Gun-Control Group Avoids Its Issue in Election Attack Ads | Eastern NC Now

Stephen Gutowski of the Washington Free Beacon notes a curious omission in recent election ads paid for by gun-control organizations.

ENCNow
Publisher's note: The author of this post is Mitch Kokai for the John Locke Foundation.

    Stephen Gutowski of the Washington Free Beacon notes a curious omission in recent election ads paid for by gun-control organizations.

  • A leading gun-control group is spending millions to boost swing state Democrats, but its latest ads highlight non-gun issues, potentially signaling the limited appeal of gun restrictions in many key Senate races.
  • Everytown for Gun Safety's super PAC, backed by billionaire Michael Bloomberg, is running ads in Iowa and North Carolina that go beyond the group's core mission of gun control. The ads attack Senator Joni Ernst (R., Iowa) and Senator Thom Tillis (R., N.C.) on health care and energy in addition to mentioning gun issues.
  • "Ernst has taken thousands and thousands from big oil, the insurance industry, and the gun lobby," narration in the group's Iowa ad said. "Voting for them, against us. That's Joni Ernst."
  • In North Carolina, the group first criticized Tillis's vote to repeal Obamacare and contributions from the health insurance lobby before taking aim at his vote on universal background checks and contributions from gun-rights groups. The ad then claims Tillis's door is "always open" for "lobbyists with cash."
  • Miles Coleman, associate editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, said Everytown's attempt to appeal to issues beyond the Second Amendment could indicate he group is not confident in gun control's appeal in swing states.
  • "One reason Everytown brings up those other issues may be that the Democratic Senate candidates in Iowa and North Carolina will probably need some Trump voters to win," Coleman told the Washington Free Beacon. "In both states, there were several Obama-to-Trump counties in rural areas. Hitting Republicans on gun control may not be enough to make them unacceptable to those voters."
  • The Everytown strategy is in contrast to the one employed by the National Rifle Association's super PAC so far.

Go Back


Leave a Guest Comment

Your Name or Alias
Your Email Address ( your email address will not be published )
Enter Your Comment ( text only please )




Kamala Harris’ History Should Cause Concerns John Locke Foundation Guest Editorial, Editorials, Op-Ed & Politics Michael Cohen Tell-All Book on President Trump Reads Like an Amusing Fairytale


HbAD0

Latest Op-Ed & Politics

massive data collection by license plate readers on highways and streets threaten freedom
“I’m from America, 250 years ago we were way bigger than 6/1 dogs, and look at us thriving now.” Justin Gaethje pulls off an all time sports upset.
There are many people who overlook the brilliance of the US Constitution. They argue that it is outdated and unfit to adequately govern such a modern nation as ours in the 21st century.

HbAD1

"I plan to keep his counsel close until our paths cross again," JD Vance said on Thursday.

HbAD2

On Tuesday, Democratic Gov. Josh Stein signed an executive order creating the bipartisan Health Care Affordability Commission that he said will look at ways to make healthcare more affordable for North Carolinians.
"Margo’s Got Money Troubles" explores how financial desperation drives women to OnlyFans. That’s not empowering. It’s exploitative.

HbAD3

 
 
Back to Top