A candidate for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania aired a “Let’s Go Brandon” Super Bowl ad on Sunday, drawing criticism for politicizing the NFL championship game.
While most of the Super Bowl commercials that aired nationally leaned toward nostalgia and star power, Republican candidate David McCormick ran an ad in Pittsburgh’s designated market area that featured audio of a crowd chanting “Let’s Go Brandon,” the controversial anti-Biden phrase, while displaying several conservative voting hot topics, including inflation, border security, and Big Tech.
The ad played during the fourth quarter and ended with the phrase, “This is so much bigger than Brandon,” referring to America’s problems reaching beyond President Joe Biden.
“The frustration and anger we are feeling toward the failures of our current leadership in Washington is what motivated me to run,” McCormick told the Washington Examiner. “Whether it’s not being able to afford gas or groceries because of record-high inflation, rampant crime in our cities, a dramatic spike in the trafficking of fentanyl and human exploitation across open borders, or the disgraceful lack of accountability for the death of 13 young service members in Afghanistan — these problems were self-inflicted by Joe Biden and the extreme policies of the Left.”
TRUMP REACTS TO DURHAM FILING: ‘FAR BIGGER CRIME THAN WATERGATE’
McCormick tweeted about the ad, eliciting several responses attacking its message and the choice to air it during the Super Bowl.
“I think airing that ad during the Super Bowl is disgusting!” one Twitter user wrote. “This is a football game, not a place for political discussion. My opinion? You probably lost votes by placing that ad.”
I think airing that ad during the Super Bowl is disgusting! This is a football game, not a place for political discussion. My opinion? You probably lost votes by placing that ad.
— Badoni (@Badoni74824213) February 14, 2022
“Can’t we all enjoy the Super Bowl — a quintessentially and unifying American event — without cynical politics like this?” another person tweeted. “Bad call.”
Can’t we all enjoy the Superbowl — a quintessentially and unifying American event — without cynical politics like this? Bad call.
— John Dearie (@John_Dearie) February 14, 2022
A few people replied to McCormick’s tweet in support of the ad.
“Best Ad ! Loved it !” one Twitter user said.
Best Ad ! Loved it ! ??
— crimson (@VoightC72) February 14, 2022
Another wrote that McCormick “would have my vote if I lived in PA!”
You would have my vote if I lived in PA!
— BK (@ivfboo) February 14, 2022
The ad came at a hefty price, with many companies reportedly paying $7 million for their Super Bowl slots. McCormick campaign spokeswoman Jess Szymanski said the ad was “part of McCormick’s six-figure weekly, statewide ad buys.”
The controversial phrase “Let’s go Brandon” originated at a Florida NASCAR race when a journalist misreported the chant “F*** Joe Biden” as praise toward driver Brandon Brown.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Other Super Bowl ads featured Scrubs sitcom stars Zach Braff and Donald Faison for T-Mobile and Anna Kendrick playing up classic children’s toys while discussing the housing market for Rocket Mortgage.
After not airing an ad last year, Budweiser’s commercial featured a Clydesdale horse that gets injured but resiliently recovers with some help, noting that one can be down but not necessarily out.
