New TV Ad Highlights How Out Of Touch McCain Is With Oregonians On The Economy

Democratic Party of Oregon

232 NE 9th Ave.

Portland, OR 97232

(503) 224-8200

www.oregondemocrats.org

For Immediate Release Contact: Marc Siegel

Monday, April 21, 2008

New TV Ad Highlights How Out Of Touch
McCain Is With Oregonians On The Economy

Portland - A new television ad set to begin airing nationally Tuesday highlights how out of touch U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is with the financial challenges confronting average Oregonians.

The ad shows the Republican nominee claiming we are "better off" after eight years of disastrous Bush Administration economic policies. The ad closes with the question all Americans must ask themselves as they choose our next president: "Do you feel better off?"

The Democratic National Committee announced that the ad, entitled "Better Off?" will begin airing on cable networks nationally on Tuesday, April 22nd, including in Oregon.

Despite yet another poll released this week indicating that a majority of Americans think their economic situation has not improved in the last five years, Senator McCain used a major speech last week to claim that, "you could make an argument that there's been great progress economically".

[Bloomberg Money & Politics, April 17, 2008] [Pew Research Center survey, released 4/9/08]

McCain's comments came despite the fact that as the ad shows, unemployment is up and household income is down.

In addition to airing on cable, the ad will be used at organizing events across Oregon as the Democratic Party of Oregon and the DNC move their field efforts forward with a new Neighborhood Volunteer organizing tool.

"John McCain can't pretend to understand the tough times the American people are going through and at the same time claim we're better off than we were eight years ago," DPO Executive Director Trent Lutz said. "Oregonians already know what four more years of the Bush Administration's disastrous policies would mean. McCain's plan to keep boosting deficits and corporate tax giveaways while ignoring the housing crisis and doing nothing for the middle class makes it clear that all he represents is a third Bush term."

Script of DNC Ad: "Better Off?"

Research From DNC Ad: "Better Off?"

Anderson Cooper Voiceover: "Senator McCain, are Americans better off than they were 8 years ago?" [CNN Republican Primary Debate, 1/30/2008]

John McCain: "I think you could argue that Americans overall are better off - because we have had a pretty good prosperous time." [CNN Republican Primary Debate, 1/30/2008]

CG: "Household Income Down $1,000"
Median Household Income:

2000: $49,192
2006: $48,023

[Joint Economic Committee Fact Sheet , 8/29/2007]

McCain: "With low unemployment."

CG: "Unemployment Up"
Unemployment Rate

January 2001: 4.2 percent
March 2008: 5.1 percent

[Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Employment Situation, March 2008]
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

McCain: "Low inflation..."

CG: "Highest Inflation in 17 Years"

Annual Inflation Rate
1990 6.1
1991 3.1
1992 2.9
1993 2.7
1994 2.7
1995 2.5
1996 3.3
1997 1.7
1998 1.6
1999 2.7
2000 3.4
2001 1.6
2002 2.4
2003 1.9
2004 3.3
2005 3.4
2006 2.5
2007 4.1
[Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U Historical Data, http://www.bls.gov/cpi/home.htm ]

McCain: "A lot of good things have happened."

CG: "Gas Prices Up 200%"
Retail Price Per Gallon:

Jan 1, 2001: 141.6
Apr 14, 2008 339.7

[Weekly U.S. Retail Gasoline Prices , Energy Information Administration]

McCain: "A lot of jobs have been created."

CG: "1.8 Million Jobs Lost"

January 2001: 6.0 million unemployed
March 2008: 7.8 million unemployed

[Bureau of Labor Statistics The Employment Situation, March 2008]
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

McCain: "I think we are better off overall."

Voiceover: "Do you feel better off?"

Voiceover: "The Democratic National Committee is responsible for the content of this advertising."

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Paid for by the Democratic Party of Oregon.

Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

232 NE 9th Ave.

Portland, OR 97232

www.oregondemocrats.org