Jason Altmire and Mark Critz are going on television. Both campaigns are launching positive, 30 second introductory spots in the 12th district primary race; Altmire today, Critz on Wednesday.
The ads emphasize similar themes, trying to present both men as strong representatives of western Pa. work ethic and advocates for economic growth and jobs.
Critz’s ad will air on broadcast networks in the Pittsburgh and Johnstown-Altoona media markets at 550-700 gross ratings points in the first week. According to the going rates there, that puts the ad buy at around $150,000.
Altmire’s camp will spend a similar amount to air their primary ad on broadcast and cable in the Pittsburgh market. They have a second spot that will air in the Westmoreland County cable market.
Altmire and Critz will both remain on the air through the primary on April 24. This week marked the beginning of the 45 day period before the election when the lowest advertising rates become available to candidates in Pa.
Altmire’s ads
One ad seeks preempt Critz attacks that Altmire is too conservative.
“In western Pennsylvania, who you stand with with says a lot about who you are. Jason Altmire stood up to George W. Bush, and made sure the border fence was made with steel made in the U.S., not China,” a narrator says. “He fought the Tea Party Republicans when they tried to slash Medicare and Social Security.”
Critz has criticized Altmire for his support of a Balanced Budget Amendment, which he argues would lead to cuts in entitlement progams.
http://youtu.be/u4TlO1ZBc4U
Altmire’s second ad, to air in Westmoreland County, emphasizes the Congressman’s roots there. He grew up in Lower Burrell, and the ad features footage of his football playing days in high school.
Both ads were cut by Envision Communications, Altmire’s usual vendor.
http://youtu.be/QoMzXC5QWtw
Critz’s ad
Critz’s ad similarly emphasizes his record in Congress. It highlights his intervention to keep open the Cumberland Mine and keep at work 700 miners.
http://youtu.be/UjaaJvtPxzk
“When Pennsylvania jobs are at risk, you fight for them,” Critz says in the ad. “The Cumberland Mine almost shut down. We kept it open and saved 700 jobs.” He pivots to education, job training, and Chinese trade.
The ad was cut by the firm Murphy Vogel Askew Reilly, which did Critz’s TV in 2010.
Unfortunately for Critz, the mine is in Greene County, no longer part of the district.
When it comes to Johnstown, each campaign’s decision is interesting. Both campaigns’ internal polls show Critz with solid support there, his home base. Altmire’s campaign will not advertise there this week, but Critz will.
State of the race
The two incumbent Congressmen were drawn into the same district last last year. About 66 percent of voters in the new 12th district are currently represented by Altmire. Internal polling on both campaigns show Altmire leading. However, most of the labor unions in the district have backed Critz.
Critz also won the press battle for the past two weeks; he challenge of his opponent’s nominating petitions, though ultimately unsuccessful, earned Altmire negative headlines across the district.
If it comes down to money, Altmire will likely come out ahead. He finished 2011 with about $350,000 more cash on hand than Critz.
6 Responses
Both Critz and Altmire decided not to fight back against the Health Insurance industry’s $200 Million Dollar sh*tstorm of Lies attacking the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act. As a fellow Christian, I would have more respect for them if they had made the Moral Argument For Obamacare — Saves Lives, Protects Medicare, Protects you from Scams — even if they had Lost their Congressional races. That’s pretty much the Only issue where I would support taking that kind of a risk. By not fighting, Critz and Altmire let the Liars Win…….
…..That being said, Mark Critz seems like the safer bet in the general election in the fall. Even though Altmire’s initial TV ad is stronger, and he got the endorsement of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee 122-63 (because they’re more familiar with him, of course),…… Mark Critz hasn’t been in the public eye nearly as much as Altmire. That means Less Negatives for Critz going into a general election — combined with his Blue-Collar image (hunter/rural background), union support & being successor to Jack Murtha in Johnstown, vs. Altmire’s corporate image as a former health care industry exec, …..Critz has a better chance of Both creating some enthusiasm in the Democratic base And being less likely to turn off those Democrats who sometimes vote Republican.
Yes, 66% of the new district is in Altmire’s former territory. But Altmire barely squeaked by Keith Rothfuss 51%-49% in 2010,and he will be the GOP candidate again this time. The wealthy one-percenters in the north suburbs who voted against Altmire last time are likely to vote against him again. And the more blue-collar New Castle and Beaver areas in Altmire’s old district are potentially excellent targets for Mark Critz’s union-backed supporters. Altmire’s not all bad, but if I lived 4 miles north of where I am, I would be voting for Mark Critz.
Altmire has encouraged the Tea Party by making appearances on Fox News.
Spending $150,000 running an ad about Greene county? Critz should have run down there instead.
If Critz spent $150,000, he only has enough money for three weeks of TV. (Kudos for catching this, PoliticsPA.)
To me it looks like Congressman Critz is the real Democrat here.
Altmire’s basis for voting against Obamacare was that the plan did not do enough to cut medical costs. How are you going to cut medical costs, Jason? Altmire’s vote for a Balanced Budget amendment is either a cheap political ploy or it will lead to big cuts in Medicare for area Seniors. Now Altmire tells us he stood up to TEA PARTY Republicans? Altmire has lied to Labor and now he is lying to Western PA Seniors.