Politi-flicks: Skillet

October is a breath away and the skillet of U.S. Election 2006 is heating up. While the rhetoric is already high, the GOP actually promises that they'll unleash their biggest negative ad assault ever next month. Are the Democrats toughened up enough to withstand the assault this time around? Will having so many military vets this round make the difference, or is anyone Swiftboatable?

Continuing with our opportunity for Internet video match-ups, here's two head-to-heads featuring Dem soldiers on attack and defense:

Jim Webb vs. George Allen

Challenger Webb even served as Secretary of the Navy under President Ronald Reagan, but hits Sen. George Allen (R-VA) for being a George Bush "Follower", specifically on Iraq. Meanwhile, Allen talks about his "Big Idea" for a National Innovation Act in an ad featuring kids, albeit not interacting with the Senator.

Give Webb credit for not making the ad an attack on Allen's character regarding racism, a mounting press story for the sitting Senator. Give Allen credit for...sounding like a Democrat?

So voters of Virginia, this pair gives you a clearcut choice if your vote is a referendum on the incumbent: Is he a Follower...or man with Big Ideas?

Peter Roskam vs. Tammy Duckworth

While GOP candidate Roskam and Dem Duckworth are up against each other for the Illinois 6th District Congressional seat, the ad slams what it calls the "Duckworth Illegal Immigration Amnesty Plan", it's actually produced by the Republican National Committee, and by law Roskam's name does not appear in it. Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran who lost both her legs then the Blackhawk helicopter she was piloting was downed by an enemy rocket, doesn't mention her opponent by name either in her succinctly titled rebuttal, "Truth".

Which claim appears more truthful? Which might lean more towards the "truthy"?

I leave it to you, valued reader, and the voters in what Stephen Colbert must sure call "the fightin' 6th" to decide for yourselves.

More heat to come.


(As always, Politi-flicks is cross-posted to The Daily Reel.)