AdWatch: Clinton Seeks Debates
TITLE: "Debate"
LENGTH: 30 seconds.
AIRING: Statewide in Wisconsin.
SCRIPT: Male announcer: "Both Democratic candidates were invited to a televised Wisconsin debate. Hillary Clinton has said yes. Barack Obama hasn't. Maybe he'd prefer to give speeches than have to answer questions. Like why Hillary Clinton has the only health care plan that covers every American, and the only economic plan that freezes foreclosures. Wisconsin deserves to hear both candidates debate the issues that matter. And that's not debatable."
Clinton: "I'm Hillary Clinton and I approved this message."
KEY IMAGES: Photos of a smiling Clinton and Obama behind a microphone placed side-by-side. Photo of a newspaper article with the headline "Sen. Clinton accepts debate at Marquette, no word on Obama." Photo of Obama behind a microphone again, this time next to the words "Maybe he'd prefer to give speeches than have to answer questions." Photo of a smiling Clinton again, next to the words "Only health care plan that covers every American" and "Only economic plan that freezes foreclosures." Shot of Clinton smiling at a rally. The largely female audience includes a number of black women.
ANALYSIS: Clinton and Obama have participated in nearly two dozen debates and have agreed to two more, one in Texas on Feb. 21 and the other in Ohio on Feb. 26. But the Clinton campaign, struggling to regain the momentum, has argued that they should debate more. She is pushing for another debate in Wisconsin, which holds its primary in less than a week.
Clinton's ad also tries to turn Obama's strength — delivering rousing speeches at rallies — into a weakness by asserting he'd rather talk than answer questions about his policies.
Her health care plan would require every person to obtain health insurance and would provide government assistance to those who can't afford it. Obama would not mandate the purchase of health insurance, but would provide government subsidies to encourage more Americans to buy it. Clinton has said that would still leave up to 15 million people without insurance. Obama has said it's more important to reduce insurance costs so everyone who wants it can afford it.
Clinton has laid out an economic stimulus plan that includes a 90-day freeze on home foreclosures. Obama laid out a plan Wednesday that includes creating a tax credit that would cover 10 percent of homeowners' annual mortgage interest payments and a scoring system for consumers to compare mortgages. He also promised to set up a fund to help mortgage fraud victims and establish new penalties for anyone who commits mortgage fraud.
