Powerful ad delivers the right message.
By Deepak Chitnis
WASHINGTON, DC: California gubernatorial candidate Neel Kashkari has taken his campaign to the airwaves, releasing his first television ad, aptly entitled “Ax.”
The ad, which was officially released last month, features Kashkari (40) literally taking an ax to high taxes, wasteful government spending, and unemployment. Kashkari, a Republican, also promises to cut off current Governor Jerry Brown’s “crazy train,” the colloquial term of those who view the Democratic Governor’s policies as daft and loony.
“Career politicians are clueless about earning a dollar; all they know is how to spend yours,” Kashkari says in the ad. “I’m Neel Kashkari, and I’m not a politician, so I actually understand hard work.”
Kashkari’s statements may sound somewhat abrasive, but Kashkari and the other Republican in the race, state Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, have been contentious with each other throughout the race. Donnelly is a strong conservative on just about every issue, while Kashkari has maintained throughout that although technically a Republican, he remains liberal on social issues, such as abortion and same-sex marriage.
California’s primary races are today, and will decide if Kashkari makes it through to the general election in November. Kashkari may pull through after all, having appealed to the Republican base while also drawing in Democrats who favor his social policies. Kashkari currently leads Donnelly by a margin of 5%, with numbers from a USC Dornsife/L.A. Times poll saying it’s 18% to 13% in favor of Kashkari.
Kashkari has also managed to capitalize on controversial statements made by Donnelly during the race, in which he accused Kashkari, a practicing Hindu, of being a supporter of Islamic Sharia law. Kashkari has also fundraised well, and has accrued key endorsements, including that of the Sacramento Bee.
Born and brought up in Ohio, Kashkari earned his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, in 1995 and 1998, respectively. In 2002, he earned his Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.
Now, if he wins, he can add becoming America’s third Indian-origin Governor to his resume, following in the footsteps of Louisiana’s Bobby Jindal and South Carolina’s Nikki Haley. California primary results will be announced on Tuesday evening.
Kashkari’s television ad can be viewed below: