Neel Kashkari's Gubernatorial Ad Draws Criticism For Depiction Of Drowning Child
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — California gubernatorial candidate Neel Kashkari's first campaign ad of the November election season has drawn criticism for its depiction of a child drowning.
The ad features a child fighting for his life that's eventually saved by Kashkari. The ad is supposed to be a metaphor for the state of education in California.
Barbara O'Connor, director emeritus of the nonpartisan Institute For The Study Of Politics And Media says the spot, while compelling, is hard to follow.
"The kid drowning is dramatic video, him pulling the kid out is dramatic video, but the link to the governor's race and the link to the teacher tenure decision is not obvious," he said.
She says it shows that Kashkari is the one fighting not to drown.
"II think its a desperate attempt to reverse a double-digit lead that the governor has," she said. "And that is clearly the intent."
She doesn't believe the ad will help Kashkari's floundering campaign, but says this late in the season, it likely won't hurt.
"For a political ad, it's running on the outer edge of acceptable," she said. "We've had many with abortion ads that were far worse."
The California GOP did not respond to our requests for comment.
The Kashkari issued the following statement, that reads in part"
"Neel will continue to do everything he can to make Governor Brown answer for turning his back on the kids of our state and robbing them of their futures."
Democratic political analyst Steve Maviglio says the ad backfires.
"It's so over the top, that it is distasteful to try to portray Jerry Brown as not saving a child," he said.
A Republican consultant that spoke to CBS13 off camera says while they weren't defending the ad and it's visual, they likened it to a hail Mary, with the candidate likely going down swinging.
