[StBernard] Jindal: Ad doesn't show true stripes

[Westley Annis]

Jindal: Ad doesn't show true stripes
GOP footage shows love for LSU's next foe Wednesday, October 10, 2007By Jan
Moller
BATON ROUGE -- The Republican Governors Association apparently forgot to
check its Southeastern Conference football schedule before debuting its
latest commercial promoting Bobby Jindal's gubernatorial candidacy. 

The ad, which can be viewed on YouTube and on the Governors Association Web
site, is designed to highlight Jindal's positions on education. But the
classroom footage that is used as a visual backdrop wasn't shot in
Louisiana, as evidenced by an "I (heart) UK" sticker that's clearly visible
beside a child's head during the midway point in the ad. 

Coming on the same week that Louisiana State University's top-ranked
football team prepares to face the University of Kentucky Wildcats, the
revelation sparked a quick reaction from the Jindal campaign. 

"Any suggestion that Bobby would root for any team over LSU could possibly
be the lowest attack on his character yet," spokeswoman Melissa Sellers
said. 

On a more serious note, Seller said the ad was produced and paid for
independently of the Jindal campaign, which is forbidden by law from
coordinating its campaign advertising with outside entities such as the
governors association. 

Chris Schrimpf, a spokesman for the governor's association, explained that
the group sometimes uses "stock footage" in its commercials to save money on
production costs. That would explain why the video looks strikingly similar
to an education-themed ad that ran this spring on behalf of Kentucky Gov.
Ernie Fletcher. 

The ad in question was produced by Fred Davis, a Hollywood-based campaign
consultant whose previous clients include California Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger and U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn. 

A chastened Davis said he didn't notice the Kentucky sticker in the Jindal
ad until he was notified on Tuesday afternoon. "This was a really bad little
fluke," Davis said. "Needless to say, this hasn't been my best afternoon." 

. . . . . . . 

Jan Moller can be reached at jmoller at timespicayune.com or (225) 342-5207.