Democrat Andrew Romanoff kicked off the direct ad war against Rep. Mike Coffman Monday by airing the first candidate TV spot in , one of the highest-profile contests in the country this year. In the ad, the former Colorado House speaker touts a record of balanced budgets, with legislators working across the aisle to make tough choices. The contrast to Congress’ partisan gridlock is clear.
Of course, as Romanoff points out, the state constitution requires a balanced budget each year. He ends the spot by saying “it ought to be the law in Washington, too.” Romanoff has said he supports a balanced-budget amendment.
The simple 30-second spot will air on broadcast and cable TV stations as well as online, the campaign says.
“Congress spends too much of its time and our tax dollars pointing fingers and picking fights,” Romanoff said in a news release announcing the ad. “Instead of protecting its own perks and privileges — and sending our nation into ever-deeper debt — Congress should balance the budget and put the middle class first.”
The ad’s simple lines leave little to pick apart factually, opening with: “It’s really pretty simple. You don’t buy things you can’t pay for. But that’s what Congress does all the time, spending our tax dollars on perks and privileges, while racking up a mountain of debt.” It’s an ad that Romanoff hopes will cast him as financially responsible in a district where he needs to win over plenty of moderates.
But the ad drew howls from Republicans who questioned Romanoff’s sincerity and picked apart his state legislative record.
“Let’s hope Speaker Romanoff is booking this advertisement on Comedy Central, because the idea Romanoff is a fiscal conservative is comedic,” said a statement from Coffman’s campaign manager, Tyler Sandberg. “As the Democratic leader of the State House, Romanoff led the crusade against fiscal restraint. He crammed down over a billion dollars in new taxes and fees on senior homeowners and small businesses and championed numerous outlandish taxing and borrowing schemes rejected by Colorado voters.”
Sandberg also couldn’t resist a dig at Romanoff’s well-educated background, saying he “must have studied fictional writing at those Ivy League and prep schools.” That’s a note the Coffman camp likes to sound often.
The National Republican Congressional Committee chimed in, raising similar protests about Romanoff’s record in the state legislature. “Over his long political career, Romanoff has done everything in his power to impose his will on Colorado’s hardworking families and small businesses,” said a statement from NRCC spokesman Tyler Q. Houlton. “He will be nothing more than a puppet for Nancy Pelosi and Washington special interests if sent to Washington.”
Perhaps anticipating the GOP response, Romanoff spokeswoman Denise Baron pointed back at them, referring to U.S. House Republicans’ efforts to pass alternative budgets to those supported by Democrats and President Barack Obama. “Congressman Coffman and his colleagues voted for a budget that would shift the tax burden onto middle class families, make college more expensive, and force seniors to pay thousands more in Medicare costs,” Baron said. “Andrew supports a balanced budget plan that grows the economy, protects Social Security, and puts the middle class first.”
The 6th Congressional District includes Aurora, south Denver suburbs and part of Brighton.
