Planned Parenthood is launching a second wave of ads hammering Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania on abortion rights, and it uses the most effective material possible: Toomey's own words. The spot features footage from a 2009 interview Toomey did with Chris Matthews when he was first running for the Senate, and it's just killer:
Toomey: I would support legislation in Pennsylvania that would ban abortion, and I would—I would suggest that we have penalties for doctors who perform them.
Matthews: Would you put people in jail for performing abortions?
Toomey: At some point doctors performing abortions I think would, would be subject to that sort of penalty.
Clear as day. There's almost never anything that makes for stronger attack ad footage than video of your opponent saying things he should never have said. Planned Parenthood says it's spending $1.3 million on this campaign, with $1.1 million devoted to TV and the balance for digital ads. In June, PP and EMILY's List spent a similar amount on another abortion-themed ad.
Meanwhile, Mike Bloomberg's super PAC, Independence USA, is airing a second ad on Toomey's behalf, backed by a $400,000 buy. This one features the daughter of the principal at Sandy Hook Elementary School, who recounts how her mother "died that day, protecting the young children in her care." She then goes on to thank Toomey for "cross[ing] party lines to do the right thing" on background checks for gun buyers. This message is in stark contrast with a recent ad from the Senate Majority PAC that also featured a devastating clip of Toomey, this time saying just a month ago, "I have had a perfect record with the NRA."
Incidentally, here's something notable: Thanks to Independence USA's FEC reports, we now know that Bloomberg's pollster is none other than Doug Schoen, a Fox News "Democrat" who dispensed terrible advice to Hillary Clinton during her first presidential campaign (wonder why she's done so much better this time?) and who also infamously opined that Obama should not seek a second term in 2012. How is it possible that anyone pays this guy for anything?