Former President Bush has a cameo role in a new attack ad from Democratic Sen. Patty Murray, who’s battling Republican former state Sen. Dino Rossi in the Washington Senate race.
The new ad, Murray’s third in the campaign so far, takes on Rossi for hosting Wall Street fundraisers and opposing the recently passed financial regulation bill. Images of the former president appear in an opening montage alongside foreclosed homes and concerned-looking retirees while a narrator intones, “Bailouts, bonuses, lost savings, foreclosed homes.” Bush is not mentioned by name.
The ad goes on to smack Rossi for accepting Wall Street campaign contributions and calling for the repeal of financial regulation reform. “Dino Rossi,” the ad concludes, “the best friend Wall Street and big banks can buy.”
The National Republican Senatorial Committee, in a statement released in response to the new ad, chided Murray for her own Wall Street ties. “Patty Murray has taken hundreds of thousands of dollars from Wall Street banks and special interest lobbyists, yet her attack ad conveniently fails to mention that this ‘reform’ bill was supported by the big banks like Goldman Sachs and Citigroup and that it was opposed by small business owners and job creators,” NRSC communications director Brian Walsh said.
The TPM Poll Average of the race shows Murray with a paper-thin lead over Rossi, 46.9%-46.0%. Washington’s “top two” primary, in which voters select two candidates regardless of party to advance to the general election, is August 17.
Check out TPMDC’s full coverage of the race here.
Watch the ad:
