The Other Paper wrote RADIO ACTIVE

With a tasteless new commercial, Bill Todd enters the home stretch of a hopeless mayoral campaign. Will he still respect himself on Nov. 7?

by dan williamson / October 11, 2007

Todd’s new radio ad is one of the more jarring political commercials you’re ever likely to hear.

It begins with a woman screaming in terror as a narrator says, “Violent rape. Recent FBI stats show that on a per-capita basis, Columbus is No. 1 in rape.”

Later in the ad, three gunshots ring out, and a man moans in pain. “Murder,” the narrator says. “FBI stats show Columbus on a per-capita basis has a higher murder rate than New York City or L.A.” Two more shots are fired.

Todd himself eventually speaks in the commercial, saying, “Our city is not safe, and our mayor does nothing.”

Todd’s ad is “one of the nastiest campaign commercials we’ve ever heard,” said Bryan Clark, campaign spokesman for Mayor Mike Coleman.

“I personally can’t think of anything that rises to this level. I mean, the sound of a woman being raped? It’s just unreal.”

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