Honing in on the anti-establishment sentiments of the country, Spurlino said his ad highlights a commonality among “my three main opponents” in the race to replace former Speaker John Boehner.
“They are current and former officeholders relying on endorsements from other politicians, special interest groups, and insiders,” Spurlino said. “I’m beholden to no one and I’ve never been in political office.”
In the ad, Spurlino touts that he was “running a business” while “they were running for office.” He also boasts that he has a conceal-carry permit.
This didn’t sit well with a couple of the candidates’ campaigns called out by the commercial.
RELATED: Learn more about the 8th Congressional District candidates
Derickson campaign manager Colton Henson said the Hanover Twp. Republican not only has an “A rating” from the National Rifle Association, but also is a licensed concealed-carry permit holder “and has a proven record of protecting and strengthening our constitutional right to keep and bear arms.” Derickson is currently in his fourth, and final term as the 53rd Ohio House District and is a former Hanover Twp. trustee in Butler County.
Davidson also is a concealed-carry permit holder and a lifetime NRA member, and campaign manager Meredith Griffin-Liedel said Spurlino’s ad “demonstrates everything people dislike about politics. It spends more time attacking others than talking about the issues that matter to voters.”
She also said being a one-time township trustee does not mean he’s a “professional politician.” He was a Concord Twp. trustee in Miami County.
Spurlino implies that being supported by politicians is just as being bad as being a politician, but both the Derickson and Davidson campaigns said they’re pleased with the endorsements they’ve received.
RELATED: View the ads for Warren Davidson, Rep. Tim Derickson, and Jim Spurlino
“We are proud of the momentum and support our campaign has built,” said Griffin-Liedel. “Others have obviously taken notice and want to help send a true conservative to Washington. Our campaign is focused on what voters care about, not hiding behind false attack ads and overly dramatic accusations.”
Henson said Derickson takes “pride” in endorsements from the Ohio Right to Life, Citizens for Community Values, The Preble County Republican Party and hundreds of grassroots leaders elected by the people of this district.
“Tim Derickson’s campaign won’t be based on generalities in TV ads but by the concrete results he has delivered for Ohio conservatives,” Henson said.
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