On the heels of their debate in Cleveland, Ohio–the final debate before crucial primaries in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont–this advertisement comes as an exclamation point at the end of a very contentious week between Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama.

Last week, Clinton said she felt honored to be in the race against the junior Senator from Illinois. Then, a few days later, she publicly shamed Sen. Obama for his campaign tactics. Then, a photo of Barak Obama in traditional muslim dress from a visit to Africa a few years ago. Obama’s campaign struck back, crying foul as radio commentators rushed to emphasize his middle name, Hussein, matching it with the given name of Iraq’s former dictator.

Since then, all of the talking heads at CNN, MSNBC, Fox News and CNBC have all been trying to pick apart the nature of the Clinton campaign’s emotional about-face.

Many analysts have suggested that the Clinton campaign is trying everything they can–being nice, being mean, going off point, getting back on point, moving the point, etc.

What’s interesting about this ad, however, is that while it resembles other similar advertising campaigns from the past, it has not received the same response so far.

Take, for example, Lyndon B. Johnson’s campaign ad from 1964, affectionately called “Daisy.”

And although it ran only once in the middle of a monday evening NBC broadcast, the ad was widely credited as a major contributor to the President’s reelection against conservative Republican, Barry Goldwater.

But that isn’t what the commentators are talking about. Instead, many are referencing Walter Mondale’s ads from the 1984 election against then sitting President Ronald Reagan.

(note, please excuse the opening ad)

Lest we all forget, Mondale did not win that one. But that isn’t the point.

No matter what the ad reminds us of, this is a new low for the Clinton Campaign. For a candidate who lambasts President Bush for his politics of fear, this is an unimpressive twist.

- Ian Sherr