Incumbent senator George Allen has hired the firm of Scott Howell and Co., a Dallas-based Republican media firm. Virginians will recognize the work of the firm as they were the ones who produced the now infamous “Hitler” ads for Jerry Kilgore last fall. The firm is also responsible for the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth campaign against presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts in 2004.
According to the Washington Times, some observers believe the firm will use negative ads in the Allen race:
Upon hearing that Mr. Kilgore retained Howell and Co. for the gubernatorial race in Virginia, Mr. [Senate Minority Leader Tom] Daschle criticized the Chamblis ads and warned fellow Democrats that the Howell firm “wins races through character assassination.”
“These people are dangerous and must be stopped,” Mr. Daschle said.
Howell disagrees:
Mr. Howell said he crafts campaign messages specifically for each candidate, state and political environment. “I don’t like to commit to any kind of strategy because every campaign brings a different set of circumstances,” he said.
“The body of my work has been largely positive,” Mr. Howell told The Times. “There are isolated campaigns that people would like to sit there and highlight, but the bottom line is we try to be very hopeful and forward-thinking and positive and try to tell the story, and draw contrasts where they are appropriate.”
The Democratic Senatorial Congressional Committee doesn’t believe him and has issued this press release, which includes video clips of Howell’s previous ads.
Here’s hoping that Howell stays with the “body of his work” and doesn’t go negative. My sense is that the people of Virginia are tired of negative ads and want a reason to vote for a candidate as opposed to against one.
Just ask Jerry Kilgore.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
or Phil Kellam
Meaning what?
I just posted on this in my blog. I’m telling you, this is not as big a story as everyone is making it out to be. He is just hiring the best. I guess it was a slow news day.
hrconservative – there is no need for you to list your site in every post. As long as you list your site in the area indicated when you post, anyone can click on your name and be taken to your site.
I think it is an important issue, one that not many folks will realize unless it is pointed out to them. The hiring of Tim Murtaugh by Thelma Drake created a similar buzz.
HR Conservative- I posted a comment on your site last weekend and it never showed up. You must be moderating comments. Go into your comment que and approve them.