Despite editing her campaign ad to remove footage from American journalist James Foley’s beheading, Republican congressional candidate Wendy Rogers’ original ad was still available online as of Thursday morning.
The original link to the ad led to a YouTube page that showed the video was private and could not be viewed. But the ad was still viewable under a different URL elsewhere on the Arizona candidate’s YouTube account.
The ad began airing in the Phoenix market on Monday. Amid criticism, it was edited on Tuesday and the footage of Foley was removed, USA Today reported.
Rogers’ spokesman, James Harris, told The Arizona Republic that the new ad will remain on the air. He told the paper it was changed to ensure the focus stayed on incumbent Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), whom Rogers is attempting to portray as weak on terrorism and national security concerns.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said the original ad was “reprehensible,” according to USA Today. However, it signified a recent trend among GOPers, such as New Mexico Republican Senate candidate Allen Weh and Pam Gellar of the American Freedom Defense Institute, who used footage from Foley’s beheading and dramatic images of ISIS fighters in ads attacking Democrats.
