Married political commentators star in TV spots
Viewers of this week’s Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., may see a debate over an issue potentially more volatile than politics: room temperature.
Mitsubishi Electric has hired married political analysts James Carville and Mary Matalin to star in a series of TV commercials for the company’s ductless HVAC systems.
Carville, who spearheaded former President Bill Clinton’s 1992 campaign, is a frequent guest on political talk shows. Matalin has been a key figure in GOP presidential campaigns since 1988 and worked in the White House for Vice President Dick Cheney.
In the spots, which were to debut Monday, Carville and Matalin argue over room temperatures, with Matalin eventually saying, “It’s the energy bill, stupid.”
“It’s the economy, stupid,” was a phrase Carville used often during the 1992 campaign.
Mitsubishi Electric officials said the famous left wing/right wing couple was the perfect stars for the ads.
“We knew, taking our ‘Split personality’ campaign from showing one homeowner battling with his or her alter ego to a couple battling each other, we had to find spouses who truly served as each other’s opposites,” said Joe Mastroianni, chief marketing officer for Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating. “Carville and Matalin not only top the list of great couple debaters, but they’re also entertaining to watch and naturally laugh-out-loud funny.”
The ads are running on Fox News, CNN, CBS and ABC during convention coverage.
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