In the 1968 presidential election, Richard Nixon chose Spiro Agnew as his running mate. Agnew was unknown on the national stage. This ad from Hubert Humphrey attacks Agnew by showing nothing but uncontrollable laughter when Agnew’s name appears on the television screen.
This commercial was effortless and impactful. It echoed the feelings of many when they didn’t know who Agnew was, but added a sense of humor that is rarely seen in political advertisements. Although humorous, it left a lasting impression on voters that emphasized the gravity of the situation – it would be funny if it weren’t what they had to deal with in the upcoming election.
This ad made an impact on voters everywhere. However, it was not significant enough to make voters vote for Humphrey.