One big difference between the Joe Mallahan and Mike McGinn TV spots the campaigns released this week is this: Mallahan's is live action and McGinn's is a series of still shots. Okay. Duh.

But the live action does call attention to what seems to be the Mallahan camp's TV strategy.

Count the number of head nods in Mallahan's spot. (I count more than 40 if you include Mallahan nodding at himself.)  Nodding heads must have tested well.  If nodding heads are what this election will turn on, McGinn could be in trouble.  Mallahan clearly has an uncanny ability to cause people to nod their heads.  And now your head nods too. Uh-huh, yes it does.

(Mallahan's most recent disclosure reports show $100,000 to Georgia-based Luc Media for TV spots.)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz7KA6Rk8QI&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

My main reaction to the black and white stills in the McGinn ad? Cool music. I thought they commissioned Philip Glass or something.  However, turns out it's just a stock music clip called: "minimalism."

(McGinn reports a $17,000 TV buy on his most recent report.)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtRlBhA48Ms&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]