Law and Order. Defund the Police. Illegal Immigrants. The latest ad in PA-1 echoes the national Republican playbook of recent weeks.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks) and the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) launched a new ad PA-1 that touts Fitzpatrick’s endorsement from the Fraternal Order of Police and accuses Dem challenger Christina Finello of supporting the ‘Defund the Police,’ movement – which she opposes – along with elements of the House-passed HEROES Act.
The 30 second spot, titled “Simple Mission,” features retired FBI supervisory special agent Mike Campi.
“We can’t do our job without the support of people like Brian Fitzpatrick,” Campi says, overtop text about the F.O.P. endorsement. “I’m Mike Campi, I know Brian Fitzpatrick. I trust him because I was his boss at the FBI.”
The latter half of the ad pivots to attack Finello, saying she is out of step with the district.
“Christina Finello wants to defund our police, release dangerous criminals from prison because of coronavirus, and give illegal immigrants stimulus checks, while American families struggled,” a voiceover says. “Christina Finello, too extreme for our community.”
Finello’s campaign called the police funding attack false, and linked Fitzpatrick to President Donald Trump’s response to COVID-19.
“Christina opposes defunding the police and Fitzpatrick’s continued lies won’t distract voters from the fact that he’s stood by Donald Trump as he downplayed and mishandled this pandemic,” said Finello campaign manager Ali Anderson. “It’s unfortunate that Fitzpatrick is more interested in misleading voters and fanning the flames of Trump’s fearmongering than providing urgent relief for families struggling to pay rent or resources for frontline workers and school districts.”
Finello tweeted on Aug. 23 that she opposes defunding the police. The other attacks in the ad stem from language in the Democratic-backed HEROES Act, that would provide funding relief in response from COVID-19.
A Politifact analysis from May deemed that the claim that the legislation would provide checks to undocumented immigrants as “mostly true” – provided those immigrants had paid taxes – while also providing checks to American citizens. The legislation aims to lower prison population density to reduce the spread of COVID, but is written to avoid the release of prisoners who would pose a public safety risk, according to analysis from the Auburn Citizen of a similar attack ad from another Republican running for Congress
Crime has been a signature issue for Trump and the GOP so far in 2020 but it is a longtime topic for campaigns in Bucks County, which borders Philadelphia and is home to many former city residents. For example, an NRCC ad in 2012 linked the Democratic candidate that year to Mumia Abu-Jamal.
Several ratings outlets currently have the race as Leans Republican.
12 Responses
Fitz has a real team behind him this time. G-man! It won’t even be close this time. With the Conman banned from Bucks for Good. Fitz got addition by subtraction getting rid of the Conman and that Jewish African.
Conman gonna be mad when he finds out Weintraub hires Brian to knock doors for him in 2021.
Real team. Right on!
Finello is only too extreme for your community if you are at a KKK alt-right rally.
I’m a worthless coward!
Finello by 5
Trump is a moronic savage with no shred of decency.
In otherwords he’s just like me
Oh, I see the name stealers are back. Shameful cowardice.
You’re a fucking idiot!
Answer Desk
I don’t know why he even names her. It only helps her achieve higher name ID. But it is irrelevant,,,,
Fitzpatrick by 13
Hopefully, Finello criticizes the person with the record in this race, Congressman Fitzpatrick, for his ties to the Trump Administration in Bucks County where Trump is not a popular political figure.