EpandMedia’s clients scored big wins in the 2006 midterm elections.
Collaborating with such agencies as Squier Knapp Dunn. KnickerbockerSKD, and Advocom, EpandMedia-produced TV and radio ads helped propel to victory some of the highest profile, hardest fought congressional and gubernatorial candidates in the United States.
These ranged from Democrat-turned-Independent Senator Lieberman’s win in Connecticut and Democrat James Webb’s defeat of favored incumbent Republican Senator George Allen in Virginia, to Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich’s re-election in Illinois, Democrat Patrick Duval’s winning bid for Governor of Massachusetts, and Democrat Martin O’Malley’s accession to the Governor’s office in Maryland.
Other races EpandMedia contributed to included Democrat Tony Knowles losing bid for Governor of Alaska, and Florida’s winning Amendment 4, directing 15% of the tobacco settlement funds on efforts to educate teens against smoking.
CONNECTICUT
Senator Lieberman’s ad campaign was quarterbacked by consultant Josh Isay, of the New York-based agency KnickerbockerSKD, with creative direction by Matt Herath. As part of the team EpandMedia’s Len Epand produced such TV ads as “Blackboard” and “Connecticut Values,” and all of the radio ads, including numerous testimonial ads featuring real people. These expressed people’s confidence in the experienced, accomplished Lieberman and their doubts about his opponent, businessman Ned Lamont: “Sticking with Joe,” “Experience” “Sub Base,” “Social Security,” and “Bad Business,” among others. Though Lieberman lost to Lamont in the Democratic primary, this campaign helped him win the general election by a wide margin.
ILLINOIS
Governor Rod Blagojevich first faced a tough primary battle and then a rather tough general election campaign, facing off against Republican Judy Baar Topinka. EpandMedia’s Len Epand helped lead ad consultant and co-owner of Squier Knapp Dunn Bill Knapp and Sr. VP Jay Marlin, directing testimonial interviews in Illinois, both in Chicago and down state, and producing the radio campaign written by Bill Knapp. Centered on testimonial interviews with real people — farmers, administrative assistants, firemen, vets, seniors — and some narrator-driven spots, the campaign succeeded in cementing in voters’ minds the Governor’s credibility, accomplishments and plans while raising sufficient questions about his opponent. Notable spots: “Working For Us,” “Taxes Taxes Taxes,” “Veteran,” “Working Class Roots.”
MARYLAND and MASSACHUSETTS
SEIU-1199 Health Care Workers East asked KnickerbockerSKD’s Micah Lasher to create ads in support of Democratic gubernatorial candidates Deval Patrick in Massachusetts and Martin O’Malley in Maryland, candidates more in sync with the healthcare workers’ view of how to protect healthcare in America. Martin O’Malley won against Republican Robert Ehrlich. Deval Patrick defeated Kerry Healy to become the first African-American governor of Massachusetts. Lasher worked with EpandMedia’s Len Epand to produce a series of radio ads that helped those candidates prevail. Patrick spots included “Listen Massachusetts” and “Enough.” O’Malley spots included “Too Young” and “Choices.”
VIRGINIA
After some stunning revelations and missteps by Republican incumbent George Allen it became clear that Allen’s seat could be in play. Consequently the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) commissioned Squier Knapp Dunn and account exec Jim Mulhall and Keith Kincaid to create ads in support of Democratic challenger James Webb. EpandMedia collaborated on radio ads “96” and “Virginia Values,” and the African-American radio ads “Did You Know” and “Allen.” In what proved one of the nation’s closest, most critical races Webb won with less than a one percent margin, tipping the Senate’s majority control to the Democrats.