New TV Ads Storming The Airwaves

From candidates for Congress to Senate to even Lt. Governor, Arkansas’ airwaves will be seeing new TV ads full of complimentary and contrasting messages.

On Thursday, four campaigns touted their new advertising.

GOP Senate hopeful Cong. Tom Cotton released a new TV spot that explains his vote against the Farm Bill earlier this year. Cotton, who has been barraged with criticism by Sen. Mark Pryor and Democrats over the vote, repeated his explanation that the bill was more of a “food stamp” bill thus earning his no vote. Cotton was the only Republican member of Arkansas’ Congressional delegation to oppose the measure.

In the Second Congressional District, Democrat Pat Hays released a new ad touting his leadership in bringing a major Caterpillar factory to North Little Rock. The ad features Hays and Eddie Powell, former Vice President of the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce. Caterpillar located a $140 million factory with 600 new jobs in North Little Rock in 2010.

Fourth District Democrat James Lee Witt rolled out his first TV ad of the season – a biographical spot that showcased his long career in disaster relief services. Witt was a former FEMA director, state emergency services chief and Yell County Judge.  After his public service, he formed a private emergency management company to consult with local, state and national governments on disaster relief.

The National Republican Congressional Committee responded to Witt’s ad calling it “dishonest.” Citing an NBC investigative report, the NRCC was critical of Witt’s private firm he opened after his FEMA service saying the company profiteered off Hurricane Katrina and over billed taxpayers.

Democratic Lt. Governor candidate John Burkhalter took the gloves off today and launched a contrast ad against his Republican opponent, Cong. Tim Griffin. Burkhaler, who as been airing feel-good bio ads, called Griffin a “career politician” citing his four years in Congress and service to the Bush White House and national GOP.

Griffin countered in a late afternoon press release saying Burkhalter was “Obama’s preferred” candidate. “Only in a Burkhalter-Obama economy would my four years of service [in Congress] be considered a ‘career’ and a pro-growth, pro-jobs record be considered bad,” Griffin said.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike Ross rolled out a new ad introducing voters to his parents on Wednesday.