, the democratic frontrunner. The report found three data points that stuck: First, that case had voted 72 times for higher taxes; Second, that he had received three “F” ratings from the National Taxpayers Union; and Third, that he’d hired disgraced Illinois Governor Rod Blagjojevich’s political consultant, better known as “Advisor B.”

IWV developed an ad that presented these arguments without even saying Ed Case’s name. Until IWV entered the race, there were no third party ad campaigns from the center right in the state. Soon after IWV launched its ad, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee exited the race. By election time, Rep. Case’s support among Independent voters fell from 32 to 23 percent and his support in the overall ballot fell 10 points.

Click here for:

• IWV's Study of Efficacy in Hawai'i-01 race
• IWV's Television Ad
• IWV's website www.TheCaseIsClosed.com

 

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