New Cotton Ad Says Pryor ‘Politicizing A Horrible Tragedy’

GOP Senate hopeful Cong. Tom Cotton released a new TV ad, supported by a six-figure buy, that claims Sen. Mark Pryor politicized the tornadic storms that that hit central Arkansas communities in Faulkner Co.

The ad, titled “Recovery,” features Faulkner Co. Sheriff Andy Shock, who says that Cotton has voted to support funding of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) despite Pryor’s accusation that Cotton has opposed FEMA funding.

Pryor has provided documentation of five votes where Cotton has either opposed full or supplemental FEMA funding. Cotton’s campaign provided record of three votes where Cotton has supported FEMA funding.

“Despite what you’ve been told, Tom Cotton stood with us every step of the way. Tom voted for disaster relief and full funding of FEMA,” Sheriff Shock says in the ad. “Senator Pryor, start focusing on the real issues. Leave our community and our tragedy out of your campaign.”

In a press release revealing the ad, Cotton said, “Senator Pryor should be ashamed of his false attacks that politicize a horrible tragedy in an attempt to score political points. It’s no wonder Senator Pryor would rather hide behind attack ads and staged media events rather than debating the issues in front of voters.”

You can watch the ad below.

UPDATE:  Elicia Dover with our content partner, Ch. 7 News, reports:

Doubling down on the political tornado situation Tuesday, the Cotton campaign also released a letter from a local Mayflower business owner, Doug Boydston, who says the Pryor campaign mislead him to shoot those series of web videos on his property. 

Boydston sent a letter to the Pryor campaign Tuesday asking that the interviews that took place on his property be removed. The interview which took place on his property was with Mayor Holland.

“Shortly after your campaign’s arrival, we realized the truth, and we asked you to immediately pack your equipment and leave.  Had we realized your actual intent was to film a political ad, we would have rejected your offer and certainly would never have invited friends to attend such a farcical event,” a portion of the letter reads.

The Pryor campaign says out of respect for Mr. Boydston’s request they will remove that portion of the video, but a spokesperson for the campaign maintains they had permission and did not mislead Boydston.