HAMPTON ROADS – Just 48 hours after the November election, a negative political ad has come out for the 2012 Senate race.
The ad targets Democrat Tim Kaine. It’s from a conservative organization called Crossroads GPS. It was founded by Karl Rove.
Part of the commercial says “Tim Kaine has been Obama's partisan cheerleader, applauding every idea.” It also accuses Kaine of spending recklessly.
Crossroads GPS is spending $616,000 to air the 30-second commercial. It started airing on Thursday in the state's four largest media markets including Hampton Roads.
Kaine was in Norfolk on Thursday, touring Eastern Virginia Medical School. He told 13News
the tone of the ad is unnecessary.
“The way they win is they try to be negative. We don't need more negativity in Washington,” he said.
Kaine added that he’s fine with people examining his record, but he wants them to get their facts straight.
"What I've heard them say is when I left office, there was a deficit. I left office with two balanced budgets that I submitted because you have to, by law, submit balanced budgets."
Folks with presumed Republican front-runner George Allen's campaign say they have nothing to do with the commercial.
Political analysts offered mixed views. Carole Pretlow from Norfolk State University said that negative ads this far out from an election are "bothersome” and they just become "noise."
Chuck Dunn of Regent University said "people need a breather" from political commercials, having just gone through an election two days ago.
