The campaign of the Democrat seeking to unseat U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., is showing signs of life.
Al Kissling’s campaign recently unveiled several radio advertisements attacking Pearce and Republicans on a host of allegations, including increasing the federal deficit, breaking promises to veterans, failing to get troops out of Iraq, voting for bills that benefit pharmaceutical companies instead of seniors, cutting federal student aid and cutting overtime protection for workers.
The ads, which are running on radio stations across the 2nd Congressional District, accuse Pearce of campaigning on “rosy rhetoric” and dodging questions about his record, which, according to the ads, proves he isn’t independent from corporations or the Republican Party.
Pearce’s campaign, which is targeting moderate Democrats, claims he has a record of independence.
In addition to the radio ads, Kissling has increased the number of public appearances he is making and news releases his campaign is sending out.
Kissling, according to a column that ran recently in the Roswell Daily Record and Artesia Daily Press, “seems more focused. The retired minister has shifted easily from the pulpit to the podium and pounded Steve Pearce on both the war and the economy.”
Kissling plans to hit hard in the next few weeks, according to Campaign Manager Loveless Johnson.
“Congressman Pearce has replaced all the actual truth and reality of his record with his chicken-in-the-pot-of-every-home rhetoric,” Johnson said. “It’s just rosy, false, inaccurate rhetoric.”
The campaign plans to hold news conferences in Las Cruces and Socorro next week with veterans who will demand that Pearce explain why the Disabled American Veterans have given him a rating of zero (with 100 being the highest mark) three of the past four years, ranking Pearce by far the last out of the state’s senators and representatives in support for veterans.
A month ago, Pearce led Kissling 54-29 percent in a poll done by the Albuquerque Journal. Is it too late for Kissling to make his move?
I guess we’ll find out.