It was a tough weekend here in Western Word country. It snowed a little less than four inches on Sunday and, although it melted, it made for a gloomy Mothers Day.

To make matters worse, I did not get drafted or even called by any NFL teams during the draft this weekend (I had even “bulked up” some). This is something like the 30th year I have not been drafted…

There’s good news! I am here to write! Today I write about a Steve Daines campaign ad, and I write about Ryan Zinke earning a big endorsement. Plus, Gallup polling says we’re not that enthused about the 2014 elections.

Daines “Big Spender” Ad:

I’ve reviewed several campaign ads this season, and I plan on reviewing more. Lee Newspaper reporter Mike Dennison also analyzes campaign ads. Over the weekend he posted his review of Steve Daines’ new ad called “Big Spender.” Read his analysis HERE.

“Big Spender” is either the second or third attack ad from the Daines campaign against his possible opponent in November, John Walsh. You can watch the ad HERE.

It’s probably a good move for Team Daines to be aggressive, but it could backfire. Republicans have not been aggressive enough in recent U.S. Senate races, and they lost races that almost everyone thought they should have won.

Like most campaign ads, not everything that the Daines ad asserts is entirely true. Dennison even said one part of the ad was “misleading.” When Daines slammed Walsh for his first vote, which was to increase the debt ceiling, Dennison writes, “The ad fails to mention that Daines himself has voted twice to increase the debt ceiling…”

If you’re keeping score at home, I guess that means it is Daines 2, Walsh 1, in votes to raise the debt ceiling.

Zinke’s Endorsement:

According to a press release from his campaign, “Ryan Zinke, candidate for U.S. Congress (MT-AL) today received the endorsement of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.”

Tom Donohue, President and CEO of the Chamber, “On behalf of the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region, I am pleased to inform you that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors has endorsed your candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives.”

That U.S. Chamber endorsement is like a slap in the face to former Congressman Rick Hill and former state senator Ken Miller, who have been busy attacking Zinke because they support other Republicans in the race.

Enthusiasm Down:

Come on candidates and political parties – excite us! According to a new poll from Gallup:

A majority of U.S. registered voters, 53%, say they are less enthusiastic about voting than in previous elections, while 35% are more enthusiastic. This 18-percentage-point enthusiasm deficit is larger than what Gallup has measured in prior midterm election years, particularly in 2010 when there was record midterm enthusiasm.

This is not good news for the Republicans in 2014. They are scrambling for issues to motivate voters to get out and vote for them. Obamacare was that issue, but now it looks like they are trying to make Benghazi their big issue.

A lot can change between now and November.

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