Shaheen Launches Attack Radio Spot Against Brown

If you’re sick and tired of the political ads for the 2014 cycle, take some pain relief now because more is coming, “people’s pledge” or not.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s campaign has just launched a radio ad attacking potential Republican Senate candidate Scott Brown for not signing onto a pledge to keep third-party advertising out the race despite signing the same exact pledge two years ago in his re-election race in Massachusetts, according to a report by the Huffington Post.

“The People’s Pledge” was an agreement that Brown signed with challenger, and eventual winner, Elizabeth Warren, stating that both campaigns would denounce outside television, radio, and Internet advertising and agree to make a charitable donation of the other candidate’s choice, in the wake of outside ads airing.

Right out of the gate of Brown’s exploratory committee announcement, Shaheen offered the same pledge and Brown rejected it.

In her radio ad, a clip of Brown highlighting the pledge is offered. The narrator also criticizes Brown for a speech he made in New York recently where he spoke positively about the pledge. The ad later called on voters to tell Brown to sign the pledge and support a clean election.

“Not long ago, Scott Brown said he was really disgusted by Super PAC ads,” the narrator stated. “Now Scott Brown won’t sign his own pledge to stop them. Maybe it’s because big oil and Wall Street want to buy him a Senate seat.”

Harrell Kirstein, Shaheen’s spokesman, wouldn’t comment on how much money was being spent on the radio ad.

Some have suggested that Brown is ignoring the pledge in this election because he was the incumbent before and didn’t think he would need the assistance by special interest groups but will now, running in a different state. However, a study by PRWatch, just before the 2012 election, revealed that the pledge really didn’t keep special interest PAC money out of the race at all, despite the efforts of both candidates. Outside interests diverted their spending from television and radio to direct mail and staffing. 

Warren spent $7.2 million more than Brown to win in 2012. Even without including the outside expenditures, the race is considered to be the most second most expensive Senate race in U.S. history.

Rubens promotes support for 2nd Amendment

Meanwhile, there are other Republican candidates actually in the race. 

One of them, former state Sen. Jim Rubens, is currently visiting gun stores, manufacturing companies, and clubs and ranges around the state, touting his support for gun rights.

Dubbed the "2nd Amendment Protection Tour," Rubens stated he was letting voters know that if elected, he would defend law-abiding citizens’ rights to gun ownership.

"There is a genuine concern among New Hampshire gun owners, retailers and local manufacturers that their rights are being threatened by 'Washington-knows-best' crowd," Rubens said in a statement. "I am out there assuring them that as U.S. Senator, I will vigorously defend their rights, my record proves that."

Rubens visited Merrimack Firearms on Monday and Lee’s Gun Shop in Hudson at noon. On March 25, he visits the Sig Sauer Academy in Epping at 10 a.m. and Morse Sporting Goods in Hillsborough at 3 p.m. on March 27. Last week, he toured the Green Mountain Rifle Barrels facility in Conway and made stops at Al's Gun & Reel Shop in Derry, Barn Store in Salisbury and Marshall's Firearms in Boscawen.

Smith also takes to the airwaves

Another Republican candidate, former U.S. Sen. Bob Smith, was on the Girard at Large radio program this morning speaking about his effort to recapture his old Senate seat. Smith’s campaign Tweeted a picture from the interview which has not yet been posted on the station’s website. About an hour later, Smith appeared on the Kuhner Report on WRKO-AM out of Boston.

Former Cornerstone Action director Karen Testerman and activist Andy Martin are also running for the GOP nod.