I know this goes over some of the same territory as a
diary posted yesterday, but I felt it was important enough to discuss a little further and provide Kossacks with a little more information.
Jason Altmire, who is running against the Republican incumbent, and Rick Santorum wannabe, Melissa Hart in Pennsylvania's 4th District, began running TV ads this week highlighting Hart's terrible voting record.
These ads are terribly important. I'll explain why on the flip...
I saw the first ad last night on FOX during the Mets/Dodgers game, and a slightly different/shorter version this morning on KDKA news, which is probably the first or second most watched morning news show. I was surprised that the Altmire campaign started off with the broadcast networks (because they are more $$), but maybe the idea is to begin with broadcast to get the most exposure possible, and then fall back to cable until closer to election day.
The ads directly link Hart to Santorum and Bush. It stresses her rubber-stamping voting record: 98% of the time in line with Bush and the GOP. It highlights her votes to privatize social security, cut student loans, and cut funding for veterans.
Despite the fact that 55% of PA-4 registered voters are Democrats, Hart has won her last few elections easily, with little more than a whimper from her Democratic opponents.
FINALLY, Altmire has changed this. As I noted in a recent diary, a poll Altmire funded shows him nipping at Missy's heals, 48% to 44%, within the 4.9% margin of error. This was despite having only 21% name recognition. That clearly demonstrates that "R" after Hart's name is dragging her down.
These ads are particularly important for another, perhaps the most important, reason: Hart won't agree to a debate. She told the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, which is funded by right-wing gazillionaire psycho Richard Scaife and is this area's equivalent of the Washington Times, that they just haven't settled on one yet. Well, we're a month from the freakin' election, Missy, gonna make up yer mind some time soon?
I was phone banking the other day and calling to an area of PA-4 considered to be pretty conservative. And of the people I talked to, I heard a lot of enthusiasm for Jason, particularly among those who had yet to even hear his name! So, in the absence of a debate, these ads will go along way toward improving his name recognition and highlighting Missy's voting record.
Hart has some hefty dollars, so I'm sure she'll be firing back soon. I'll be curious to see them. I'm sure they will stick with the theme her campaign has developed when discussing Jason, referring to him as "the lobbyist." And I'm sure she'll trot out the tired "family values" theme of gay marriage and abortion.
It's pretty ironic that they are using this as a derogatory term when it is the Republicans' abuses--led by Hart's mentor, Santorum--that have made "lobbyist" the equivalent of a four-letter word. Not that lobbyists have ever had the best reputation, but I don't think it's ever been quite this far in the dumps.
That said, Altmire, when given the opportunity, does not shy away from the job he quit to get into this race. He was head of government affairs and community relations at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, the dominant force in western Pa. health care.
Altmire's response to the "lobbyist" tag: `I'm proud of what I did at UPMC. I was on Capitol Hill and Harrisburg and I helped bring in money and support for the region's premier medical center to support patient care and medical research.'
I won't beg for money, because I know many of you are giving your time and funds to support many of your own local candidates. If you think this is a race worth supporting, great. But it's looking more and more like a race that can be won.