Hillary Clinton is trying to convince Republicans who are unhappy with Donald Trump to vote for her this November. And she’s taking a page out of the presidential campaign history books to make her case.
Her campaign released an updated version of Lyndon Johnson’s classic 1964 campaign ad, “Confessions of a Republican.” The original ad shows a Republican explaining why he felt compelled to vote against the GOP nominee at the time, Arizona senator Barry Goldwater. Clinton’s campaign recreated the ad with the same actor, Bill Bogert, relaying a similar message about Donald Trump.
The original ad began to resurface in March as people began to draw comparisons between Trump’s campaign and how Bogert described Goldwater. For example, Bogert brings up the fact that Goldwater had been endorsed by a Ku Klux Klan leader. Trump has also been endorsed by a former Klan member, David Duke. Bogert also says in both commercials that he finds it hard to believe the idea that “just because a man sounds a little irresponsible during a campaign doesn’t mean he’s going to act irresponsibly” as president, reminding us of Trump’s unfulfilled promises to become “so presidential” once he secured the nomination.
“I’ve thought about just not voting, but you can’t do that. That’s saying you don’t care who wins, and I do care. I think the party is about to make a terrible mistake in Cleveland, and I’m going to have to vote against that mistake on the 8th of November,” Bogert says in the Clinton ad. The Republican National Convention began on Monday in Cleveland, where Trump is expected to officially accept the GOP nomination.
The latest polls show Clinton has a modest national lead over Trump, though she led the businessman by less than 10 points. Clinton also appears to be struggling to secure young voters.
Donald Trump’s campaign could not immediately be reached for comment.
