CAMPAIGN ADS II: Northup Playing ‘Survivor’ in Kentucky
Referring to CBS' popular television show "Survivor," incumbent Rep. Anne Northup (R-Ky.) released a new campaign ad that defends her voting record on prescription drugs against charges by her challenger, state Rep. Eleanor Jordan (D). The 30-second spot blasts AFL-CIO officials, "Jordan's cronies," for falsely attacking Northup's prescription drug proposal in a recent ad. Titled "Voted Off," Northup's new ad states: "Northup's plan covers every senior. With Eleanor Jordan's record of wild charges, how long would she survive before being voted off the island?" The ad began running Wednesday in the Lexington area (National Journal Group, 8/10).
Rhode Island's Theater of the Absurd
Meanwhile, in the fight for the Democratic nomination in Rhode Island's 2nd District, congressional hopeful Kate Coyne-McCoy (D) last Wednesday launched a new 30-second television ad featuring "Pill Bill," the first mascot for lower prescription drug costs. The ad, titled "Pill Bill," shows Coyne-McCoy jogging with a caricature of a pill bottle, "getting in shape" to improve health care by imposing price controls on prescription drugs. The ad states: "Kate Coyne-McCoy believes in putting strict price controls on prescription drugs ... to stop drug companies from charging Americans more than they charge in other countries for the exact same medicine." The spot aired statewide Aug. 2 (National Journal Group, 8/10). Not to be outdone on the airwaves, Rhode Island Secretary of State Jim Langevin (D), who also is looking for the Democratic nod, released his own ad focusing on prescription drugs. Titled "Pill," the ad features Langevin, who states: "A simple pill. It can save your life ... and steal your life savings. Our tax dollars help pay to develop and market these new medications ... then drug companies turn around and charge us twice as much as they charge in Canada and Mexico." Langevin continues: "We need to force the drug industry to cut their prices and expand Medicare to help seniors pay for the prescription drugs they need." Recent polls show that Langevin has a commanding lead over Coyne-McCoy and the other Democratic hopefuls (National Journal Group, 8/10). To view Langevin's ad, please click here. To view Coyne-McCoy's ad, please click here. Note: You must have RealPlayer G2 to view the ads.