The political ad that sparked nationwide controversy turns out to have a surprising local connection.One of the actors in the Hillary Clinton ad was shocked to see herself, especially because she's a fierce supporter of Barack Obama.
The so-called "red-phone ad" was played all over the country and helped turn the tide for Hillary Clinton leading up to her big win in Ohio. The ad shows a sleeping child and asks voters who they would want to see answering a 3 a.m. emergency phone call to the White House.
But the young girl starring in the ad will actually be voting age next month and says she's no fan of Hillary Clinton. Thursday night, the Knowles family of Bonney Lake, Wash., watched the Jon Stewart Show and saw the ad for the first time.
"I looked and saw a girl that looked like my sister and we rewound it and sure enough it was my sister," said Brady Knowles.
The first girl in the ad is young Casey Knowles. It's stock footage from eight years ago when she worked as a TV extra - footage owned now by Getty Images and used by the Clinton campaign.
But they couldn't have picked a more unwilling star.
"It's really sort of ironic that my image would be used to advocate for Hillary when I myself do not," said Casey.
She may only be 17, but Casey has some very strong political opinions. She turns 18 - legal voting age - in April, in plenty of time before the general election.
"It's perfect timing because I have a candidate that I really identify with," she said.
"I've been campaigning for Barack Obama for a few months now," she said. "I was actually a precinct captain at the caucuses a few months ago. I attended his rally a few months ago and I'm a very, very avid supporter."
In a conference call Saturday afternoon, Obama's campaign manager David Plouffe gladly accepted the endorsement.
"We think that the young actress in that stock footage who's now supporting us has got sound judgment as to who the strongest commander in chief would be," he said.
The Knowles family admit they have no control over how the footage is used. And while they see the humor of it all, they are mildly annoyed.
"I think it would be really wonderful if me and Barack Obama could get together and make a nice counter ad," she laughed.
Despite all of this, Casey Knowles admits if Clinton wins the party's nomination, she will vote for her.
