Rocco Rossi releases new campaign ads that will be unappealing to pretty much everybody
If Rocco Rossi’s campaign has had one strength, it has been its use of the Internet (mostly YouTube, Twitter, Google, Flickr and Facebook). Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like the savvy has transferred to old media quite as well. To get an idea of what we mean, try the radio ad on the left. It’s already on rotation at Newstalk1010.
There’s a lot to be said for using old stereotypes in subversive ways, and we all know that Rossi is proud of his Italian heritage, but this ad makes it sound like we’re being asked to elect Joe Pesci as our next mayor (and not cuddly My Cousin Vinny Pesci, either; more like Good Fellas Pesci). Of course, the voice actor also sounds a little like Sylvester Stallone, so maybe the Rossi campaign is going for a little Rocky underdog-comes-from-behind feeling, too. There are just two problems with that: Rocky got the crap beaten out of him, and he still lost.
Of course, we would totally tune in if Rossi wanted to go 15 rounds with Rob Ford.
• Print, Radio and Video ads [Rocco Rossi for Mayor]
Message to Rossi ( and his ‘advisors’ ):
What were you thinking !!?? The worst example you could use….why do people think all Italians speak and act like *all-grabbing Ginos !!??
I wonder if Mr Rossi can even speak Italian ( properly, not whatever his family’s dialect may be….)
Shame on you for choosing something which has nothing to do with Italy ( or your parents’ roots ! ) The ‘characters’ in your ads are a North American stereotype….not funny….
To be frank, Mr Rossi hardly comes across as a ‘man’s man’ tough guy, anyway, eh ? ; )
Poor campaign, from a candidate who lacks ideas, personality and charisma – Toronto is in the top 10 cities in North America as far as population. It is not some little town in the middle of nowhere. It needs a leader not another ‘sit-on-the-fence’, ‘political correctness is all that matters’, ‘blah’ Mayor like the last one….
@ Giovanni you are soooo right!
Plus, this mis-guided stunt has probably just won Ford the election.
I was actually going to vote for him.
But, I am not sure which is more reflective of poor judgment?
Running these unbelievably juvenile and somewhat distasteful ads.
Or, being told after the fact that they are a disaster and quickly scrambling to run a new series of ads.
Help us all.
Ford? Smitherman? Rossi? Pantalone?
What have we done to deserve this?!