McMahon's Obama ad irks some GOP supporters

Linda McMahon's U.S. Senate campaign will not cancel a television commercial that has angered some of her GOP base by appealing to supporters of President Barack Obama.

"I don't know how long the ad's going to run," McMahon spokesman Todd Abrajano said Tuesday. "We're certainly not going to pull the ad. The ad is very effective."

Launched over the weekend, the television spot features a handful of voters identified only by first name who said they are splitting their ticket, voting to re-elect Obama, a Democrat, to the White House but sending McMahon, the Republican party's nominee, to the Senate.

One of those is "Prophetess" Geraldine Claytor, 62, a Pentecostal minister from Bridgeport and a registered Democrat.

At first glance, the spot could be for a Democrat attempting to ride Obama's coattails in blue Connecticut. Neither Obama's nor McMahon's party affiliations are mentioned.

At the end, viewers are encouraged to vote for McMahon on the Independent line, which she secured after collecting petitions over the summer.

The Obama ad has some complaining it appears McMahon has endorsed the president's re-election and thrown Republican nominee Mitt Romney under the bus. State GOP Chairman Jerry Labriola said Tuesday he has heard from many concerned party members.

"I know that Linda McMahon is a strong supporter of Mitt Romney," Labriola said, declining comment otherwise.

McMahon's campaign posted similar sentiments on her Facebook page.

Former Republican U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons, chairman of the board of the conservative Yankee Institute for Public Policy, sent an email to colleagues Monday afternoon arguing McMahon was advocating for Obama.

"I do not recall ever asking my supporters to support a Democrat presidential candidate ... even when the odds were against George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004 in Connecticut," wrote Simmons, a vocal critic of McMahon's when they fought for the Senate nomination in 2010. "Please tell me what I am missing here?"

Tea party activist Bob MacGuffie said the spot is poorly executed, but he will still vote for McMahon and doubted the controversy will cost her GOP support.

Murphy's campaign and Democrats in general said the ad shows how desperate McMahon is to conceal the fact she shares Romney's "right wing" positions.

Claytor said she has nothing against Murphy but likes McMahon's "vision" and wants to send a strong woman to the Senate.

Asked about concerns McMahon would obstruct Obama if he wins a second term, Claytor said she knows that will not happen and that God is on the president's side.

"I'm a prophetic person," Claytor said.

brian.lockhart@scni.com; 203-414-0712; http://twitter.com/blockhart1

Source: http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/McMahon-s-Obama-ad-irks-some-GOP-supporters-3975829.php

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