Former Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land (R-MI) is going on the offensive on gender issues in a new ad. In the spot, released Tuesday, Land pushes back on charges from her likely Democratic opponent in the Michigan Senate race, Rep. Gary Peters (D-MI), that she’s waging a war on women.
“Congressman Gary Peters and his buddies want you to believe I’m waging a war on women. Really?” Land said in the ad, before pausing and sipping from a coffee cup. The 30-second ad then continues for several seconds with Land not saying anything, shaking her head, and looking at her watch.
“I’m Terri Lynn Land and I approve this message because as a woman I might know a little more about women than Gary Peters,” Land said.
The ad is also likely an attempt for Land to recover from comments highlighted earlier in April where Land said women prioritize flexibility in a job over salary.
Gender issues have been a trending topic in the race. Peters has also attacked anti-abortion proponents for arguing that he wants to make abortions very cheap and accessible for his daughters.
Democrats scoffed at the ad as an attempt to distract voters from Land’s stances on a number of issues.
“Terri Lynn Land is on the wrong side of pay equity and health care issues important to Michigan women and her 30-second gimmick to distract from her record and poke fun at women’s issues shows just how out of touch she really is,” Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokeswoman Regan Page said in a statement. “Terri Lynn Land opposes equal pay protections for women, would take us back to a time when women would pay more for critical preventative care like mammograms, would deny victims of rape and incest a choice, and supports Personhood, which could ban common forms of birth control like the pill. Michigan women deserve a leader in Washington that will fight for pay equity, and women’s health care and it’s clear Terri Lynn Land will do neither.”
Watch the ad below:
(Photo credit: Youtube)
This post was updated.
