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Music, Flag, Governor in Ad
Cue music, show the Texas flag and throw in a space shuttle, the Alamo, romping Longhorn cattle and Gov. Rick Perry and what do you have?
Smart TV advertising for Texas through April 23 in a few markets nationally, according to Perry’s office.
The commercial, funded by the non-profit Texas Economic Development Corp., touts Site Selection magazine’s choice of Texas as the number one state in the United States to do business.
Perry’s spokeswoman, Kathy Walt, said the corporation paid the $123,800 to produce and air the ad from $958,000 donated to TexasOne — a promotional arm of the corporation — by more than 50 businesses and economic development groups. That includes $50,000 from the Greater Austin Economic Development Corp. and $1,000 from the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce.
The biggest contributors to TexasOne, created to promote Texas, are Verizon Communications, Introgen Therapeutics Inc. and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp., which have given $100,000 each.
In the 30-second spot, Perry tells viewers: “We’ve got the best business climate in the nation because taxes are low, regulations are reasonable and we passed sweeping lawsuit reform.
“You can prosper in our strong economic climate,” Perry says, adding: “Come to Texas. You’ll never want to leave.”
The “Moving to Texas” ads are airing in Washington, Sacramento, San Jose and Detroit on FOX News, CNBC, MSNBC, and on the Golf, Home and Garden and CNN cable networks and ABC.
A spokesman for Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison’s re-election campaign took a pass on any critique. Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn—who, like Hutchison, might challenge Perry next spring—likewise had no immediate comment.
Bruce Buchanan, a University of Texas professor of government, described the spot as like “an upbeat campaign ad, complete with flashy visuals and testimonials…
“It’s probably effective in selling the idea that Texas is a great place to do business. And it may create more opportunities for Perry to bolster his reputation as a governor who attracts new business and bolsters the state economy in the process. This would help him to strengthen his claim to a signature achievement—something his critics have said he lacks.”
Walt, reminding us that the ad won’t run in Texas, said Perry is “not running for governor of Michigan or California or for mayor of Washington, DC.”
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