Campaign Ad: "Draft Joe Biden"

New television ad from the group Draft Biden set to air on morning network television leading up to the first Democratic debate.

From the New York Times:

The haunting, mostly black-and-white commercial from the group, Draft Biden, features audio from a speech he gave at Yale University’s commencement in May, just days before his elder son, Beau, died of brain cancer. At a minute and a half, it is longer than most political ads.

“My dad’s definition of success is when you look at your son or daughter and realize they turned out better than you – and they did,” Mr. Biden says in the commercial, titled “Joe Biden: ‘My Redemption.’ ”

The ad is to have its debut on NBC’s “Today” show on Wednesday morning, and it will be shown on CNN on Tuesday in the hours leading up to the cable channel’s coverage of the first Democratic presidential debate. The initial buy is for $250,000, according to Draft Biden officials, who said they hoped to add to that.

The creator of the ad says he hasn't spoken to Biden about the ad, nor does he know if Biden will join the hunt for the presidency.

The group, Draft Biden, adds this direct message to Joe Biden on the YouTube page:

The ad highlights how Joe has overcome personal tragedies and his vision for the future in his own words: “We are on the cusp of some of the most astonishing breakthroughs in the history of mankind – scientific, technological, socially. It will be up to you in this changing world to translate those unprecedented capabilities into a greater measure of happiness and meaning, not just for yourself but for the world around you.”

Joe, run. Our country needs you.