Koch brothers affiliate Americans for Prosperity is spending big in the race for Virginia governor, targeting Democrat Ralph Northam with $1 million or more in mail and digital ads. They’re even attacking Northam for supporting a bipartisan bill under a Republican governor:
The latest push includes a mailer that blasts Northam for supporting an increase in taxes on sales, gasoline and home and car purchases.
It refers to sweeping 2013 legislation to raise revenue for transportation and road projects that was supported by then Republican Gov. Robert McDonnell and passed the General Assembly with bipartisan support.
Gillespie has softened his criticism of Northam for supporting the transportation deal, which was also supported by business groups that lean Republican, and has pledged not to repeal the legislation.
At a rally for Northam on Thursday, former President Barack Obama tore into the flood of negative advertising Republicans are directing at him:
“I don’t think that someone who spent his life performing surgery on soldiers and children is suddenly cozying up to street gangs,” Obama continued, referencing Northam’s background as a former Army doctor and pediatric neurologist. “That strains credulity. That sounds like a fib. Sounds like an okey-doke. Nobody believes that.”
Nobody should believe it, anyway. But Republicans are ready to spend millions of dollars convincing them.
Can you chip in $3 to help Ralph Northam fight the Koch brothers' attacks?