Pennsylvania ad wars

The candidates in Pennsylvania’s U-S Senate contest have already spent more than eight million dollars on T-V commercials. WHYY takes a look at the ad wars, and a particularly stinging attack by Democrat Joe Sestak.

The candidates in Pennsylvania’s U-S Senate contest have already spent more than eight million dollars on T-V commercials. WHYY takes a look at the ad wars, and a particularly stinging attack by Democrat Joe Sestak.

Remember this moment from the Democratic Senate primary?

Specter: My change in party will allow me to be re-elected

Incumbent Senator Arlen Specter’s ambition expressed in his own words made for a devastating Joe Sestak campaign ad.

A new Sestak ad makes effective use of Republican candidate Pat Toomey’s words from a 2007 TV interview.

Sestak ad: (announcer) Do you think corporations pay their fair share? Pat Toomey thinks corporations shouldn’t pay any taxes. (Toomey) Let’s not tax corporations, I think the solution is to eliminate corporate taxes altogether.

Toomey’s words are repeated twice in the ad, which casts him as a corporate tool who doesn’t care about working people.

Toomey’s campaign says he doesn’t think eliminating corporate taxes is practical, and that isn’t part of his campaign platform. But he is an economic conservative who believes cutting business taxes will create jobs.

Muhlenberg College analyst Chris Borick believes the ad is effective, but notes that Toomey’s thrown some tough media punches of his own.

Announcer: Joe Sestak voted for trillions in higher taxes, and he even wants to bring back the death tax. That’s liberal. That’s Joe Sestak

Toomey’s side has spent more and been on the air longer. Polls show him holding a single digit lead.