The ad they've been waiting for...

You could hear the bells going off as soon as she said it...

On June 16, 2009, U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) replied to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Brig. Gen. Michael Walsh's courtesy reply of "yes, ma'am," with an outburst that raised more than a few eyebrows. Since then, in e-mails and via call-ins on numerous media appearances, I've heard from pro-Carly Fiorina (U.S. senate candidate, R-CA) supporters who have wondered when Fiorina would make hay with the unflattering clip.

The wait is over...

From the Los Angeles Times:

"A week after her rival, Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, aired spots attacking her tenure as chief executive of Hewlett-Packard, Fiorina’s first general election ad uses campaign footage from a well-known exchange between Boxer and Army Corps of Engineers Brig. Gen. Michael Walsh at a hearing more than a year ago of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which Boxer chairs."

Boxer's exchange with the general:

"In the brief clip used by Fiorina’s team, Boxer has interrupted Walsh after he’s addressed her as ‘Ma’am’: “You know, do me a favor. Could you say ‘Senator’ instead of ‘Ma’am’? It’s just a thing. I worked so hard to get that title, so I’d appreciate it,” Boxer says to Walsh.

“Twenty eight years in Washington, and Barbara Boxer works hard for a title?” Fiorina says into the camera with a quick raise of her eyebrows. “I’ll really go to work — to end the arrogance in Washington.”

The Fiorina ad:

Was it worth the wait? Will it "move the dial" for Fiorina? We'll know in just a few weeks...