It’s time to catch up on news from the first Congressional district campaign between three-term Democratic Representative Bruce Braley and his two-time Republican challenger Ben Lange. After the jump I’ve posted my take on yesterday’s debate on Iowa Public Radio, along with videos and transcripts of the latest television commercials by the campaigns and outside groups. (Bleeding Heartland covered earlier tv ads in the IA-01 race here, here, and here.)
Latest voter registration totals for IA-01: 159,642 active registered Democrats, 136,955 active registered Republicans, 182,742 active no-party voters.
The latest absentee ballot numbers from IA-01 show about twice as many Democrats as Republicans have requested absentee ballots. The Lange campaign sent out another e-mail blast yesterday urging supporters to vote early.
I encourage anyone interested in this year’s U.S. House races to listen to the whole debate on Iowa Public Radio’s “River to River” program yesterday. This is what a Congressional candidate debate should sound like. The moderators asked substantive questions and made the candidates stick to time limits, while Braley and Lange gave clear, focused answers and hit their key points in opening and closing statements.
Overall, I would call it a solid debate for Lange but a superlative one for Braley. Lange’s unlucky to be running against someone with years of courtroom experience. Against a different opponent, he might have scored a clear win by staying on message and hitting his talking points repeatedly (Medicare cuts are restricting access for seniors, deficit spending is taking money out of his young daughters’ pockets).
Unfortunately, Braley expresses himself better than the average Democratic politician. He defended his record with a good balance of broad strokes on policy and specific actions like votes taken or legislation introduced.
Lange came out swinging in his opening statement, framing Braley as “part of the problem” that is giving Congress a 13 percent approval rating: politicians of both parties haven’t been honest with people. They one thing and do another. The debt has increased sharply since Braley’s been in Congress. Obamacare took $716 billion from Medicare, and physicians will restrict access to care for seniors because of Medicare cuts. Braley voted for cap and trade, which will increase energy costs in Iowa. Lange returned to all of those points several times during the debate.
Braley began his opening statement by noting that “Ben and I” have a few things in common: we both grew up in small towns, love baseball, went to law school, and have three kids we love very much. But we have “stark differences” on policy, especially when it comes to how to protect and preserve the middle class. Braley said he wants to continue tax breaks for the middle class while “asking people who are doing really well in this economy to pay a little more.” Like Lange, he returned to his key talking points frequently during the debate. Throughout the program, he generally referred to his challenger as “Ben” rather than calling him “my opponent” or “Mr. Lange.”
Both candidates fielded the questions effectively, but I think Braley helped himself more than Lange in how he handled the big topics: the national debt, stimulus spending on infrastructure, Medicare, Social Security, and the farm bill.
Braley did one thing exceptionally well, which President Barack Obama failed to do last week: call attention to his challenger’s evasions. For example, near the 22-minute mark of the debate, James Q. Lynch of the Cedar Rapids Gazette noted that Lange had refused to sign Grover Norquist’s pledge against all tax increases, and ask Lange which tax increases he would be willing to entertain in order to balance the budget. Lange gave a decent meandering answer about why he is focused on solutions and not signing pledges for special interest groups. He talked about how he wants to leave options on the table, and how some people would be willing to send extra dollars to Washington if they had confidence that Congress would use that money to pay down the debt. Lange characterized Braley as “part of the problem,” because in the years he’s been in Congress the deficit and debt have grown.
At that point, host Ben Kieffer said it was time to take a short break, and Braley insisted that he be given a chance to answer afterward. Here’s his answer, beginning near the 25-minute mark (my transcript):
Before the break, you asked Ben Lange a very specific question, and you didn’t get an answer. You asked him, “What tax increases would you support?” So I want your listeners to know what tax increases Ben Lange would support. He has proposed changing our tax code to a two-tier system, that would result in an increase in taxes on the middle class and tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires. And you don’t have to take my word for it, you can take the word of the Tax Policy Council, which analyzed this same proposal, based on a similar proposal made by Paul Ryan, and said it is not mathematically possible to design a revenue-neutral plan that preserves current incentives for savings and investments and does not result in a net tax cut for high-income taxpayers and a net increase for lower and middle-income taxpayers. So that’s the answer to the question that you asked.
Kieffer gave Lange a chance for a short rebuttal, but again, he didn’t answer the question about what tax increases he might support. Instead, he said he would keep everything open to discussion, then pivoted to say that “someone has to have a plan,” and he had the guts to offer a plan to deal with the deficit, whereas Braley has been in Congress for six years and still hasn’t presented a plan for solving these problems.
Braley also repeatedly corrected Lange’s misstatements of fact, such as his claim that $716 billion in Medicare cuts will hurt seniors and Iowa doctors. Braley pointed out that he fought for more equitable payments to doctors, which is why he has the support of the Iowa Hospital Association and the Iowa Medical Society. (As I’ll discuss below, the American Hospital Association’s PAC is currently running television commercials supporting Braley. The incumbent received an Iowa Medical Society award last year “in recognition of his tireless work to restore geographic equity to physician Medicare reimbursement.”)
I have criticized Braley’s support for one version of a balanced budget amendment and what I consider his excessive use of “deficit hawk” rhetoric in general. He brought up the deficit almost as often as Lange did yesterday, citing it as a reason to bring troops home quickly from Afghanistan and to keep the estate tax for the wealthiest few thousand estates in the country. At the same time, he repeatedly pointed out that fixing the national debt problem requires a “balanced approach” with revenue increases as well as spending cuts. Defending his vote against a balanced budget amendment last year, Braley explained why that policy threatened to send the economy into recession.
Listening to the IA-01 radio debate was more entertaining than watching Representatives Leonard Boswell and Tom Latham battle to a draw on KCCI-TV last night. I will definitely watch Lange and Braley’s Iowa Public Television debate, scheduled to happen in Dubuque on November 1.
Braley’s campaign has run more positive than negative commercials this year. This spot called “Working” started running in late August:
Transcript:
Braley’s voice: Both of my parents grew up on farms in Iowa during the Great Depression. [view of Braley sitting at a table, flipping through a photo album, shifts to black and white photos of his parents with their young children]
My parents taught me there’s incredible dignity in having a job, any job. [View of Braley sitting in chair, speaking to off-camera interviewer, Bruce Braley on screen]
Female voice-over: Bruce Braley worked construction to pay for school. [footage of Braley walking and talking with a farmer outdoors]
In Congress he expanded job training at community colleges, [footage of Braley speaking with small group of college-age people, words on screen The Braley Record Expanded Job Training at Iowa Community Colleges Waterloo Courier, 2/9/2010]
passed tax cuts for small business, [footage of Braley speaking with group of working people, words on screen The Braley Record Tax Credits for Small Businesses Hiring Iowans Waterloo Courier, 2/2/2011]
Helping 100,000 Iowans get back to work. [footage of Braley talking with other people in different settings]
Braley’s voice: That’s what middle class is all about, giving people that shot at the American dream. [Braley speaks on camera again, then shifts to footage of him speaking with different people]
I’m Bruce Braley, and I approve this message. [footage of Braley wearing safety goggles and hardhat, speaking with someone on a factory floor]
It’s not a particularly creative ad, but it paints the incumbent in a favorable light. Bleeding Heartland covered Braley’s next couple of tv ads here (a spot featuring Bill Clinton defending the Democrats on Medicare, and a spot highlighting Braley’s work on veterans’ issues). Last week, the Braley campaign went up on the air with “99 percent,” its first “contrast” ad of this election year:
Transcript:
Male voice-over: On taxes, a clear choice. [White words on plain black screen: On Taxes, A Clear Choice.]
Ben Lange supports a two-tier system. [footage of Lange speaking from a podium with a bunch of Lange for Congress signs behind him]
The independent Tax Policy Center found that plans like that would give new tax cuts to millionaires, but raise taxes on Iowa’s middle class [viewer still sees Lange speaking from podium, paper superimposed on part of screen showing Tax Policy Center report; words on screen Ben Lange: Tax Cuts for Millionaires. then Ben Lange: Raising Taxes on Iowa’s Middle Class. Tax Policy Center 8/1/12]
Lange’s plan threatens the home mortgage deduction, [black and white image of young couple holding young children in front yard of a house; words on screen Ben Lange: Threatening Mortgage Deduction. Tax Policy Center 8/1/12]
tax credits for college and child care. [black and white image of mother lying on carpet, reading a book with a young child next to her; words on screen Ben Lange: Risking College and Child Care Credits. Tax Policy Center 8/1/12]
Bruce Braley’s fighting for us, with tax credits for small businesses and working Iowans. [more upbeat music, color footage of Braley talking with people in a restaurant, wearing hardhat while speaking with workers, words on screen Bruce Braley Tax Cuts for Small Businesses and Working Iowans. Waterloo Courier, 2/2/2011]
cutting taxes for 99 percent of our state. [footage of Braley standing next to pickup truck, listening to woman speak; words on screen Bruce Braley Cutting Taxes for 99% of Iowans. Radio Iowa, 7/12/12]
Braley’s voice: I’m Bruce Braley, and I approve this message. [footage of Braley speaking with farmer in front of farm buildings; words on screen Read the Braley record: BruceBraley.com ]
As I mentioned above, Braley returned to this contrast during yesterday’s radio debate. It’s a strong message, more effective than Lange’s versions of, “At least I’ve put forward a plan, he doesn’t have a plan.”
Two years ago, I called Lange the luckiest challenger in America, because the 501(c)4 group American Future Fund dropped more than a million dollars into this race attacking Braley. That allowed Lange to use his sparse campaign funds for positive ads aimed at boosting his name identification.
This year, Lange has had to spend a lot of his own campaign cash to spread the anti-Braley message. The American Future Fund has not played any significant role in IA-01; at this writing, the group has reported spending a little more than $30,000 on direct mail opposing Braley. The National Republican Congressional Committee did put Lange at the top tier of its “young guns” program over the summer and ran its first television commercial against Braley in early September. The NRCC then launched this 30-second spot, “Too Risky,” on September 23:
Transcript:
Male voice-over: Bruce Braley likes to gamble, with our future. [image of a craps table from a casino, with dice and chips]
Braley voted for a cap and trade energy tax that would devastate Iowa’s farm economy and raise prices on nearly everything we buy. [graphic shows dice bouncing on craps table–close view of one side of one die reads Bruce Braley voted for an Energy Tax, die spins around to read Raises Prices with an arrow pointing up on the other side]
Gas prices would skyrocket, as much as twenty-four percent. [dice bounce on craps table again, bounce up to read GAS prices up 24%]
Utility rates would rise. [dice spin in mid-air, one side reads Higher Utility Rates]
An estimated 32,000 jobs lost. [dice spin, one side reads 32,000 jobs lost]
The cost to Iowa’s families? As much as $1,300 dollars a year. [dice bounce again and spin, one side reads $1,300 per family]
Bruce Braley: a gamble we can’t afford to make. [dice bounce, roll to a stop showing snake eyes next to a photo of Braley and the slogan, Bruce Braley A gamble we can’t afford to make.]
The National Republican Congressional Committee is responsible for the content of this advertising. [on screen in small print: The National Republican Congressional Committee paid for and is responsible for the content of this advertising. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.]
Is it just me, or have the NRCC and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee television commercials been extremely poor this year?
This spot looks so phoned-in. If you’re going to bash an incumbent’s record, at least get some “ordinary person” in the district to make your case in a concrete way. Rhetoric against Braley’s vote for “cap and trade” (that is, the 2009 Waxman-Markey climate change bill) was a staple of the 2010 campaign. If Braley didn’t lose to Lange then, I don’t see how this message will beat him now.
Another discouraging sign for Lange: this commercial was on the air for less than a week. NRCC deputy communications director Andrea Bozek confirmed to me that their Cedar Rapids ad buy ended on September 28. At this point, the NRCC doesn’t plan to advertise in IA-01 again before the election. In contrast, they are still running tv ads in Iowa’s three other Congressional districts.
I haven’t seen any public polling on the Braley-Lange race, but several Washington-based handicappers have IA-01 in the “likely Democratic” column, meaning this district is viewed as less competitive than IA-02 (lean Democratic), IA-03 (tossup), or IA-04 (lean Republican).
Having less outside help now than in 2010, Lange’s campaign has run more negative tv ads during the past several weeks. “Braley’s Broken Promises” went up on the air in mid-September:
Lange’s voice: I’m Ben Lange, and I approve this message. [footage of Lange smiling with American flag in background]
Female voice-over: Why won’t Congressman Bruce Braley level with us? [unflattering photo of Braley, CONGRESSMAN BRUCE BRALEY]
In Iowa, Braley says he supports balancing the budget [same image, plus words IN IOWA SUPPORTS BALANCING THE BUDGET, source Braley press release, 5/16/12]
But in DC, he votes against it. [photo of Braley turns darker, words on screen CONGRESSMAN BRUCE BRALEY IN DC VOTES AGAINST IT,( cites House roll call vote from 2011)]
Braley promised to get tough on Wall Street [different photo of Braley, words on screen CONGRESSMAN BRUCE BRALEY GET TOUGH ON WALL STREET source Braley press release 4/01/09]
But he bailed them out [photo gets darker, words on screen CONGRESSMAN BRUCE BRALEY BAILED THEM OUT (cites House roll call vote from 2008)]
Braley promised a full and frank debate on health care [different photo of Braley, CONGRESSMAN BRUCE BRALEY “FULL AND FRANK” DEBATE Source Iowa Independent, 7/09/09]
Then he helped cram through Obamacare in the dead of night [photo gets darker, words on screen CONGRESSMAN BRUCE BRALEY CRAM THROUGH OBAMACARE (cites House roll call vote from 2010)]
Worse, Braley backed a government takeover more radical than Obamacare. [photo altered harshly, CONGRESSMAN BRUCE BRALEY MORE RADICAL THAN OBAMACARE]
Congressman Bruce Braley: Says one thing, does another [different photo of Braley, CONGRESSMAN BRUCE BRALEY SAYS ONE THING DOES ANOTHER]
The notice toward the end of that ad says Lange for Congress and the National Republican Congressional Committee paid for that commercial. I don’t know how much the NRCC contributed; according to the National Journal’s Julie Sobel, the NRCC spent approximately $400,000 in IA-01 before pulling the plug.
During yesterday’s radio debate, Lange repeatedly accused Braley of saying one thing and doing another when it was time to vote in Congress. He also used the line about “cramming” Obamacare through in the dead of night. Braley strenuously objected to that claim, saying Congress debated health care reform for more than a year, and that he held many meetings on the issue in his district before the House voted on the bill.
On October 2, the Lange campaign released “Honor the Promise,” drawing a contrast between the two candidates on Medicare.
Transcript:
Lange speaking into camera: Bruce Braley is being dishonest, and that’s wrong.
Lange’s voice continues: He raided 700 billion dollars from Medicare to fund Obamacare. [black and white photo of Braley, BRUCE BRALEY RAIDED $700 BILLION FROM MEDICARE Source: CBO, 7/24/12]
Cut seniors’ benefits. [same photo, words on screen BRUCE BRALEY CUT SENIORS BENEFITS]
My own father just turned 62. [Lange speaking to camera again, standing in front of house with American flag, LangeforCongress.com on screen near bottom]
He’s depending on Social Security and Medicare. [Lange’s voice continues, over footage of Lange with his father, LangeforCongress.com on screen near bottom]
And like millions, he paid into the system, [footage of Lange walking down the street with his parents, LangeforCongress.com on screen near bottom]
and we must honor that commitment. [Lange speaking to camera again, flag and house in background]
I support a plan to strengthen it, now and for future generations. No cuts in benefits, no tax increases. [footage of Lange with family members and supporters in various settings, LangeforCongress.com on screen near bottom, words on screen BEN LANGE STRENGTHEN MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY NO CUTS IN BENEFITS]
And any plan will be totally voluntary. I’m Ben Lange, and I approve this message. [closer view of Lange speaking to camera, Lange for Congress logo on screen]
In my opinion, commercials like this work better when it’s the candidate’s own voice rather than a sinister-sounding voice-over. So I give the Lange campaign points there. On the other hand, I don’t know that Lange changed any minds with this commercial. Either people believe that Democratic policies threaten Medicare, or they don’t.
Lange made all of those points during the debate, mentioning his father and the $700 billion cut from Medicare on several occasions. I get tired of linking to the same fact-checking articles over and over, but the $716 billion cut from Medicare “to fund Obamacare” did NOT come from seniors’ benefits.
Today the Lange campaign released a brand-new tv ad called “Gutless.”
Transcript:
Lange: Politicians have made promises they simply can’t keep. Why? Because incumbents like Bruce Braley prefer to bankrupt our kids than to reduce the debt and do what’s right. [Lange speaks to camera, walking in a wooded setting, turns to face camera, BEN LANGE CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS is on screen.]
As Iowans, we call that gutless. Bruce Braley’s been in Washington for six years and still doesn’t have a plan. Just more partisan bickering. [Lange speaks to camera, next to him an image of his “Compact with Iowans” appears on screen, with words See Ben’s plan at LANGEFORCONGRESS.COM ]
I’m Ben Lange, and I approved this message because someone’s gotta look out for them. [Lange picks up daughter, holds her on hip while talking, nods head in her direction when he says “them.” After he finishes speaking, he and his daughter look at each other and smile.]
Again, I think it was a good decision to have Lange deliver this message himself. The typical attack at style (jarring black and white photos, a scary narrator and background music) is so boring and overused, I think viewers tune out.
Even though this commercial calls Braley a “gutless” pol who bankrupts our kids, it has the look and feel of a positive ad. The last thing viewers see is the candidate holding his adorable young child. I don’t know whether it’s going to swing a lot of undecided voters, but I don’t see how it could hurt Lange.
I am not aware of outside groups advertising on Lange’s behalf, other than the NRCC last month.
Braley is getting help from the American Hospital Association’s PAC, which dropped more than $267,000 last week on a television commercial supporting the incumbent in IA-01. Marie Watteau, director of media relations for the PAC, confirmed that it is running on the following stations: KCRG, KGAW, KFXA, KPXR, and KWWL. Asked why they are running the ad, she responded,
In consultation with our hospital members, we work to be supportive of those legislators who share our perspectives on key issues and have provided leadership in addressing how we can improve our health care system.
Side note on how K Street plays both sides: the American Hospital Association PAC is also putting money behind various Republican House incumbents who opposed the 2010 health care reform law and have voted for its repeal.
The American Hospital Association didn’t upload their ad to YouTube, but the Braley campaign did here:
My transcript:
Male voice-over: Iowa’s seniors raised our families and built our communities. [footage of older man walking outside with fully grown son; footage of senior citizen couple sitting on front steps of their home, with American flag on porch]
Now Congressman Bruce Braley is fighting to protect the rural hospitals they rely on. [Image of Braley against backdrop of hospital emergency entrance; words on screen Protecting Iowa’s Rural Hospitals Bruce Braley]
Braley is bringing more doctors and nurses to Iowa’s small towns. [image of farm field in rural landscape; words on screen “A win for rural America on healthcare” The Des Moines Register April 1, 2011]
Working for the same emergency care here as in big cities. [Footage of doctor and nurse treating patient, words on screen Better Emergency Care]
No wonder Braley was recognized by Iowa doctors for his tireless work to protect Medicare. [footage of doctors and other hospital staff walking in hallway, words on screen Braley’s “tireless work” on Medicare Iowa Medical Society, May 24, 2011]
Bruce Braley: Fighting for the care our seniors have earned. [Footage of older man and woman walking down country road, words on screen Vote for Bruce Braley Fighting For The Care Our Seniors Have Earned]
AHA PAC is responsible for the content of this advertising.
It’s not a particularly imaginative commercial, but any incumbent would be glad to have someone paying to put that message on television.
Please share your own comments about the IA-01 race in this thread.
P.S. – The funniest story to come out of this campaign so far is The Iowa Republican blog’s attempt to push an EXCLUSIVE “confidential memo” showing that Braley is vulnerable. The story would have been fascinating had the confidential memo come from the Braley campaign, or from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Instead, it was a piece by senior Lange adviser Cody Brown, listing all the reasons Lange is doing well and all the things Braley’s doing wrong. (“We have achieved nearly every strategic objective to date while the Braley campaign has stumbled and missed several strategic opportunities.”)
The Lange campaign wants us to believe that this memo (with not a pessimistic word about the Republican’s prospects) wasn’t intended to reach everyone following the IA-01 race. Yet they have referenced The Iowa Republican’s blog post in multiple e-mail blasts to supporters, starting with this fundraising solicitation from September 28.
It’s not easy keeping secrets.
The Iowa Republican published an article today entitled, “Exclusive: Confidential memo reveals Braley is vulnerable in IA-01.”
“With 40 days to go before the November election, Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA) once again finds himself in a vulnerable position in his lively 2012 rematch with Ben Lange according to a confidential memo authored by a Lange advisor and obtained by The Iowa Republican from a third-party not directly connected to the Lange campaign.”
The basis for the article was a confidential internal campaign memo entitled, “State of the Race: 40 Days,” authored by an advisor to our campaign.
We chose not to comment on the story because we do not discuss internal communications, but the point of the article is the same point our campaign has been making publicly for months — Bruce Braley is vulnerable and we’re ready to finish the job.
I give them points for a creative attempt to change the subject from the NRCC’s decision to pull out of IA-01.
UPDATE: I didn’t realize that the House Majority PAC (a Democratic super-PAC) started running a tv ad against Lange on October 2.
Transcript:
Male voice-over: These hands, the middle class, built Iowa. [footage of various people doing factory labor]
But Ben Lange doesn’t get it. [footage of Ben Lange, with words on screen BEN LANGE Source: LEGISTORM]
He worked for Congress nearly a decade ago, [footage of Lange speaking at a podium, words on screen CONGRESSIONAL STAFFER BEN LANGE Source: LEGISTORM]
then praised the radical Ryan budget. [Image of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan waving to supporters, words on screen BEN LANGE PRAISED RADICAL RYAN BUDGET Source: Marshalltown town hall, 7/12/12]
The Ryan budget cuts taxes for these guys [footage of server carrying tray of drinks to table in fancy restaurant, group of well-dressed people sitting at table in restaurant, words on screen CUT TAXES FOR MILLIONAIRES Source: CBPP, 3/27/12]
by over 200 thousand dollars, [footage of group of well-dressed people standing and talking, smoking, holding cocktails, words on screen CUT TAXES FOR MILLIONAIRES BY OVER $200,000 Source: CBPP, 3/27/12]
but raises taxes on middle-class families by over a thousand dollars. [footage of family sitting around kitchen table sharing a meal, words on screen RAISES TAXES ON MIDDLE CLASS OVER $1,000 Source: ABC NEWS, 8/14/12]
Ben Lange: Radical Washington ideas [footage of Lange speaking into a microphone, words on screen BEN LANGE RADICAL WASHINGTON IDEAS]
Wrong for Iowa. House Majority PAC is responsible for the content of this advertising. [viewer sees footage of Lange speaking from a podium with a bunch of his campaign signs behind him, words on screen BEN LANGE RADICAL WASHINGTON IDEAS WRONG FOR IOWA]
I find it hard to believe that these cookie-cutter ads are inspiring voters to do anything besides change the channel.
The Lange campaign denied many of the claims in this commercial. Excerpt from an October 3 press release:
The PAC’s new ad against Lange includes several false claims: First, it claims that Lange “doesn’t get” the importance of the middle class, despite the fact that Lange was raised in a working class family from Quasqueton, Iowa — population 499 — and was the first in his family to earn a four-year college degree. Ironically, the ad was launched on the same day Vice President Joe Biden admitted the middle class has been “buried for the last four years” under the Obama administration.
Second, the ad falsely claims that Lange “praised the radical Ryan budget.” The ad cites to a town hall meeting in Marshalltown. But Lange said at the event he had not “subscribed wholeheartedly to every aspect” of Ryan’s plan and praised Ryan simply for having “the guts to put up a proposal,” unlike Bruce Braley and other Washington politicians. Lange has put forth in own plan entitled a “Compact with Iowans.”
Third, the ad falsely states that Ryan’s budget “raises taxes on middle class families by over $1,000.” The ad cites to a news story from ABC News which was, in turn, citing a “report” prepared by Democratic staffers which Politifact concluded was based on “facts not in evidence.”
SECOND UPDATE: The latest Federal Election Commission independent disclosure report for IA-01 shows a few other groups spending on this race. Supporting Lange: National Right to Life Action (direct mail) and the National Federation for Independent Business (internet advertising)
Supporting Braley: Iowa Credit Union League (direct mail), American College of Radiology Association PAC (direct mail)
Opposing Braley: the American Future Fund (about $30,000 on direct mail, far less than the group spent attacking Braley during the 2010 campaign)
LATE UPDATE: I forgot to include “The Truth,” an ad the Lange campaign started running in late September.
Male voice-over: Want to know about Bruce Braley? Just look at his record. [photos of Braley, words on screen BRUCE BRALEY LOOK AT HIS RECORD]
Voted to allow Washington bureaucrats to cut Medicare, endangering Iowa seniors. [photo of Braley in front of American and Iowa flags, words on screen ALLOW BUREAUCRATS TO CUT MEDICARE; small print refers to roll call votes #165 and 167, 3/21/2010]
To pay for Obamacare, voted to cut more than 700 billion dollars from Medicare. [photos of Braley surrounded by people holding Braley works for Iowa signs, but one person holds a hand-made sign: BRALEY CUT MEDICARE; $700 BILLION small print cites Congressional Budget Office, 7/24/2012]
Bruce Braley: One bad vote after another. [view zooms away from Braley photos, words on screen BRUCE BRALEY ONE BAD VOTE AFTER ANOTHER]
Ben Lange: the courage and a plan to honor our promise to seniors. [footage of Lange talking with small groups of seniors; words on screen BEN LANGE COURAGE AND A PLAN; LangeForCongress.com near bottom of screen]
Save Medicare from bankruptcy for current and future generations. [footage of Lange talking with two men on a farm, then walking with farm family including small children; words on screen BEN LANGE SAVE MEDICARE; LangeForCongress.com near bottom of screen]
Ben Lange for Congress. [photo of Lange with wife, standing in front of house with American flag hanging from porch]
Lange’s voice: I’m Ben Lange, and I approve this message.