New ads launched in race for U.S. Senate

Candidates in Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate race have launched new dueling, and  a political expert says they are reinforcing previous themes.

Democratic challenger Katie McGinty’s ad delves into her Philadelphia family roots.

That’s designed to build working class support, said political analyst Terry Madonna of Franklin and Marshall College.

“To show that she’s not an elitist, she’s not a part of the elitist establishment crowd,” he said.

On the other hand, incumbent Republican Pat Toomey’s new commercial criticizes McGinty’s “extreme liberal security agenda.”  Madonna said that’s recurring GOP theme.

“So what is going on here is an effort to identify Katie McGinty with weak positions on foreign policy,” he said.

Even though it’s still summer, a lot of political ads are hitting the airwaves while the parties hold their national conventions.