See also: Slot machines, roll the dice

First Impressions: Thank God they’re back to cheesy attack ads! More than a week of warm, fuzzy, sweater vested Steve, and I might have started to like the guy.

Ad Intent: I think this one is pretty self explanatory.

Tagline: Let’s not risk it all on Stephane Dion. Get it? Dice! Risk! Get it?

Things that work: The gambling metaphor gets used so often in politics, I’m inclined to think it’s brilliantly simple to go literal on it. (btw, as I think about it, “brilliantly simple” may be the best way to describe the Harper government)

Things that don’t work: Is there anyone who seriously believes Dion will raise the GST? Maybe it will fool some people but that’s a bullshit argument right up there with “Stephen Harper will ban abortions” if I ever heard one.

Playing the Odds: You know, if every Canadian who has ever played scratch ‘n win, slot machines, or craps, votes for Dion, we’re probably looking at a Liberal majority.

Cliché Score: 1. Yeah, they’re a bit cheesy, but the only cliché point I could give it was for “shrugy Dion” which wouldn’t even be a cliché, if not for the fact that variations on that picture have donned conservative.ca daily for the past year and a half.

On the air? Has anyone seen these ads on TV yet?

Grade: C+. It does what it’s supposed to, but there’s a certain “been there, done that” to it.

Reader Grade:

Previous Ads: See the softer side of Steve, Bad actors love Harper, Jack Attack, THE Green Shift,