Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Bruce Braley says he finds some of the campaign ads running against him “painful” to watch.
“And remember, about 80 percent of the TV ads you’re seeing are not being put up by (Republican nominee) Joni Ernst or Bruce Braley and they’ve being put up by groups that don’t have to identify their donors,” Braley says. “They’re being put up by people who really don’t have a long-term stake in Iowa.”
According to the latest report from the Center for Responsive Politics, almost $61 million has been spent by outside groups trying to influence the outcome of Iowa’s U.S. Senate race. Braley says the ads from these groups are “drowning out” the voices of regular Iowans.
“Personally it’s very painful,” Braley says. “…In 23 seconds the truth can be destroyed by somebody putting up an ad that’s false and misleading.”
Braley supports efforts to require immediate disclosure of the names of those who are financing the outside groups. Braley made his comments today during an appearance before the Greater Des Moines Partnership, an organization that represents 21 chambers of commerce in central Iowa.
Ernst said recently she and her family have quit watching TV because of all the negative ads.
“What people really need to do is focus on the issues that are important to them and visit with the candidate,” Ernst said.
Ernst said that’s why she’s spend the past 39 days making 112 stops around the state, ensuring she’s made at least one campaign appearance in each of Iowa’s 99 counties.