Way back in May, I wrote about the "Squeal" ad from Republican Senate hopeful Joni Ernst. At the time, it had already been on the national media's radar for a couple of months and for obvious reasons.

It opens thusly: "I'm Joni Ernst. I grew up castrating hogs on an Iowa farm, so when I get to Washington, I'll know how to cut pork."

Quite the first impression. The last line, delivered after some visuals of smiling Joni intercut with some piglets: "Let's make them squeal."

As I noted, it's one thing to get the notice of media and earn a couple of viral badges. It's another thing entirely to convert buzz into votes. Despite liking the ad, from Something Else Strategies, I only gave it 2.5 stars. I wondered just how effective it would be.

While I won't go so far as to credit the ad with a victory, last night Ms. Ernst became the first woman to represent Iowa in the U.S. Senate.

The Washington Post, in its recap of how the Senate was won (or lost), called it the political ad of the year.

What do you think? Political ad of the year? If you saw something better -- better executed, more effective or just plain old crazy -- drop it in the comments.