Entenza out early with ads

Gubernatorial candidate Matt Entenza hit the airwaves with a new commercial Thursday. The ad focuses on Entenza’s intention to bolster Minnesota’s economy through public services such as education. Without mentioning Gov. Tim Pawlenty by name, the ad serves as a subtle rebuke of the current governor’s budgetary policy.

The ad tries to rally voters to get a sense of Minnesota’s strength, even making a crack at another state’s expense:

If budget cuts were always the answer, then Mississippi would be a leader in this country.

According to the latest poll on the race, Entenza was a distant third in the DFL gubernatorial primary. Both of Entenza’s opponents have significant advantages in name recognition: Mark Dayton, of course, is a former U.S. senator and his family founded Dayton’s (and Target) department stores, while Margaret Anderson Kelliher is state Speaker of the House and received the DFL endorsement at the party’s convention.

Entenza’s campaign has tried to counteract his opponents’ advantages recently. The new ad is the third he has released in his campaign, with neither of his rivals for the DFL nomination releasing a single ad yet. And Entenza made headlines recently with his selection of the well-known local TV news anchor Robyne Robinson as his running mate. These recent moves should increase his name recognition among voters, giving Entenza the opportunity to move up in the polls. And with over two months to go until the DFL primary, Entenza has plenty of time to make up any gaps in support.

Here’s Entenza’s new ad: