The 10 Best (Worst) Political Ads Of The Year

Campaigns, super PACs, and everyone else have churned out ads by the minute this election cycle.

1. Jeff Barth: “Why Jeff Barth For Congress?”

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=ST2K4U_XQ5Y.

Despite this nearly five-minute opus, Barth did not win his primary race to take on Republican Kristi Noem for South Dakota’s lone congressional seat.

2. Herman Cain: “Now is the time for action!”

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=qhm-22Q0PuM.

The Mark Block smoking ad.

3. Roland Sledge: “Electric Fences”

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=wCpBibIt10o.

In an unusual ad featuring a man urinating on an electric fence, Sledge lays out his pitch to become Texas’ Railroad Commissioner.

4. Ron Gould: “Straight Shooter”

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=NLAirystfdY.

Gould, a candidate for Arizona’s 4th Congressional District, shot Obamacare to bits in his ad.

5. Herman Cain: “Rabbit”

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=EdpN5C1_flQ.

One of Cain’s numerous “Any questions?” ads. This one features a rabbit being shot in mid-air.

6. Gary Johnson: “The Elephants and Donkeys deserve the BIRD”

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=IDSUoIVMze8.

Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson literally gives Democrats and Republicans the finger.

7. Revolution PAC: “Armed Chinese Troops in Texas!”

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=XKfuS6gfxPY.

The pro-Ron Paul super PAC released this ad imagining a world in which the Chinese have invaded Texas.

8. New Hampshire Liberty For Paul: “Jon Huntsman’s Values”

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=tZeVqj-t1U0.

This controversial ad by a pro-Ron Paul group portrayed Jon Huntsman as the Manchurian Candidate. Ron Paul later disavowed it as “just stupid.”

9. Herman Cain: “This Is The Economy On Stimulus”

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=YYN-Awrq3og.

Another Cain ad, this time depicting a dead goldfish instead of a rabbit. Same little girl.

10. Fred Thompson: “Fred Thompson’s America”

Video available at: http://buzzfeed-video1.s3.amazonaws.com/video/2012/04/26/SpecialMessageFromFred-624x326.mp4.

Former Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson put out a video of himself in a bloody shirt soliciting people to sign up for his email newsletter.