Father's Day isn't for another month, but a number of the country's top Senate contests are already seeing a flood of television ads featuring the fathers whose recognizable names give some luster to vulnerable Democrats.
The latest Democrat to be direct about the family name is Sen. Mary Landrieu (La.), who on Tuesday released the first in a series of ads in which she laughs alongside her father, former New Orleans Mayor Maurice “Moon” Landrieu.
The spot features a back-and-forth in which the Landrieus talk about urging President Barack Obama's administration to approve the Keystone XL pipeline and taking on BP after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
In March, the campaign of Sen. Mark Begich (Alaska) released an ad narrated by his wife that included a clip of an old campaign spot for Begich’s father, Rep. Nick Begich, who died in a plane crash in 1972.
And in Georgia, Democrat Michelle Nunn unveiled an ad earlier this month that talks about how she hadn't (until now) followed her father, former Sen. Sam Nunn (D-Ga.), into politics. The former senator makes a brief cameo in the spot, which highlights his daughter's work with philanthropic organizations.
Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes did feature her two grandmothers in a web video. However, it remains to be seen whether Jerry Lundergan, her father who has been a state Democratic Party chairman and state representative, will appear in an ad as she campaigns for Sen. Mitch McConnell's (R-Ky.) seat.
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