Hayworth's Wife Headlines First TV Ad
Responding to a series of negative ads from Sen. John McCain (R), ex-Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R) has released the first TV ad of his own in the race, in which the former congressman's wife defends his credentials and takes McCain to task for negative campaigning.
The 30-second ad, which was produced by The Strategy Group for Media, features Hayworth's wife, Mary Hayworth. "Tired of John McCain's negative ads? So am I," says Mary Hayworth in the ad. She assails McCain for "character assassination," and says McCain "should be ashamed."
McCain spokesperson Brian Rogers countered by saying the size of the ad buy was just $2,100, and the ad will only run on Fox News in Tucson for the entire month of July.
"Far from being a 'principled conservative' as his new ad claims, Congressman Hayworth has time and again thrown the principles of fiscal conservatism out the window for political gain and personal profit," Rogers added. Hayworth spokesperson Mark Sanders disputed Rogers's claim about the ad buy, saying the buy was statewide, though he declined to provide an exact dollar figure.
Hayworth has recently come under fire for an appearance in a '07 infomercial in which he pitched government grants. McCain has released several TV ads hitting Hayworth over his decision to appear in the infomercial.
Hayworth's first ad: