Sen. Bernard Sanders’ attempt at securing the Democratic nomination for president has turned to folk duo Simon and Garfunkel.
The group’s 1968 song “America” is featured prominently in a 60-second ad released Thursday by the independent from Vermont as his campaign gains ground nationally against Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton ahead of the Iowa caucus.
The commercial, which will begin airing Friday on TV stations in the Hawkeye State as well as New Hampshire, lacks any narration, and instead is carried by the vocals of the song while idyllic images of the country are shown rife with shots of Americans hard at work. Eventually, the ad shifts to clip’s from the senator’s recent campaign rallies.
“They’ve all come to look for America,” the famed duo sing in a song about a young couple who hitchhike across the country.
“I’m Bernie Sanders, and I support this message,” the presidential hopeful says at the ad’s end.
“This campaign is not about me. It is not about Hillary Clinton or any other candidate,” Mr. Sanders said in a statement Thursday. “This campaign is about you, your kids and your parents. It is about creating a political movement of millions of people who stand up and loudly proclaim that this nation belongs to all of us and not just a handful of billionaires.”
Democrats and Republicans alike quickly weighed in on the campaign spot, which comes as the senator surges in Democratic polls ahead of the primaries in both states slated for the coming weeks.
“This is a great ad,” tweeted GOP strategist Rory Cooper, who previously worked with former Senate Majority Leader Eric Cantor, as well as conservative think tank Heritage Foundation. “I wish Republicans could get away with using Simon and Garfunkle [sic].”
The New York Times, whose editorial board has endorsed the Democratic presidential nominee in every election of the past 60 years, called the ad “powerful.”
David Brock, a political operative whose group Media Matters and several super PACs have supported Mrs. Clinton, told the Associated Press on Thursday that the senator’s ad presents a “bizarre” image of America geared extensively towards white voters.
“If it weren’t for the picture of Sanders it could be an ad for Donald Trump,” said Mr. Brock, who called the television spot “a significant slight to the Democratic base.”
The results of polls put out this week largely put Mr. Sanders ahead of the former first lady in New Hampshire, while Mrs. Clinton maintains a lead in Iowa.
• Andrew Blake can be reached at ablake@washingtontimes.com.
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