Rep. Martha Roby (R — AL-02) us up with a brand new ad titled, “Margaret and George,” named after the Roby’s two young children. The ad takes aim at President Obama’s spending record which has added $5 trillion to the national debt, leaving the bill for future generations to pay. Targeted direct mail to identified likely voters is timed to hit mail boxes in the 2nd congressional district next week.
Roby’s opponent is Democrat Therese Ford, a retired state employee who says she’s “running because of the dysfunction of the House of Representatives in Republican hands.” If passing jobs bill after jobs bill and a budget that gets America back on a sustainable path is dysfunction…then fine. Of course there was no mention of the Democrat-controlled Senate that has refused for 3 years to even pass a budget, or of the Obama budget that didn’t even get a single vote. Ford told the Montgomery Advertiser earlier this year that she worked for the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center for 27 years and has since worked as a dual enrollment teacher.
Ford hasn’t gained much traction in her first run at public office. But it’s clear the extremely popular Roby is taking nothing for granted. “Our mentality is that if you want to stay in the lead, you always run like you’re behind,” Roby’s Chief of Staff Stephen Boyd told Yellowhammer.
Roby’s ad is below along with the transcript. What do you think? Is the ad effective?
“These are our children, Margaret and George. They already owe $51,000 and counting – their share of the national debt. Under Barack Obama, America has borrowed $5 trillion. My kids and yours will get the bill. So I voted to cut spending, cap it in the future, and balance the budget. Less government means more opportunity for small business to create American jobs. I’m Martha Roby and I approved this message because their generation is worth fighting for.”![]()

This is an attempt to put lipstick on the pig that is her vote for the Ryan Budget. In polling against incumbents when that vote is explained, they sink like a stone. Of course Ford has explained it to the 9 people she’s talked to throughout the district so there’s not much chance this hurts Martha. I’m not buying the “running like we’re behind” thing, though. This is either a complete waste of money, pay back to her consultants, or they picked something up in the numbers that showed they need to raise her profile.
That’s silly. Republicans who voted for the Ryan budget are faring just fine this election. And in case you haven’t noticed, the author of that budget is on the national ticket and doing pretty well. Most possible pick ups for Dems are in seats held by Dems before 2010. Let’s not forget Roby beat Bobby Bright to take this seat two years ago. The fact that there was no primary challenge and no serious Dem challenge speaks well of her performance and abilities.
She’s a freshman member of congress. what would be dumb is falling asleep like Sen Bob Casey has been caught doing in Pennsylvania. If nothing else, this is could be a demonstration to potential challengers down the road and to her House colleagues that team Roby still has it.
Really? An effective ad but you want to dis her “fancy kitchen”? This country is in the crapper and what bothers you is a kitchen. For all you know it is a mock up. Heck, I have a nice kitchen, and I paid for it myself. People that work can do that, you know.
Therese Ford is an outstanding candidate. She just can’t raise the money to compete with the Roby machine.
Awesome, awesome, awesome! America needs more like Martha. As an Alabama voter, I approve her message.
I feel bad for whoever tries to run against Roby. She has been a pretty solid vote for us on important issues relating to the budget and Fort Rucker. This ad just makes her seem just like the rest of us.
Martha?
Effective ad. I might not have done it in their fancy kitchen though. That Washington paycheck must be nice.
Can you imagine the squalor they must have been living in before she got elected to Congress!? THE HORROR!
That is a great ad.
lol! wonder if she “built that.”
No, actually, in this case she definitely did NOT. That taxpayer salary did.
Yeah, screw that private sector career she had until a couple of years ago…
I like this a lot. This is the kind of stuff Mitt Romney needs to be running in Ohio and Florida!
I don’t think she has to worry about the Ford lady, but you should never take reelection for granted.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I underestimated Roby when I supported Barber in the primary in 2010. I’m glad we have her representing us. Good ad.
Hello, Congresswoman