Campaign ads already cranking up in one congressional race
The midterm election is still almost four months off, but a television ad war has already started between Republican 2nd District Congressman George Holding and an outside group over health care.
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Holding has spent nearly $200,000 dollars on ads since May to answer ads by a group called North Carolinians for a Fair Economy that criticize his votes on health coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.
"I think he's running scared. I think he's really feeling vulnerable," said Paula Wolf, who is with North Carolinians for a Fair Economy.
Wolf wouldn't say who's funding the group, which has spent almost as much on ads as Holding. But she said the nonprofit, which can only advocate on issues and not endorse a particular candidate, is in compliance with all federal laws.
A woman in Holding's latest ad states the North Carolinians for a Fair Economy ad "is to elect Linda Coleman," but Wolf disputes that.
"Absolutely not. This ad has nothing to do with Linda Coleman," she said.
Coleman is Holding's Democratic challenger.
"Don't be fooled," says the woman in Holding's ad. "The fact is that George Holding voted to make insurance companies cover people with pre-existing conditions."
"It's a lie. He never voted to make insurance companies cover pre-existing conditions," Wolf said.
Holding said his ads are likely to stay in heavy rotation in the coming weeks.
"You can always raise more money, but you can never create more time," he said. "So, with this being a blue-moon election – there's no no one at the top of the ticket running statewide– my thought is we might as well start early and often."
Coleman's campaign said it doesn't plan to run TV ads until closer to Election Day.
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