J.D. WINTEREGG, a primary challenger to John Boehner, the Speaker of the House, released a pastiche of an ad for erectile-dysfunction pills. A narrator explains “electile dysfunction” thus: “It could be a question of blood flow. Sometimes, when a politician has been in DC too long, it goes to his head and he just can’t seem to get the job done.” The ad goes on to say: “If you have a Boehner lasting longer than 23 years, seek immediate medical attention.”

Politicians use humour to wake voters up, and sometimes it works. No one had heard of Joni Ernst before she mentioned castrating pigs, in her youth, as proof that she would know how to cut pork in Washington. This week she was elected to the Senate. Rob Maness, an unknown conservative running for Senate in Louisiana, tussled with an alligator on film, winning himself enough votes to force the other two candidates into a run-off.

Young supporters of Republican Governor Rick Scott in Florida spoofed “Say Yes to the Dress”, a reality show about picking a bridal gown, in an ad called “Say Yes to Rick Scott”. Mr Scott’s Democratic opponent, sleekly grey Charlie Crist, was the “expensive and a little outdated” frock—the one recommended by your annoying mother—while Mr Scott was the perfect dress. Some voters found this patronising, but Mr Scott won anyway.

Some candidates engage in the Washington equivalent of rap wars, taking their rival’s words and flinging them back with a beat and a curse. Supporters of Senator Mitch McConnell in Kentucky took a quote from a previous campaign by his opponent, Alison Lundergan Grimes, in which Ms Grimes’s grandmother asked: “What rhymes with Alison Lundergan Grimes?” Mr McConnell’s ad gave three musical answers: “Not ready for prime time”, “Left-wing mime” and “Sticks to the party line”. Mr McConnell won by 15 points.

In Michigan, the scene of a particularly nasty Senate campaign, two humorous ads stand out. In one, Terri Lynn Land, a Republican, says of her Democratic opponent: “Congressman Peters and his buddies want you to believe I’m waging a war on women. Really? Think about that for a moment.” Then some jolly music plays as she sips coffee and looks at her watch. After a long silence she says: “As a woman, I might know a little more about women than Gary Peters.”

Not to be outdone, Mr Peters recruited his family to persuade voters that he is not a traditional tax-and-spend Democrat. In an ad called “Frugal” his wife complains: “I wouldn’t call him cheap, but our washing machine is older than the kids.” Mr Peters ends the ad wearing a ratty sweatshirt and a shoe with a hole and bragging that his family “did this ad for free”. He won.

Making people giggle does not always prompt them to vote for you. A Washington State University study of political ads found that frightening negative ones work better, especially when a candidate is behind. Mr Winteregg’s ad has generated nearly 418,000 views on YouTube, but Mr Boehner still clobbered him in the primary. And the ad cost Mr Winteregg his teaching job at a Christian university. Some people have no sense of humour.