Parks and Recreation Episode 4.12 Campaign Ad

Leslie and Ben attend the press conference for her latest competition, Bobby Newport. While attractive, charming and the heir to the Sweetums fortune, Bobby isn't the brightest crayon in the box and doesn't seem to understand that Leslie's running against him even after their introduction. Despite his idiocy, Bobby's already 70 points ahead in the polls.

Andy and April come to Ann with a medical issue; Andy sneezed and hit his head against the wall and may have a minor concussion. Ann recommends they go to the doctor to get Andy checked out, and April and Andy are surprised to learn that they actually have health insurance because they're employed by the government.

With Bobby Newport destroying Leslie in the polls, Ben reveals his new campaign strategy that he hopes will turn their luck around: launching an attack ad against Bobby Newport to air during halftime of the Pawnee vs. Eagleton high school basketball game, which is considered the Super Bowl of Pawnee. The team is thrilled with that idea. Everyone, that is, except Leslie.

Andy gets his head injury checked out, only to find that it's a minor concussion. But when Andy reveals a slew of other miscellaneous injuries that have never been treated, the doctor recommends him to a number of specialists.

While she attempts to restrain her feelings, Leslie finally confesses that attack ads are against everything she believes in. She finally settles on a compromise: the group will split into two teams and create two different ads, one positive and one negative. Then they'll regroup and watch the ads, and the winning ad will air.

When it comes time for the ads to face off, Leslie's is cheesy and a bit TOO happy. On top of that, she never even says that she's running for city council in the ad, which presents a bit of an issue. Ben's ad is negative, but it gets the point across and is clearly more effective. Despite the fact that Ben's ad wins the overwhelming majority of votes, Leslie refuses to believe it.

Though Leslie finally agrees to let the ad air, she has a change of heart at the last minute, tackling Ben as he tries to hand over the DVD to the TV station. They miss the deadline and neither of their ads makes it to air. Later, Ben and Leslie manage to make a compromise, finally coming up with an ad that highlights Bobby's stupidity by juxtaposing his ad with an ad Leslie shot when she was 10, which was still more intelligent.

After a number of doctor's appointments, Andy and April are confused when their "free medicine card" doesn't apply because there's a $500 deductible for dental procedures. When they attempt to "dine and dash," Andy runs straight into an ambulance outside.

After seeing Leslie's new ad, Bobby calls a meeting with Ben and Leslie and simply asks her to quit the campaign. Not for political reasons, but just because his friends keep sending him links to their video, and it's embarrassing. Bobby's confused when they turn down his request, clearly not used to not getting everything he wants.