Georgia Republican Rep. Jack Kingston is screening calls from the president — or at least someone who sounds a lot like him — in a new campaign ad inexplicably titled “Call Me Maybe.”
Kingston is vying for the nomination in a crowded Republican primary for U.S. Senate in Georgia. Among Kingston’s challengers is fellow GOP Rep. Paul Broun, who has dismissed evolution and other scientific theories as “lies straight from the pit of hell.” Also in the running is Rep. Phil Gingrey, a doctor who suggested that Todd Akin was “partly right” on his views about “legitimate rape.” Gingrey later apologized.
The eventual GOP nominee will likely face Democratic front-runner Michelle Nunn in the general election for outgoing Sen. Saxby Chambliss’ seat.
The Republican contest is shaping up to be a race to the right, and appealing to the Republican base is going to take some serious anti-Obama grandstanding. That’s what Kingston’s latest ad is all about.
The 30-second spot features a (pretty good) pretend president leaving a voice mail for Kingston, an 11-term congressman, and asking him to “back off Obamacare.”
“Kingston, let me clear,” says the “Obama” voice. “I do not want you in the Senate. Call me back, Kingston, please.”
The congressman then appears in the ad to say: “I approve this message because a call to stop fighting Obamacare is one call I’ll never take.”
Polls show a tight race among Republican hopefuls, with no consistent front-runner. Broun leads the pack by double digits with 27% support in a survey from Public Policy Polling, but a slightly more recent poll from SurveyUSA has businessman David Perdue out in front with 29%. Kingston comes in at No. 2 with 19% support in the SurveyUSA poll.
Take a look at his ad:
Emma Margolin
Emma Margolin is a reporter at MSNBC.com.