Campaign 2008

Senate candidate depends on YouTube

by Tim Pugmire, Minnesota Public Radio

St. Paul, Minn. — An Independence Party candidate for U.S. Senate is counting on an internet video to create a buzz about his campaign and bring in donations.

Jack Uldrich unveiled the political ad, two days after filing as a candidate for the seat now held by Republican Norm Coleman.

In the ad, Uldrich lays out a series of negative observations about key issues. Halfway through, he reverses course and repeats the list with an upbeat, positive message.

With a running time of nearly 3 minutes, Uldrich says the ad is risky.

"The only way I'm going to win this thing is to be unconventional. But I think that people are going to give it three minutes. And if they don't, I can't do anything about that. Can my political opponents use snippets of that to portray me in a different light? Absolutely. But I have to do things differently. I have to do them unconventionally," Uldrich said.

Uldrich says his ad is patterned after a popular YouTube video called "Lost Generation."

Seven Independence Party candidates for U.S. Senate are running in the September 9 primary.