A Day At The Congressional Races
Here's today's run-down on the Congressional races: Republicans are reacting to the economic crisis and the bad poll numbers with some apparently twisted and phony attacks against the Dems.
GOP Accused Of Twisting Video Of Franken
It looks like the NRSC, in their zeal to paint Al Franken as angry and unstable, have seriously twisted some key video out of context. Minnesota blog MNPublius found that the NRSC repeatedly used in their TV ads video of Franken yelling out, "You can take this guy!" in a manic fashion -- but it looks like he was doing an impression of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone at his son's track and field meets. Here's the original video:
McConnell Campaign Accused Of Lying To Veteran For Campaign Ad
Oh boy. Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (KY) has been airing attack ads charging that a chain of veterans' clinics run by Dem opponent Bruce Lunsford have offered inferior care. However, it turns out one of the veterans in the ad now says he was lied to and his words taken totally out of context. Now that same veteran is doing a Lunsford ad:
"Tricking veterans, twisting their words -- how low will Mitch McConnell go?" the announcer says. In response, McConnell has a revised ad without that particular veteran, and with other veterans who directly blast Lunsford by name.
How The Endangered Senators Voted On The Bailout
The following Senators in close or potentially close races voted for the bailout: Norm Coleman (R-MN), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Gordon Smith (R-OR), and John Sununu (R-NH). The following Senators in key races voted against it: Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).
Outside Group Steps In To Help Mitch McConnell
In a further sign that Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell is in danger, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is now intervening in the race with ads promoting McConnell and trashing Democratic businessman Bruce Lunsford. Here's the attack ad:
"Kentucky families just want some relief from soaring energy costs -- but Bruce Lunsford just doesn't get it," the announcer says.
Third-Party Group Attacks Musgrave On Ethics
The Defenders of Wildlife has this new ad up against Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO), a Christian-right champion who most observers expect to lose this year in her normally deep-red district. The ad goes after Musgrave on ethics, accusing her of being one of the most corrupt members of Congress:
"Musgrave even co-sponsored a bill that would enrich her family by thousands of dollars on their fancy coin investments," the announcer says.
Dem Congresswoman's Campaign: Opponent Hit Us For Observing Jewish Holiday
The campaign of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) is blasting the campaign of GOP opponent Timothy Bee over having criticized her for allegedly returning to Arizona to campaign during the bailout negotiations -- when in fact Giffords was returning home to observe the Jewish holiday. Bee's campaign says it was an honest mistake
Republicans twisting the truth? I'm shocked, SHOCKED, I tell you!
October 2, 2008 11:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Unless the Obama tsunami grown big enough to take Kentucky - which is not impossible, given his polls have gone from 30 points down to 12 points down, but highly unlikely - don't look for Lunsford to beat McConnell.
Bruce may be within the margin of error this week, but Mitchie's got $11 million, four weeks, and lots more attack to make on Lunsford.
October 2, 2008 11:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Lunsford is a businessman; he's self-funding his entire campaign, IIRC. Still, that McConnell is being forced to play defense on his own seat means that he has less money to give to other endangered incumbents.
October 2, 2008 11:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
On second thought, noticing your username, you can probably confirm the bit about Lunsford being self-funding. I'm not just pulling that out of nowhere, right?
October 2, 2008 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Gabrielle Giffords has every right to blast Tim Bee. The only reason that Tim Bee is running for her office is, that because of term limits, he has to leave his current seat. He has no interest in the constituents of the 8th Congressional District but rather in his own continued employment. His sole platform is one of hatred and discrimination (Prop. 102 for example). He continues to hammer at Giffords and accuses her of doing the exact things that he himself is, in reality doing. He states that she votes often with Nancy Pelosi and yes, she at times does. However, Tim Bee has more often voted strict Republican party line rather than what his constituents want. This same Republican line of thinking is exactly what has led us to the fiasco on Wall Street. Tim Bee blasts Gabrielle Giffords for returning home during a House break, a break that she voted against,so that she celebrate the Jewish New Year with her family; further proof of his intolerance as, had she been a member of his church, he would have never said a word about it. Tim Bee blasts Mrs. Giffords for the fact that the national Democratic party is supporting her campaign and yet he brings the failed President Bush to Tucson to raise funds for him and sticks the people of Tucson with the $100,000. security tab.
I'm sorry "Mr." Bee but we here in the 8th do not believe you, trust you, nor are we going to vote you into Gabrielle Giffords office as our representative as you do NOT represent us.
October 2, 2008 1:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'll say.
That's exactly right.
Al told the same story at a fundraiser for his campaign last Sunday. Here's a video excerpt from his speech. (BTW, Paul Wellstone's son David is in attendance.)
Al's retelling of David's story about his dad starts at about 3:00. The animated quote occurs at about 3:40. Enjoy!
P.S. Please forgive the shitty video; my arm was getting sorely tired!
October 2, 2008 2:20 PM | Reply | Permalink