Obama talks up Thornton school in 30-minute ad

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama Wednesday night once again singled out an exceptional Denver-area expeditionary high school in his 30-minute prime-time television ad.

Obama praised Thornton’s Mapleton Expeditionary School of the Arts (MESA) for its 100-percent graduation rate during his $4 million ad buy, in which he spent most of the time highlighting individuals and families who will benefit from his policies if he’s elected.

Obama spoke at the school in May, praising its principal, Michael Johnston, who is one of Obama’s top education advisors. Johnston grew up in Vail, graduated from Yale and earned his teaching chops at a poor rural high school in Greenville, Miss.