Over and over again, supporters of the Lincoln Project pay us a high compliment. “Only you guys can make another ‘Daisy’ ad.” “Daisy” was the 1964 ad that defined a generation of political advertising, a long-sought and never-attained merger of moment and message.
It’s been like chasing the dragon for people in my world, and I’ve never been arrogant enough to think it can be rivaled.
The 1964 campaign was defined by the terror of a potential nuclear war. This campaign is defined by a rising sense of terror in the hearts of American women and the men who care about them.
I can’t make another “Daisy” like Tony Schwartz. It was a singular moment.
But we did make an ad about a girl named Daisy and the choice her father makes to put Donald Trump over her. It was a spot that flew out of my keyboard in moments, but was a labor of love and tears to create.
🥲🥲🥲, I lost my Dad when I was 9. I believe in my soul that he would have chosen me, or any of my 4 sisters over him 💔
Another point to consider: dirty up the optics to match the reality of the situation. A regular episode in Labor & Delivery looks like a hog killing when finished. The perinatal emergencies that result in women dying is even worse. I've been in those situations, squeezing blood & blood products into a hemorrhaging woman in the operating room....there's no violins, just lots of prayers and "how many more units can we get?".