Same old tune under Christie

[deminks]

http://www.app.com/article/20130807/NJOPINION01/308070015/Same-old-tune-under-Christie

New Jersey is definitely stronger than the storm. But it apparently isn’t any stronger than Gov. Chris Christie’s ego and state politics as usual.

How else to explain the “Stronger Than The Storm” TV commercials, starring Christie and his family, that are providing a windfall of nearly $5 million in taxpayer dollars for a politically active public relations agency — more than $2 million higher than what the runner-up firm planned to charge.

The ads are part of this season’s $25 million state tourism campaign funded by the federal disaster aid package approved by Congress after superstorm Sandy. East Rutherford-based MWW and a subcontractor are billing the state $4.7 million for employee compensation and markups to run this year’s campaign.

(snip)

What is clear is that by putting Christie’s mug on the air in the TV spots, as MWW proposed and Sigma, perhaps fatally, did not, the governor gets more exposure during a gubernatorial election year. And because the commercials introduce him to voters in other states, he gets exposure in advance of a possible 2016 presidential campaign.

(end snip)


Just say 'whoa' to those Stronger Than the Storm ads

Go to the YouTube site for that "Stronger Than the Storm" ad campaign and you will notice three things.

The first is that the ads are little more than Chris Christie campaign ads, paid for with federal tax dollars.

The second is that the theme song consists mostly of bland voices repeating the phrase "Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa" over and over.

And the third is that the ability to comment is disabled. Otherwise every wise guy in New Jersey would be weighing in.

http://blog.nj.com/njv_paul_mulshine/2013/08/just_say_whoa_to_those_stronge.html



Firm behind Sandy ad hired GOP insider before bid

TRENTON, N.J. -- The public relations agency which won the bid for New Jersey's $25 million "Stronger Than the Storm" advertising contract, bolstered its relationship with state Republicans in the weeks before making the bid.

MWW hired the former executive director of the Burlington County, N.J., Republican Committee and acquired a government affairs firm headed by a longtime GOP strategist.

Rich Levesque, the former Burlington leader, was billed as having "strong relationships over the years with many of Governor (Chris) Christie's closest advisers as well as many of his cabinet appointees," according to bid documents MWW submitted to New Jersey officials.

In April, Republican Christie's administration awarded the contract to MWW and a subcontractor, who are getting $4.7 million for employee compensation and markups to run the campaign. That's more than $2 million higher than what the runner-up bidder planned to charge.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/08/06/sandy-ad-campaign-gop-insider/2624885/

[jberryhill]

1. I've heard of "Under the Boardwalk"

A classic Jersey Shore nostalgia single that lived on AM for years.

Never heard "Under Christie". How's that one go?

[SunSeeker]

2. Christie spent $4.7 million of Sandy money on ads starrying him?!

And through a sweetheart deal with a Republican pr agency? How is this not a bigger scandal?