SA Election 2018: SA Best release first political campaign TV advertisement, and it’s really something

IT’S the season for political TV advertisements and SA Best’s first TV effort — featuring homages to Lazarus, Bollywood and Labor’s iconic “It’s Time” ad — is certainly something. Judge for yourself.

• Music writer Nathan Davies reviews this song
• State Opposition releases first election advertisement
• Political candidates illegally putting campaign posters up early
• Jay Weatherill pledges advertising cost transparency
• Election 2018 HQ: All the latest news and annoucements

A WACKY, cheesy election ad featuring SA Best leader Nick Xenophon rapping political messages in a Bollywood-style dance scene and rising from a hospital bed was released on Tuesday.

Renowned for his stunts during a 20-year career in state and federal politics, Mr Xenophon says he is bracing for “naysayers” to attack and lampoon the two-minute video.

Nick Xenophon in a scene from the cheesy election video.

The ad apes Labor’s 1972 classic It’s Time jingle by featuring SA Best candidates singing and dancing to a chorus declaring: “We’re the best, we’re SA Best, come on and put us to the test.”

An unintended homage to Labor's iconic "It's Time" advertisement?

Mr Xenophon told The Advertiser: “It’s the perfect antidote to the relentless negativity and sledging of the major parties.

“It’s about acknowledging the state’s problems but having a strong, positive message that we can fix the state’s problems if we work together.

“Being a little bit cheesy is better than the poisonous ads that are being dished out by the major parties.

“We didn’t bag anyone. It’s a pretty unusual political ad because we didn’t bag our opponents.”

Nick Xenophon stars in the SA Best campaign ad... with some Bollywood stylings.

Both major parties have targeted Mr Xenophon in attack ad campaigns in a bid to erode his strong opinion poll ratings, which have created a three-way race in some seats.

Opposition Leader Steven Marshall has accused him of forging a deal to return Labor to power, while Premier Jay Weatherill has argued Mr Xenophon is a former Liberal member who wants to be that party’s leader.

Also on Tuesday, Mr Xenophon announced his party’s 36th and final lower house candidate for the March 17 poll — educator Jo Mausolf in the southern Adelaide seat of Reynell, held by Labor’s Katrine Hildyard.

Ms Mausolf, who Mr Xenophon said he had known for 40 years, said she was a strong advocate for all children being given an equal opportunity to receive quality education, regardless of their socio-economic background.