August 13, 2003
CONTACTS:
Maya Israel,
Maya@DraftWesleyClark.com
Josh Margulies,
Josh@DraftWesleyClark.com
John Hlinko,
John@DraftWesleyClark.com
DraftWesleyClark.com Launches Television Ads in Key Primary
States; Historic, First-Ever TV Ad for Draft Candidate
(Washington, DC), August 13, 2003- DraftWesleyClark.com, the
campaign to draft former General Wesley Clark for President,
today announced that it is launching a television ad campaign in
key primary states. The 60-second ad, “Preserve, Protect and
Defend,” was funded by donations from Clark supporters. Even in
advance of its launch, it has already gained significant
national attention. Portions of the ad will be shown this
Thursday (tomorrow) on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
“Today we become the first draft effort in history to launch
television ads,” said John Hlinko, co-founder of
DraftWesleyClark.com. “If anyone had any questions as to the
seriousness of Clark supporters, let this be their answer. One
look at this ad, and you can tell it is world class – just like
the man it promotes.”
The ad, in a reference to the Presidential oath of office,
highlights the myriad of ways in which General Clark himself has
worked to “preserve, protect, and defend” America for more than
30 years. To see the ad and read a transcript, please visit
www.DraftWesleyClark.com (copies of the ad will be made
available to interested members of the media)
The ad is slated to run beginning the week of August 18th in New
Hampshire, Iowa and Arkansas. The buy will be a “rolling” one,
with the ad initially airing hundreds of times in various
locales, and with more added on the basis of donations
generated.
“We chose the 60-second ad as opposed to the traditional
30-second format because General Clark’s incredible story
deserves at least twice the time,” said Josh Margulies, a
co-founder of the effort. “This is a man who has served his
nation for decades. The least we could do was give him a
minute.”
The ad was produced by the Jackson Group. The firm’s principal,
Bud Jackson, a former partner of Bob Beckel and Associates, has
advised and produced award-winning paid media campaigns for
local, congressional and statewide Democratic candidates.
GENERAL CLARK ON DRAFTWESLEYCLARK.COM
· "Mr. Clark also said that DraftWesleyClark.com was central to
the possibility of making the race. 'It has a very significant
influence,' he said. 'When you are looking at moving into a
field where you’ve never been before, when you see things like
this forming, it makes you seriously consider your options.'"
(NY Observer, 7/16/03)
· “They’re using new tools of communication, like the Internet,
in ways that we haven’t seen before.” (The Today Show, 7/14/03)
· “They’re the ones really that are forcing me to seriously look
at this.” (CNN Inside Politics, 7/2/03)
ABOUT DRAFTWESLEYCLARK.COM
Launched in April, 2003, DraftWesleyClark.com has
already collected tens of thousands of letters urging General
Clark to run, raised half a million dollars in pledges, and
built a network of volunteers, ready to serve – if General Clark
chooses to lead. DraftWesleyClark.com has already been featured
on Meet The Press, CBS Evening News, Crossfire, CNN, MSNBC, and
Fox, as well as in the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times,
Wall Street Journal, Esquire and Newsweek.
DraftWesleyClark.com is the largest effort to draft the General.
It is not affiliated with General Clark, but is motivated by
high regard for his solid record of leadership and achievement:
Former supreme commander of NATO; First in his class at West
Point; Vietnam combat veteran; A Rhodes Scholar; A necessary
voice of common sense and moderation on the foreign policy
front. The effort is led by a diverse team including veterans of
a number of grassroots and political efforts. It is
headquartered in Washington, DC, one block from the White House.
For more information, please see www.DraftWesleyClark.com.
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Paid for by DraftWesleyClark.com. Not Authorized by any
candidate. Contributions to DraftWesleyClark.com are not tax
deductible for federal income tax purposes.
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