RGA Running First Ads Against Cahill
The RGA is taking the threat of an independent candidate seriously, running $1M in early ads blasting MA Treas. Tim Cahill for his record as the steward of state's financial health.
In a new radio and TV ad campaign, the RGA attacks Cahill for spending money on staff bonuses and office redecoration during his time both in the treasurer's office and at the state lottery commission.
"Beacon Hill's a mess. Tim Cahill's making it worse," a narrator in the TV ad says. "With Cahill running the lottery, costs have skyrocketed and he spent a million bucks on office renovations."
In going after Cahill, the RGA is repeating a strategy that worked in '09. Last year, then-NJ Gov. Jon Corzine (D) tried to elevate independent candidate Chris Daggett in hopes of stealing votes from the GOP nominee. The RGA ran ads claiming a vote for Daggett was a vote for Corzine, and now-Gov. Chris Christie (R) won a close election.
Now, polls show Gov. Deval Patrick (D) in a situation similar to Corzine's. Patrick is unpopular, and voters blame him for the state's weak economic position. Were he running against a GOPer alone, Patrick's path to victory would be hard to define.
But Patrick has Cahill in the race, and though it means another contender assaulting his record, it also means Cahill saps much of the anti-Patrick vote. The latest survey, conducted by Western New England College, showed Patrick winning with 34%, followed by Cahill and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care CEO Charlie Baker (R) at 29% and 27%, respectively.
As Baker appeals to independent voters who might otherwise lean toward Dems, Cahill has tried to carve out his niche on the right -- and he's proven successful enough at doing so the RGA is now worried about a split vote. And they get a shot in at Patrick along the way. "Massachusetts has already lost 4 years. We can't afford to lose any more," both ads say.
The spots are the RGA's first ads in MA, and a source with knowledge of the ad buy tells Hotline OnCall the RGA has reserved $1M in TV and radio time. The committee has already run TV ads hitting Dem contenders in FL and CA.
After the jump, check out the RGA's first ads against Cahill.
The RGA's 30-second TV ad, "Reckless":
"Reckless" from Republican Governors Association on Vimeo.
The committee's first radio ad, "Receptionist":
"Receptionist" (Radio ad) from Republican Governors Association on Vimeo.
Love the radio. Hilarious.