“Hello?” Mike Huckabee has a new campaign video parody of singer Adele’s hit song that hits a lot of sour notes - political notes, that is.
We’ve called and knocked a thousand times.
To say this election it’s all gone insane.
Huckabee’s honest, it’s time to board the train.
Today.
The singing is eerily evocative of the original but the lyrics and images take aim at the GOP presidential rival who the former Arkansas governor sees as his main competition: Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.
In addition to the video, a Super PAC supporting Huckabee, Pursuing America’s Greatness, has released a TV ad that questions Cruz’s faith, calling him a “phony” Christian.
Cruz and Huckabee are vying for support from the evangelical voters and just as the singer says “it’s all gone insane,” the video shows a clip of Cruz in Kentucky. The Texas senator was trying to take the stage at a Huckabee rally for Kim Davis, a Kentucky county clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to gay couples. Huckabee’s staff blocked Cruz.
The video, a three and a half minute homage to Iowa that is posted just before the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses Feb. 1, features Huckabee talking on a cell phone in a wintry Iowa landscape.
In addition, the video brings up Cruz’s Canadian birth - twice - in fake screen shots. When the singer lists Iowa towns, including Czech Village, a “text message” purportedly from Cruz says “I’m not Czech. I’m Canadian,” followed by three emoji Canadian flags.
It takes shots at Democrats, too, and shows Huckabee holding his head as a picture of Bernie Sanders and the singer says “if Bernie wins I’ll go insane.”
The Super PAC TV ad is targeted at Cruz, who is in second place to billionaire Donald Trump in Iowa polls and national polls.
It features two women talking to each other before a Bible study group starts about the Texas senator telling a New York group in a private meeting that he would not pursue same-sex marriage as president, leaving that to the states. “He tells them one thing, Iowans another,” says one of the women.
The ad also brings up Cruz’s limited giving to charity. “He doesn’t tithe? A millionaire that brags about his faith all the time?” asks one. The ad notes that Cruz and his wife have given about 1 percent, based on his tax returns.
“Just what we need another phony,” says one of the women.
Pursuing America’s Greatness is spending $400,000 on TV time for its ad in Iowa in the days leading up to the GOP caucus, according to Buzzfeed.
Maria Recio: 202-383-6103, @maria_e_recio