Ad Watch: Democratic Party says Gilmore ad violated campaign-finance laws

Item by Chris Graham
[email protected]

A complaint filed last week by the Democratic Party of Virginia charges that a recent Jim Gilmore TV ad violated campaign-finance laws by failing to show voters in writing that he personally authorized the ad, a requirement under federal “Stand by Your Ad” rules.

“Jim Gilmore should have to play by the same rules as the rest of us,” said Jared Leopold, the communications director for the Democratic Party of Virginia Coordinated Campaign. “Given the preposterous claims in Gilmore’s ad, it’s no wonder he doesn’t want his own name attached to it. We’re asking television stations around the commonwealth to uphold the law and hold Gilmore accountable.”

The ad, titled “Principled,” included a string of negative attacks on Democrat Mark Warner on fiscal issues including Warner’s support of a bipartisan tax increase in 2004.

The complaint from the Democratic Party could lead to a finding under federal law that the Gilmore campaign would forfeit the right to have access to the “lowest unit charge” for TV ads for the duration of the ’08 campaign.

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