Joni Ernst cuts a new TV ad, hogs some attention

So, um, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Joni Ernst has a new ad. It's titled "Squeal." And its central theme is hog castration. I think this is a first.

It's running in the Des Moines market, where it may cause some male viewers to shift uncomfortably in their easy chairs.

If Ernst's camp was hoping to get her some much-needed attention, this is a home run. It's already viral. And it will be remembered.

Memorable doesn't always mean successful, like when "totally nude dancing" didn't stop Tom Vilsack from becoming Iowa's "totally new governor" (h/t 1998 Daily Iowan headline writers). But when you're trying to slice through a crowded primary field, it can't hurt. Unless you're a hog.

I see a new campaign slogan coming. "Joni Ernst - Bad news for hogs, good news for Iowa." If she wins the seat, she could be known as Sen. Snip.