August 28, 2018 10:58 AM UTC

Jason Crow's First Ad Shows Why this CD-6 Race is Different

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• by: Colorado Pols

Democrat Jason Crow released his first General Election ad today in his bid to unseat Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Aurora) in CO-6. Take a gander:

Now, let’s go back in time to August 4, 2014 and the first General Election television ad from Democratic candidate Andrew Romanoff, which featured the former Colorado Speaker of the House walking in an empty field and talking to the camera about balancing budgets. This was Romanoff’s introductory TV spot in his bid to unseat Coffman:

One of these ads strikes an emotional cord and sets up a strong narrative for the campaign entering the final months of the election; the other ad superimposes graphs on the screen.

Romanoff didn’t lose to Coffman in 2014 because of this ad, just as Crow isn’t going to win or lose in 2018 because of his first TV spot. But the stark difference in tone and emotion here demonstrates why Crow continues to gain momentum in his bid for Congress.

Crow’s background as an Army Ranger counteracts Coffman’s own military history, which he has long used as a bludgeon to clear a path on any important issue. This is certainly a problem for Coffman, but what should really worry the incumbent Republican and his campaign are the images of Crow with his family. Crow is a former Army Ranger from a working class background with a telegenic young family. Coffman is a former Marine who has been in elected office for 30 years, and his signature image revolves around a strange obsession with doing push-ups in public.

Coffman has demonstrated a remarkable resilience in multiple high-profile campaigns, from statewide office to Congress, but 2018 looks to be the toughest re-election fight in his long career. This 30-second ad from his Democratic opponent is the reason why.