Steyer PAC’s $2.6 Million Ad Buy Depicts Ernst As Norquist’s Crony

Iowa Republican senatorial candidate State Sen. Joni Ernst looks on before a live televised debate at Iowa Public Television studios, Thursday, April 24, 2014, in Johnston, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
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Liberal billionaire and environmentalist Tom Steyer’s first attack ad in the Iowa Senate race does not actually hit the Republican nominee for Senate, Joni Ernst, on the environment. Instead, the one minute ad attacks Ernst for supporting deep tax cuts and outsourcing policies.

The ad, by Steyer’s NextGen Climate, is the first of a series of ads targeting Ernst. It features two Koch brothers-like figures discussing Ernst’s stances on outsourcing and taxes. The attacks in the ad target Ernst’s decision to sign Grover Norquist’s American for Tax Reform’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge.

NextGen Climate plans to air the ad in the Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, and Quad Cities markets over the next five weeks. The total ad buy is $2.6 million, according to a NextGen Climate official.

The Iowa Senate race has become increasingly tight. The TPMPolltracker average of the race gives Rep. Bruce Braley, the Democratic nominee in the race, a very slim 1 percentage point lead over Ernst.

Watch the ad below:

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