Strickland hit hard on airwaves in state Senate race

By James B. Gerber, PolitickerCA.com Reporter

Tony Strickland (R-Thousand Oaks), candidate for the 19th state Senate District, has been hit hard and often on the airwaves in recent weeks by both his opponent and outside groups. The ads attack Strickland on multiple fronts, from his campaign donors to his claims to support alternative energy.

Democrat Hannah-Beth Jackson's campaign has released two tough spots in the past week alone. One ad begins with images from Strickland's own commercial, in which the former three-term assemblyman highlights his support for renewable energy.

"Tony Strickland has a problem with the truth," a narrator states. "Strickland had one of the worst records in the state legislature on the environment." Meanwhile, the words "a complete scam" flash across the screen.

Jackson, herself a former assemblywoman, released a second attack ad Tuesday. The new spot, which uses a cartoon format, hits Strickland on his campaign contributions from tobacco companies, oil companies, car dealers, banking interests and drug companies, implying that the donations bought favorable votes during his years in the state legislature.

In yet another negative ad released this week, a nurse takes Strickland to task for taking "hundreds of thousands of dollars from big corporations" and voting "against our children." The attack piece comes courtesy of the California Alliance, a coalition of attorneys, conservationists and nurses with support from the California League of Conservation Voters.

"It's clear that [Jackson's] campaign wants to talk about everything but the economy," responded Strickland consultant Joe Justin. "She's just continually personally attacking Tony."

Justin took particular umbrage at the cartoon ad.

"Those ads are demeaning," Justin said. "People are offended by the triteness of that cartoon ad. As far as I care they can run that spot for the rest of the campaign."

Sanchez defended the strategy.

"The animation is used because it gives a different sense than a typical political ad," she said. "We think it's important for voters to know that these are the corporations that are funding his campaign."