House Democrats have released expensive ads connecting their Republican opponents to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) made a five-figure investment in a video campaign ad titled "Building Blocks" yesterday. The clip comes in 30 and 60-second versions, showing several blocks labeled with various issues and footage of Republican lawmakers.
"Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress are built on the same reckless policies," a woman's voice narrates. Watch the entire clip, which is unlisted (unsearchable) on YouTube, below:
The clip targets independent and Republican female voters, bringing up conservative lawmakers' views on abortion, Planned Parenthood, and LGBT rights. Each shot of Trump is coupled with footage of a congressman who shares his opinion on these issues.
The video declares that the House Republicans are "Anti-Choice" and "Anti-LGBT." Footage of Trump voicing his support of "traditional marriage," and "some form of punishment" for abortion plays alongside these messages.
"Donald Trump’s ascension as the Republican presidential nominee means House Republicans will be on the Trump ticket in November, a deeply damaging and unavoidable reality," the DCCC said in a press release Thursday. "Further, Trump’s mantle as the leader of the Republican Party shines a national spotlight on the anti-immigrant, anti-women’s healthcare, anti-Muslim, and anti-LGBT positions of the House Republicans, positions they staked out long before Trump launched his campaign."
Though it targets 15 specific districts and their local candidates, the video also includes Speaker of the House Paul Ryan's comments against funding Planned Parenthood with taxpayers' dollars.
"I’ve always believed that, even before these disgusting videos came out," Ryan says in the clip.
Homeland Security Chairman Peter King is featured saying there are "too many Mosques" in the US, in conjunction with Trump's proposal to ban Muslims from entering the country.
A clip of Steve King, a congressman for Iowa's fourth district, shows him commenting on immigrants, saying, “For every one who is a valedictorian, there’s another 100 out there who weigh 130 pounds and have calves the size of cantaloupes because they’re hauling 75 pounds of marijuana across the desert.”
The online ad will run for the next two weeks during the congressional Memorial Day recess. The ad can be found on the DCCC website, but can only be found on YouTube through the video link above.
The New York Times lists the following candidates as targets:
In New Jersey, Scott Garrett; In New York, John Katko, in New Hampshire, Frank Guinta; in Maine, Bruce Poliquin; in Nevada’s third district, the Republican primary field; in Nevada’s fourth district, Cresent Hardy; in Illinois, Bob Dold; in Minnesota’s second district, the Republican primary field, in Minnesota’s third district, Erik Paulsen; in Colorado, Mike Coffman; in Iowa, Rod Blum; in Arizona’s first district, the Republican primary field; in Florida, Carlos Curbelo; in Pennsylvania, Brian Fitzpatrick; and in Virginia, Barbara Comstock.