Pedigree shows how a cute dog can bring Trump and Hillary supporters together
Passions are running hot as America undergoes perhaps the most divisive election cycle in recent memory.
But not so hot, it seems, that opposing supporters can't come together over shared love for an adorable canine.
At least that was the experience of a woman featured in a recent ad for Pedigree, who sported Hillary Clinton campaign gear to a Donald Trump rally and vice versa as she pretended to look for an owner of a golden retriever she claimed must have escaped.
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At first, she's met with noticeable suspicion.
"You're wearing ... um ... heh," says one Clinton supporter, laughing nervously as she surveys the woman's Trump/Pence T-shirt.
But it's not long before the initial iciness thaws and everyone's attention is diverted to the pooch at hand. They marvel at its friendless and share stories of their own pets.
The sentiment may seem trite, but it comes amid an election marked by unprecedented political ugliness.
This sort of "both-sides" appeal has been a common trope in advertising in recent months -- whether encouraging unity or sympathizing with expatriation plans.
The 3-minute spot was created by New York ad agency BBDO.
Patrick Kulp is a Business Reporter at Mashable. Patrick covers digital advertising, online retail and the future of work. A graduate of UC Santa Barbara with a degree in political science and economics, he previously worked at the Pacific Coast Business Times.