TO THE EDITOR:
In this year's race for the White House, three Miami University alumni are creating "the most effective TV ads for any presidential campaign" for Bernie Sanders.
Mark Longabaugh ('80), partner at Washington, D.C. media firm Devine Mulvey Longabaugh, is a senior adviser to the Bernie Sanders for President campaign. Scott Turner ('09), oversees all aspects of the agency's production, from aiding the creative process to running the firm's filming and post-production. Anne Tully ('12), oversees the firm's media buying strategy and business development.
Senator Sanders' ads have played a major role in spreading his message of real change to voters in primary states and increasing his national profile. This time last year, despite being the Senator most liked by their constituents, Bernie Sanders was relatively unknown outside of his home state of Vermont.
Quartz reported in January that ad scoring firm Ace Metrix determined after testing 152 political ads among 500 national registered voters, commercials produced by the Sanders campaign made up seven of the top 10 most effective ads.
A Bernie 2016 commercial featuring the classic Simon and Garfunkel tune "America," along with images of Sanders' supporters, contains no voice-over except for the candidate's verbal approval. The spot has received international acclaim.
The ad, America, was the New York Times' "Ad of the Week," and was the fifth most viewed ad on YouTube in January. It was also featured on "The Daily Show" with Trevor Noah, "The Late Show" with Stephen Colbert and "Real Time" with Bill Maher.
Bernie Sanders is addressing a profound discontent that exists in America about an economic system that no longer works for the broad majority. His ideas are big - free public college education, a living wage for all workers, universal health care, breaking up Wall Street banks too big to fail and a far reaching plan to address climate change. Bernie represents the best of the American spirit - offering a positive, idealistic agenda for a better country.
Scott and Anne were both participants in Miami's Inside Washington program, where they were first introduced to the world of political advertising at Devine Mulvey.
Mark, Scott and Anne thank Miami University and the Oxford community for the education, memories and opportunities.
Love and honor,
Mark Longabaugh '80
Scott Turner '09
Anne Tully '12
scott@dmlmessage.com