Republican Congressman Scott Garrett of New Jersey is getting hit in a new ad for some of his past positions and comments.
Democrats, who are hoping that his challenger, former Federal Communications Commissions aide and public relations executive Josh Gottheimer, will succeed him in the fall, have unveiled a new ad called “Dixie.”
The ad reminds voters that Garrett is a supporter of the Confederate flag and is anti-gay. Last year, he voted against a ban on Confederate flags at military cemeteries. Moreover, this year, he became frustrated with the National Republican Campaign Committee because it supports openly gay candidates, who are running for office.
The ad claims that the Republican represents the values of Alabamans not those of people of northern New Jersey. The $162,000 ad buy was made by House Majority PAC, which has links to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. Here is a brief description of the ad:
“His views are perfect for rural Alabama, so why is Scott Garrett representing New Jersey?” the voice-over asks. A fiddle plays a folksy tune in the background. “Scott Garrett’s views might sound fine in the Land of Cotton, but we’re not singing his tune in New Jersey.”
The PAC has also purchased airplane banners that read “Rep. Scott Garrett — Move to Alabama,” which will be flown over New Jersey during the Labor Day weekend. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in early August released an internal poll showing Garrett at 44 percent and Gottheimer at 42 percent.
The PAC spokesperson Jeb Fain said in a statement that he believes that New Jersey has changed, and many will be offended by his anti-gay stance and vote for the Democratic candidate. Fain said:
“More than a thousand miles and a hundred years separate Congressman Garrett’s views from the values of New Jersey voters. Whether his outrageous defense of a symbol of racial hatred or his shameful discrimination against LGBT Americans, Garrett has proven he has no business representing the people of North Jersey.”
Experts believe that Gottheimer is relying on Trump’s unpopularity and being a so-called “problem solver” to unseat the incumbent, but this is not going to be an easy task.
