It was only a matter of time before the the gloves started to come off in the race for Alabama’s 6th Congressional District seat.
Businessman Will Brooke is out today with a new ad taking direct aim at Rep. Paul DeMarco, who is widely viewed as the race’s current frontrunner.
“Folks, we need to change the way Washington does business,” Brooke says to start the 30-second ad. “First, we need term limits. Second, like us, Congress should have to live under the laws that they pass. Third, politicians need to stop profiting from their service.”
That’s all pretty standard for an ad by a Republican congressional candidate. But then Brooke sets his sights on his rival.
“Nothing will change if we keep sending career politicians like Paul DeMarco, who’s just looking to move up the job ladder, to Washington,” Brooke says. “I’ll fight the status quo and change the way Washington does business.”
The shot could be viewed as more of a love tap than a punch to the gut, but it does create a bit of a contrast between the two candidates who are fighting over similar segments of the electorate.
DeMarco has served in the Alabama House of Representatives for just under a decade after being elected in 2005 at the age of 37. He is now a partner in the law firm of Parsons, Lee and Juliano.
Brooke is a co-founder of Harbert Management Corporation and past Chairman of the Business Council of Alabama. This is his first run for elected office.
DeMarco campaign spokesman Rick Journey responded to Brooke’s ad by saying he’s “disappointed” in Brooke’s decision to go negative.
“Paul DeMarco and this campaign are focused on a positive message of conservative leadership for the 6th District as we face important issues in this nation,” Journey told Yellowhammer via email. “It is disappointing that Will has backed off his pledge to ‘keep it positive.'”
Brooke, DeMarco and five other Republican candidates are set to square off in the GOP primary on June 3.
What do you think about Brooke’s new ad? Is it effective? Let us know in the comment section below or by tweeting @YHPolitics.
Follow Cliff on Twitter @Cliff_Sims
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