Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk launched a new attack ad on opponent Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager in the fight to win the Democratic nomination in the state's Sept. 12 primary.
Though the attorney general race has grown more vicious as the primary approaches, this ad is the first to directly address Lautenschlager's 2004 drunk driving conviction.
According to Jay Heck, executive director for non-partisan reform group Common Cause Wisconsin, Lautenschlager is vulnerable because of her DUI conviction and her failure to raise enough campaign funds.
Heck said he believes, ""Falk would not have run unless there hadn't been this drunk driving conviction. ""
As a result, Heck said Lautenschlager's vulnerability has created an ""atmosphere of sharks smelling blood,"" saying Lautenschlager and Falk are too similar ideologically, the candidates turn to negative campaign tactics.
The ad pictures Lautenschlager, while a voice reads: ""Our state's top cop convicted of drunk driving in a state car. Fined for misuse of the car by the Ethics Board. Her mismanagement caused the backlog at the state Crime Lab to skyrocket, leaving criminals on the streets."" The ad also accuses Lautenschlager of taking $25,000 from a disbarred felon and his co-worker after ""letting them off the hook.""
The ad concludes with the plea: ""We need a new attorney general.""
According to Heck, the whole purpose of negative ads is to ""disillusion your opponents support"" and decrease their expected voter turnout.
