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Bates South Wins Mercedes in Latin America ATLANTA--Bates South in Miami has won the Mercedes-Benz account for Latin America and the Caribbean. The assignment, worth "just under eight figures," according to agency senior vice president Gary Bassell, includes creative, media and marketing duties. Bates and Miami's Foote, Cone & Belding were the lone finalists in the four-month review, culled from an initial field of more than a dozen shops. There was no incumbent. Previously, Latin America countries had separate agencies that reported to Mercedes' headquarters in Germany. Bates South will consolidate efforts by coordinating its network of offices in Latin America. Its first assignment is to launch Mercedes' new A-class compact, which will be available in July. Crispin Has the Last Laugh on Tobacco ATLANTA--Miami's Crispin Porter & Bogusky broke a new anti-tobacco commercial for the Florida Tobacco Pilot Program in spot buys around the state on Fox's Super Bowl telecast. The ad, "Fun With Statistics," shows Lorillard chief executive officer Andrew Tisch testifying before Congress in 1994 that he has seen no statistical evidence of health hazards connected to tobacco use. This time, however, CP&S added a laugh track. Credits include creative director Alex Bogusky, copywriter Tim Roper and art director Paul Keister. Sixty-Second Airborne Bails Out of Pitch ATLANTA--Sixty-Second Airborne officials said last week they had withdrawn from Mindspring Internet Service's radio review. In a statement, agency principal Brian Sack said he felt that the client was leaning towards working with a "large agency," and his radio-focused shop in Atlanta did not fit that description. Remaining contenders include Huey/Paprocki and Match, both Atlanta; The Richards Group and Italia/Gal, both Dallas; and Butler, Shine & Stern, Sausalito, Calif. McDonald's Has Heavy Hitter for Big Mac ATLANTA--McDonald's has introduced new English and Spanish-language television spots starring Olympic and professional boxing champion Oscar De La Hoya touting the Big Mac. The commercials were produced by the client's Hispanic advertising agency, del Riviero Messianu, based in Coral Gables, Fla. Leo Burnett's Starcom Media Services unit handles the chain's Latino media planning and buying. 4th District Lobbyist Vote Falls Short ATLANTA--An informal vote of the 4th District of the American Advertising Federation delegates in Florida and the Caribbean to reinstate lobbyist Bob Levy did not get majority support. Vicki Northrup, Space Coast's legislative chairperson, said 13 of 53 delegates voted for Levy. In November, Levy was instructed by district governor Brenda Edwards to cease lobbying while the group shifted to a grass-roots strategy to help pass a bill that would clarify Florida's tax policy on creative services. Levy has been AAF's lobbyist for 12 years.

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