With two weeks to go ahead of a closer-than-expected special election to replace former Rep.Jane Harman, D-Calif., Democrat Janice Hahn is out with her second and third television ads of the campaign - each with a different spin.
One ad echoes the message of her first spot - arguing that her Republican opponent, wealthy businessman Craig Huey, is far outside the mainstream. While her initial ad compared Huey to former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the latest spot, titled "Extreme," piles on a comparison with another polarizing Republican - former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, whose White House campaign has been faltering since its launch.
One ad echoes the message of her first spot - arguing that her Republican opponent, wealthy businessman Craig Huey, is far outside the mainstream. While her initial ad compared Huey to former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the latest spot, titled "Extreme," piles on a comparison with another polarizing Republican - former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, whose White House campaign has been faltering since its launch.
"Sarah Palin, Craig Huey and Newt Gingrich: whose agenda is so extreme, they want to eliminate the Federal Reserve during the financial crisis? Craig Huey," says the ad. "Which is so extreme they called Planned Parenthood a 'Murder mill?' Only Craig Huey. And only Craig Huey is so extreme, he called elections 'spiritual battles,' and has called his opponents the forces of Satan."
But while the second ad begins with an image of Huey, saying the district doesn't need "another politician with an extreme partisan agenda," the ad's message takes a more positive tone, touting Hahn's independence and experience - and never mentioning her party ID.
"A local city council woman who has never held partisan office. Janice Hahn will fight for our agenda - a real plan to create green jobs in our communities," says the ad. "Take on Washington's spending. Make the right cuts while protecting Medicare."
Both ads, which will air this week on cable television in the Los Angeles market, keep up Hahn's aggressive campaign to discredit Huey after his surprise second place finish in the May all-party primary. Coupled with a Democratic internal poll showing Huey within single digits despite the district's 18-point Democratic registration advantage, along with worries of low turnout, the race has taken on an extremely negative tinge in the finals weeks leading up to the July 12 vote.
A web ad released by a conservative super PAC that alleged Hahn had helped put gang members back on the street - using strippers and an explicit rap song - only further fanned the flames, and Hahn's campaign has filed an FEC complaint over possible coordination between Huey's campaign and Turn Right USA PAC. Huey's campaign disavowed the offensive ad, but last week volunteers were distributing DVDs door-to-door of the news report, which has since been debunked, that the ad used.
See both ads after the jump:
But while the second ad begins with an image of Huey, saying the district doesn't need "another politician with an extreme partisan agenda," the ad's message takes a more positive tone, touting Hahn's independence and experience - and never mentioning her party ID.
"A local city council woman who has never held partisan office. Janice Hahn will fight for our agenda - a real plan to create green jobs in our communities," says the ad. "Take on Washington's spending. Make the right cuts while protecting Medicare."
Both ads, which will air this week on cable television in the Los Angeles market, keep up Hahn's aggressive campaign to discredit Huey after his surprise second place finish in the May all-party primary. Coupled with a Democratic internal poll showing Huey within single digits despite the district's 18-point Democratic registration advantage, along with worries of low turnout, the race has taken on an extremely negative tinge in the finals weeks leading up to the July 12 vote.
A web ad released by a conservative super PAC that alleged Hahn had helped put gang members back on the street - using strippers and an explicit rap song - only further fanned the flames, and Hahn's campaign has filed an FEC complaint over possible coordination between Huey's campaign and Turn Right USA PAC. Huey's campaign disavowed the offensive ad, but last week volunteers were distributing DVDs door-to-door of the news report, which has since been debunked, that the ad used.
See both ads after the jump: