KS Sen: Tiahrt Ad Champions Anti-Stimulus Stance
Political observers looking to see how the stimulus battle might play out in the 2010 midterms have an early example in the Kansas Senate race. Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R) launched the first TV ad of that campaign today, and it slams President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi while urging Kansans to join him in his fight against the government spending program.
"These two Washington politicians, Obama and Pelosi, sold America a bill of goods," a narrator says in the 30-second spot. The Recovery Act hasn't worked, it continues, but "one Kansas conservative" is fighting to stop it. (Full script after the jump).
Tiahrt campaign manager Chuck Knapp declined to specify how much money was behind the ad buy, but said it would be airing statewide. He said the spot wasn't so much about Tiahrt's Senate campaign, but is an escalation of his efforts to rally the grassroots against excessive Washington spending.
"As the Congress is now with Speaker Pelosi, and President Obama heading up the executive, it's pretty tough for a Republican in the House to get something done. There's going to have to be a groundswell of support from the American people, and that's what Congressman Tiahrt is trying to have happen here," Knapp said in an interview. "He wanted to let Kansans and Americans know that there is a fight in Washington against the spending, he's been trying to lead that fight and he hopes Kansans and the American people will join him."
Incumbent Sen. Sam Brownback's (R-Kan.) decision to run for governor in 2010 has created an open seat race, with two Republican Congressman so far vying to replace him, Tiahrt and Jerry Moran. Knapp said the ad demonstrates to primary voters "who the leader has been on conservative issues."
"Congressman Tiahrt has been out on front on this and many other issues that are important to conservative voters," he said. "He not only voted against [the stimulus], he's fought against it. And he's taken a leadership role in trying to repeal it."
A recent SurveyUSA poll showed Moran leading Tiahrt by 2 points, well within the margin of error.
"In these times you can't wait," Knapp said of the early TV ad launch, noting that Moran announced his candidacy last year. "The other guy gets out, you kind of have to run the race that was presented to you. We've made up a lot of ground in the last five months."
Here's the ad script:
"These two Washington politicians, Obama and Pelosi, sold America a bill of goods. A so-called stimulus plan. Since then, more homes are in foreclosure. More than two million jobs lost. And the economy is hurting. But one Kansas conservative, Todd Tiahrt, said the bailouts and stimulus were wrong from the start. Now, Tiahrt's fighting to stop it. Go to this Web site. Help Todd Tiahrt stop Obama and Pelosi now."