http://www.lasvegasgleaner.com/Accountab leMSA_TH06_102.mov

This ad came out today and I'm very pleased by it. It fits with her style on the local political talk show here in Las Vegas, where host Jon Ralston called her "poised and aggressive." Hafen certainly didn't mess around with a tame introduction in her first TV ad. She splashes, "Democrat for Congress" on the screen immediately then calls for Rumsfeld to be fired. The centerpiece is, "We need to hold the Bush administration accountable by asking the tough questions, and getting rid of yes-men like Jon Porter."

This is the new Las Vegas district created in 2002. It's the first time bland rubber stamp Porter has faced a competent challenger not plagued by scandal. The district is 50/50 in registration and this year it's on the top 40 or 50 lists, Hafen within 51-43 in a recent poll.

It's probably tougher for me to objectively evaluate the local spots due to obsessive rooting interest. Porter is a stiff in the Ensign/Gibbons mold. On my first watch the only flaws that hit me were the, "For a Change For Us" slogan at the end is weak, and her smile is not nearly as broad or as natural as in public appearances. But it's a decisive memorable ad that should extinguish the "who?" reactions I get on the Strip when mentioning Hafen to locals.

Hafen is very young, 30ish, but has already served for eight years on Capitol Hill for Harry Reid, recently as press secretary and senior advisor.

http://tessahafen.com/