Conservative group attacks Heck in ad

The conservative organization Americans for Prosperity has launched a TV attack ad targeting Democratic 3rd Congressional District candidate Denny Heck for saying he supports the $787 billion stimulus bill passed by Congress last year and for refusing to oppose cap-and-trade legislation in Congress.

The ad, running on network and cable channels in Clark County and elsewhere in the district through Aug. 24, portrays Heck as “a 30-year political insider and a career politician” who will take his orders from House Democratic leaders.

It features some familiar faces, including Clark County GOP Chairman Ryan Hart, who attended Tuesday night’s victory party for state Rep. Jaime Herrera, Heck’s Republican opponent.

Also appearing in the ad are Keath Huff, former Cowlitz County GOP chairman and founder of the Cowlitz County Tea Party, and Aaron Christopher, Herrera’s former campaign manager. Both Huff and Hart are listed as endorsers on Herrera’s campaign website.

Politico reported Thursday that the ad buy cost Americans for Prosperity $180,390.

Grant Lahmann, Heck’s campaign manager, said the relationship between Herrera and the speakers appearing in the ad was “pretty striking for a 501(c)3/4 organization independent ad.” Federal election rules require an arm’s-length relationship between candidate campaigns and expenditures on behalf of candidates from independent donors.

Heck used the ad in a fundraising e-mail Thursday, asking for help in countering what he likened to a “swiftboating” attack on his record of job creation.

Read more political news at http://www.columbian.com/politics