Alabama's Political Ads Heat Up Again, This Time Its Dale Peterson

Alabama has been causing quite a stir this election cycle with ads that have caught national attention for their straight forward no holds barred approach to the hot button issues.

First it was Tim James (Republican candidate - Governor) with his simple Learn the Language ad addressing safety concerns and the financial impact of having to conduct state business in languages other than English.

Now Dale Peterson (Republican candidate -Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries) ad targeting his opponent Dorman Grace as well as politicians in general is the hot buzz. The ad titled We are Better than That hit viral status within hours of posting to you tube. Parodies of the ad have already surfaced.

We are Better than That is the brilliant creation of Huntsville, Ala., film maker and talk show host Ladd Ehlinger Jr. Ladd, after interviewing Peterson on his radio show, felt Peterson was as real as they come.

Using the same techniques as he used in the ad for Les Phillip, Ehlinger created a spot that is tough, edgy, and gives the voters a good look at what Dale Peterson stands for and against.

Ehlinger is no stranger to the straight forward approach, nor to controversy. As a film maker he has two Independent films out, Flatland The Film, an adaptation of the 1884 novel by Edwin A. Abbott and his latest, Hive Mind, starring Doug Trench.

Hive Mind, with its eerie implications of the government taking control of everyone's mind also threw Ladd into the spotlight.

Ehlinger has spent most of his time this week, answering the many questions from across the country. Major political sites such as Politico, Gawker, and the Huffington Post were among the first to smell the blood, so to speak, and frenzy has not slowed down.

Does straight talking shoot from the hip ads help a political campaign? Ehlinger told WAAYTV.com "A lot of people are tired of politicians afraid of saying what they mean" and from reactions many agree with Ladd. But the simple truth is controversy sells. One thing for sure, no matter how the voting goes politically , Ladd Ehlinger Jr. comes out a winner as a brilliant film maker whose creations will continue to grab headlines.