New DNC TV Ad Highlights How Out of Touch McCain is With Floridians On the Economy

For Immediate Release: April 21, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - A new television ad set to begin airing nationally Tuesday highlights how out of touch John McCain is with the financial challenges confronting Floridians and other American who have been hit hard by the Republican recession.

On the heels of new labor statistics indicating that Florida's unemployment rate is reaching its highest point in more than four years, the Democratic National Committee ad shows John McCain claiming we are "better off" after eight years of disastrous Bush Administration economic policies.

The DNC announced that the ad, entitled "Better Off?" will begin airing on cable networks nationally on Tuesday, April 22, including in Florida.

Yet another poll was released recently indicating that a majority of Americans think their economic situation has not improved in the last five years, but Senator McCain used a major speech last week to claim that, "you could make an argument that there's been great progress economically." [Bloomberg Money & Politics, 4/17/08; Pew Research Center survey, 4/9/08]

McCain's comments came despite the fact that Florida is at the head of the nation's subprime mortgage meltdown and just witnessed the largest unemployment increase - from 3.7% to 4.9& - of any state in the nation, tied with California, Nevada and Rhode Island. [U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee, 3/6/08; Bureau of Labor Statistics, http://www.bls.gov/news.release/laus.t03.htm ]

"Maybe John McCain is better off than he was eight years ago, but a lot of Floridians aren't. Fortunately, McCain is the first to admit he doesn't know much about the economy," Florida Democratic Party spokesman Alejandro Miyar said. "Overwhelmingly, Americans are asking for change. Republicans like McCain created this recession and aren't doing anything to fix it now. We can't afford a third Bush term."

Research From DNC Ad: "Better Off?"

Anderson Cooper Voiceover: "Senator McCain, are Americans better off than they were 8 years ago?" [CNN Republican Primary Debate, 1/30/2008]

John McCain: "I think you could argue that Americans overall are better off - because we have had a pretty good prosperous time." [CNN Republican Primary Debate, 1/30/2008]

CG: "Household Income Down $1,000"

Median Household Income:
2000: $49,192
2006: $48,023
[Joint Economic Committee Fact Sheet, 8/29/2007]

McCain: "With low unemployment."

CG: "Unemployment Up"

Unemployment Rate
January 2001: 4.2 percent
March 2008: 5.1 percent
[Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Employment Situation, March 2008]
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

McCain: "Low inflation..."

CG: "Highest Inflation in 17 Years"

Annual Inflation Rate
1990 6.1
1991 3.1
1992 2.9
1993 2.7
1994 2.7
1995 2.5
1996 3.3
1997 1.7
1998 1.6
1999 2.7
2000 3.4
2001 1.6
2002 2.4
2003 1.9
2004 3.3
2005 3.4
2006 2.5
2007 4.1
[Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U Historical Data, http://www.bls.gov/cpi/home.htm ]

McCain: "A lot of good things have happened."
CG: "Gas Prices Up 200%"

Retail Price Per Gallon:
Jan 1, 2001: 141.6
Apr 14, 2008 339.7
[Weekly U.S. Retail Gasoline Prices, Energy Information Administration]

McCain: "A lot of jobs have been created."
CG: "1.8 Million Jobs Lost"

January 2001: 6.0 million unemployed
March 2008: 7.8 million unemployed
[Bureau of Labor Statistics The Employment Situation, March 2008]
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

McCain: "I think we are better off overall."

Voiceover: "Do you feel better off?"

Voiceover: "The Democratic National Committee is responsible for the content of this advertising."