Last weekend, D.C.-based Campaign & Elections magazine held its annual Reed Awards dinner to honor the best work done by political consultants in the 2010 mid-term elections. And a campaign commercial for U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) was recognized as the best TV spot for a Democratic congressional candidate. 

DeFazio, a 13-term representative who's the dean of Oregon's House delegation, had an unusually tough and well-financed challenge last year from Republican Art Robinson, a scientist who benefited from a huge independent expenditure on his behalf by a shadowy hedge fund billionaire.

DeFazio responded with a slew of TV ads, created for him by Tipping Point Strategies (one of the principals at Tipping point, Rachel Gorlin, is a veteran strategist for Oregon Democratic politicians). And this one, "Dog," took home the honors.