Marathon Pundit: A Reagan TV ad for Haley Barbour?

Time for another Ronald Reagan post.

Politico's Ben Smith had an interesting snippet about the Gipper today.

I'd like to take a moment to talk with you about our country's future and a very special leader - Haley Barbour. The problems of the 1980's are rapidly changing and demanding new solutions and fresh vigorous ideas. I've learned first hand that Haley Barbour has the intelligence, courage and experience to make a great United States Senator. These are difficult times but slowly and surely we are making America prosperous again. With leaders like Haley Barbour we can look to the future with confidence and hope.

The endorser--looking directly into the camera--was Reagan. Barbour lost that 1982 race--it was a tough year for the GOP and Barbour was running against a popular conservative Democratic incumbent. Smith says a copy of the ad is in the possession of the University of Mississippi.

Smith thinks that once the ad resurfaces, it will be a powerful 2012 campaign commercial for the Mississippi governor's likely presidential campaign.

Related post:

Report from Tampico, Illinois on Reagan's 100th birthday