The Ad Pat McCrory Doesn’t Want Anybody To See
Pat McCrory took a lot of heat during his last gubernatorial bid for being sluggish in response to attack ads launched by the Bev Perdue camp. Looks like the former Charlotte mayor isn’t taking any chances this time around, going so far as filing a complaint with the FCC about a new ad Democrats are running that smacks McCrory for his ties to a Charlotte-based lending company, Tree.com, and threatening legal action against TV stations that don’t pull the spot.
A group called N.C. Citizens for Progress is running the ad, which is being financed by the Democratic Governor’s Association. This from the N&O:
The McCrory campaign said the ad is both false, and fails to identify the true sponsor of the ad.
“North Carolina Citizens for Progress is a front group for Governor Perdue and the Democratic Governor’s Association on behalf of Walter Dalton and North Carolinians deserve to know who is paying to defame Pat McCrory’s good name,” said Brian Nick, McCrory’s campaign spokesman.
…
But an attorney for the Democratic group said the ad was true and most TV stations would not pull the ad “despite attempts by Pat McCrory’s campaign to bully and mislead TV stations.”
“This TV ad is staying on the air because its assertions are accurate and well documented,” said Michael Weisel, a Raleigh attorney and former Democratic candidate for state treasurer.
McCrory is right to blast back and defend himself, but as was too often the case during his tenure in Charlotte, his attempts to counter his critics come off as shrill and whinny instead of aggressively productive. Maybe it’s just me, but threatening TV stations if they don’t pull your political opponent’s ad seems like running to mommy if the neighborhood bully doesn’t stop stealing your lunch money.
With so much legitimate political ammunition at hand to unload on Democrats and Dalton, McCrory needs to spend more time and focus going on the offensive. Although that might become increasingly difficult given McCrory’s extensive lobbying ties via his work at the uptown legal hub Moore & Van Allen. There’s bound to be plenty of more twisted roots there for Democrats to dig up through November and cause McCrory fits. And fully expect them to do just that. It’s not like they have a record the Dalton camp can push positive of overwhelming success and prosperity during his stint as Lt Gov.
The ad that threw Team McCrory into such a tizzy is below. Thoughts?
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