Turning critical
By ddepledge
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has bankrolled a series of positive television advertisements on behalf of former Gov. Linda Lingle’s Republican U.S. Senate campaign, is now going negative against U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono, Lingle’s Democratic opponent.
The chamber has purchased $250,000 worth of advertising opposing Hirono, who leads Lingle in public-opinion polls. The chamber has also spent more than $6,650 on a get-out-the-vote video for Lingle.
The U.S. Chamber has invested more than $1.2 million overall in advertising in Hawaii to help Lingle, the most by any interest group in the Senate campaign. Several labor and women’s groups have bought ads critical of Lingle on behalf of Hirono.
The independent spending by the U.S. Chamber suggests that some on the mainland still view the Senate race as competitive.
“I’m very proud that the No. 1 business organization in the entire nation has focussed on my race as one they feel is important, because I have a background in supporting job creation,” Lingle said at a debate with Hirono on Thursday.
Hirono said the U.S. Chamber’s advertising for Lingle is an attempt to “reform her image here.”
The congresswoman said that the Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission in 2010, which allowed unlimited independent political spending by corporations and labor unions, ”truly warps” participatory democracy. She said she supports a constitutional amendment to overturn the ruling.
Political Radar
October 20th, 2012 at 9:50 am
To the US Chamber of Commerce:
Thank you so much for spending all that money for media buys in Hawaii. The local tv stations will make more money and can spend it on hiring good reporters for their news departments. Unfortuantely, it is a waste of money on your part, but that also means that this money is not spent on closer Senate races like in Virginia or Missouri.
October 20th, 2012 at 11:37 am
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain, says Mazie. While I constantly critique Lingle for getting Chamber support, please disregard the four unions which have launched an aggressive attack campaign on Lingle. Thank you, Wizard of Oz. Sad that Depledge didn’t mention that in this blog post.
October 20th, 2012 at 1:58 pm
lingle would never know what it is like to be a mother.
You can get made over with thousands of dollars
but inside will still be the same. lingle has no Heart.
Seems about the right cost for plastic surgery.
October 20th, 2012 at 5:00 pm
In my opinion, the reporter is correct. No individual organization would spend a quarter of million dollars with two weeks to go if the Hawaii U.S. Senate race was not a toss-up. Of course, if you watched the first couple of debates, it’s very obvious who should represent us in Washington. (I have always voted for the person, not a party person.) Lingle makes a compelling argument about effectiveness, and that’s why I voting for her on Tuesday. The “do nothing” Congress needs a reboot!