A Kentucky television station has taken down an NRSC ad aimed at Democratic Senate nominee Jack Conway, TPM has learned.
WHAS-TV general manger Mark Pimentel told me today that the ad — in which the Republicans try to connect Conway to cap-and-trade proposals — was pulled after the Republicans could not prove its veracity.
Conway’s campaign had argued that the spot incorrectly painted Conway as a supporter of cap-and-trade, which on a number of occasions (including an interview with me) he has adamantly said he does not.
That argument appears to have won the day.
“The ad was pulled based on the documentation both sources provided,” Pimentel told me.
“The Republicans offered a second sourcing when the first failed to convince us, but that failed as well as it contained no quotes from Jack Conway that proved their point,” he said.
Check out the offending ad here:
It’s worth noting that Pimentel’s decision to take down the ad for inaccuracy comes in the midst of swirling controversy surrounding Conway’s hardcore rhetorical attack on Rand Paul’s college years. The TV ad associated with that campaign has causes plenty of condemnation by opponents of Conway and hand-wringing by supporters, but even the Baylor student who inspired it says Conway’s ad is accurate.
The TPM Poll Average shows Paul ahead 46.8-41.8.
Late Update: The NRSC is taking issue with WHAS’ decision to take down the ad and is threatening to go to the FCC unless the station puts it back up. Communications Director Brian Walsh sends over this statement:
“It appears that WHAS-TV, without any notice, has pulled the NRSC’s ad highlighting Jack Conway’s past support of cap-and-trade. This ad is accurate, and it is entitled to air. This treatment of the NRSC’s ad by WHAS-TV is discriminatory, and we will be filing a complaint against WHAS-TV with the Federal Communications Commission tomorrow unless the ad is put back on the air immediately. In the meantime, Jack Conway should stop hiding behind his fellow trial lawyers and explain to Kentucky voters why he previously supported President Obama’s disastrous cap-and-trade proposal.”
Evan McMorris-Santoro
Evan McMorris-Santoro has covered politics for TPM since 2009. Before that, he was a reporter at National Journal’s Hotline covering election 2008. He started his career covering local politics at newspapers in TN and his native NC.
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