Those who knew her and those who didn't have been hearing more and more about Alice Kryzan, the unexpected victor in the Democratic primary race for the 26th Congressional District. Jack Davis had the name recognition and the spending spree. Jon Powers had the adulation of party bigwigs and union bosses. But in the end, it was the semi-unknown who won over the hearts and minds... or at least she got the most lever pulls in the voting booths.
Since that victory, dubbed a "shocking upset" by more than one news affiliate, everyone has been racing to the press, the keyboard and the tube to get in their theories of how and why it happened, what it means for Kryzan and what it means for Powers and Davis. We ran a story earlier this morning that claimed not that Kryzan won because of this or that, but that Powers lost because of this or that.
A story that ran today in the Buffalo News pins the upset victory on the effect produced by a single television ad. Here's that ad:
What do you think? Is that enough to tip the scales?
Buffalo News reporter Robert J. McCarthy conjectures that "Alice who?" was "languishing" only a few weeks prior to the primary. Then magic happened...
That’s when the candidate — also known as Alice J. Kryzan— rolled out a television spot that just about everyone credits with capturing the Democratic nomination for the Amherst environmental attorney in the 26th Congressional District.
“It did the trick of bringing attention to the campaign,” said Kryzan campaign manager Anne Robinson Wadsworth.
Rarely has one political spot — produced by Adelstein & Liston of Chicago — made such an impression on local voters. But the scene of a boyish fellow resembling the 30-year-old Powers wrestling in the park with an old man who looks like the 75-year-old Davis seems to have resonated.
It all allowed Kryzan, 60, to appear on-screen and contend that “fighting will not create jobs, fix health care or change our energy policy.” That’s when she looks back at the scuffle actually filmed in a Chicago park and adds in a now-famous aside: “Boys, take it somewhere else.”
According to several observers, Kryzan’s campaign began to pick up after voters identified her as an alternative to her better- known opponents. Former Erie County Republican Chairman Robert E. Davis, who is now a political media consultant, said it ranks among the best he has ever seen because it offered “the ‘same old/same old’ or me.”
How much of a role can a single television ad play in an election? Were you convinced by it? Do you think most folks had already made up their mind by that point?
The numbers we were getting
The numbers we were getting from our call center never included Alice’s name till last weekend. That’s when that spot started running. From nowhere to a 2-1 lead from some accounts is very telling.
I first seen that spot in the gym without the sound. At the time, I was stunned. Even without the sound it crystallized the problem with the whole campaign; the bitter fight had damaged both the front runners. The rest is history.
You are so correct Charlie.
You are so correct Charlie. Sorry, I used your name in making a point to Dan with another issue. I took 5 women to the polls.....6 if you count Jane and ALL OF THEM voted for Alice....Women, more so than men, are tired of the fighting and griping and negatives. ALSO...interestingly...women candidates did better nationwide. That is being attributed to the impact of Hillary and that other woman that has been in the news so much lately....what's her name again????
I'm not afraid to say it,
I'm not afraid to say it, Palin, must be who you didn't want to mention. I voted for Kryzan. I knew Jack wasn't going to get my vote and I never felt strong about Powers. I had actually considered not even voting. Then I decided since I've never missed a vote in 26 years I wasn't going to start now. I read what I could find on her and became comfortable with a vote for her. The politics as usual bickering between Jack and John was very damaging for me. I was just waiting for one of them to stop and change tactics. I was holding out for John to take the high road at some point. I knew Jack would run his campaign the way he did. I will support Alice and help her get the seat, not just as " the lesser of two evil's " but as a qualified candidate.
Tim wrote, "I will support
Tim wrote, "I will support Alice and help her get the seat, not just as " the lesser of two evil's " but as a qualified candidate.".
I totally agree. John and Jack were so busy hurling barbs at each other that we, the voters, were totally forgotten. In essence, they got caught up in the game, but lost sight of the goal.
I voted for Alice. Not because she is a female, but I felt that she kept her focus. Hopefully, she will maintain that focus throughout the remainder of the campaign.
One simply played the game
One simply played the game better
The other two likely felt she wasn't a real challenger so why even include Rudolph
That allowed her to play the game they couldn't
Really doesn't make anyone better a candidate for the position
She gave the voters more of what they wanted
Nothing much ..but CLEAN
1 ad and she gains ground? 1 ad and she wins?
If she does anything great while in office I don't think too many people should be patting themselves on the back for voting her in