Outside groups target Shaheen on spending

Senate candidate Jeanne Shaheen: Campaign PhotoTwo organizations are hitting the Granite State airwaves with advertisements targeting Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jeanne Shaheen on the issue of spending.

“On the economy, Jeanne Shaheen’s positions just don’t add up,” an announcer says in a 30-second television advertisement launched by the conservative Club for Growth today.

“As governor, Shaheen enacted the first statewide property tax. Proposed the first ever sales tax. Said she would sign the first state income tax. But that’s not all. Shaheen opposed lawsuit reforms, making it harder for New Hampshire businesses to grow. Tell Jeanne Shaheen, we need lower taxes and lawsuit reform to help our economy.”

The ad is set to run for two weeks on broadcast and cable television stations throughout New Hampshire. The media buy totals $400,000.

Also targeting Shaheen is the Americans for Job Security, a pro-business issue advocacy organization based in Alexandria, Va.

“And now our answer to the trivia question on the economy: Which New Hampshire governor doubled state spending, broke her no new taxes pledge, and signed the state’s first-ever property tax?” a mock game show host asks in the one-minute radio spot. “And the answer is Jeanne Shaheen!”

An AJS official said the ad began running this week and would continue on through next week. The size of the buy was not disclosed.

It’s not the first time AJS has targeted the Democrat. As PolitickerNH.com reported In June, the New Hampshire Democratic Party filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Committee alleging that the group had run advertisements without registering as a political committee with the FEC. Club for Growth, for its part, is just beginning its ad campaign in the Granite State.

Shaheen is challenging U.S. Sen. John Sununu (R-Waterville Valley), who is completing his first-term. The Democrat served three terms as governor before losing a battle for the Senate seat against Sununu in 2002.

A spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee brushed off the new ads, saying that Shaheen was ahead and that the spots would do little to shift the balance of the contest.

“John Sununu’s special interest allies will spend millions to try and send him back to Washington, but he’s still trailing Jeanne Shaheen badly because voters know his record, they know hers, and they’re not going to buy misleading attack ads,” said DSCC spokesman Matt Miller.