GOP launches ads attacking former New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg's liberal record

WORLD ^ | 10/24/02 | Joel C. Rosenberg

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

It may be too late, but the GOP has finally launched feisty TV ads attacking former New Jersey Sen. Frank Lautenberg's radical liberal record, first reported in WORLD. "Senator Frank Lautenberg supports the policies of the past," charges the ad. Lautenberg "voted seven times against the death penalty for terrorists ... and to freeze defense spending for seven years. No wonder Lautenberg is shamelessly ducking debates with Doug Forrester about today's world."

[WomanofStandard]

My question is exactly where is the GOP getting this word out? I have yet to see any TV ads on it.

[Intolerant in NJ]

...where is the GOP getting this word out?...saw it a couple of times on Philly TV yesterday and today - good ad from the 'pubs (for a change).....

[pgkdan]

I don't thonk it's too late. It's less than 2 weeks till the election and a lot of people are just now starting to pay attention. I heard on Hannity today that polls of likely voters have Lautenberg up by only 5 points now. The GOP needs to run this ad over and over and over from now til election day. I think the part about voting against the death penalty for terrorists is especially effective given the news lately.

Is the President scheduled in NJ to do any campaigning for Forrester? GOP cadidates are said to enjoy a 2-5 point bump wherever he goes...that would sure help in NJ.

[Exit 109]

In the NY market it's running on channels 2,4,5,7,9, and 11 around the local news broadcasts (with all the other political ads).

Since Torch withdrew, the ads have been:
The NJGOP ad "Quitters Never Win"
Two spots from Doug's campaign, one feating Tom Kean, one featuring Rudy Giuliani
This new ad that just started running from the RNSC

I've seen them all, several times. Considering I'm in the office 10-12 hours a day M-F, and 8 hours Sa-Su, none of this counting events, rallies, etc., they're not that hard to find - you're looking for them in the wrong places.

[LenS]

It's running in Philly also. I've seen it several times on different channels at different times.

[Exit 109]

Bush was here in Sept to do a special rally for Doug in Trenton. Cheney was here this week. Giuliani did a rally for Doug today. Other supporters who have been here include JC Watts and Al Leiter of the Mets.

[epow]

I have yet to see any TV ads on it.

NYC TV stations have been running them all day today. Only problem is, I think the majority of NJ voters are as liberal as Lautenburg so I doubt they're doing much good. (I don't live in NY or NJ, but my "local" satellite programming comes from NYC and LA)

[Libertina]

As long as they get the ads out before people send in their absentee ballots. It might be a bit tardy, but better now than never.

[LenS]

And lots of liberal NJ voters died in the WTC attack. Lautenberg's opposition to the death penalty for terrorists isn't going to be popular in those affected communities.

[Consort]

In a heavily Democrat state like Jersey, they expect and want Lautenberg to have a liberal record. If you want to hurt him, then accuse him of not being liberal enough or, if you really want to hurt him, accuse him of being conservative. The most honest approach would be to attack the liberal voters — they are the root of the problem — make them feel guilty about it.

[duckln]

voters are as liberal as Lautenburg

I agree. They should hammer the point that he's in from the 'pasture' , a stand-in, and at 78 has achieved his life expectancy. Push the point 'Carville' stlye that it's pure Demacrat deceit during a crutial time of war and big decisions.

NJ should despise this guy more than the Torch. But then, the Republicans have never in my lifetime run a hard hitting 'honest' campaign. It's the usual 'blah, blah, blah'.

[epow]

But then, the Republicans have never in my lifetime run a hard hitting 'honest' campaign.

Nor in my lifetime either, and I'm probably much older than you. I cast my first Republican vote in the 1958 congressional race. The Pub lost of course.

I must have a masochistic streak in my psyche to stick with that bunch of losers all this time. The only good times were the Reagan years, and they were over much too quickly. But what is the alternative? The reform party is a bad joke, and the libertarians will never win anything. And I'm not sure that's a bad thing anyway.

Looks like I'm stuck with the Pubs, for better or for worse. Now if they could just grow some he-glands they might win something somewhere and turn the old ship around. I keep hoping.......

[no dems]

I still say one phone call from Forrester to Howard Stern's radio show would boost him 5 percentage points. It helped elect Christy Todd Whitman and Gov. Pataki.

[duckln]

Did you get the chance to vote for Dewey?

[mwl1]

Yes, call Howard Stern. Pummel Lautenfraud on taxes and spending, not just defense. People vote their pocketbooks!

Send in Olympia Snowe and other GOP women senators to shore up his support with women.

[epow]

Did you get the chance to vote for Dewey?

Nope. I was only 11 when he ran against Truman. My parents were New Deal Democrats, so I wanted Truman to win. But I was a Republican by the time I was old enough to vote.