The hits keep coming for Louisiana gubernatorial candidate and Sen. David Vitter.
Voters in the Bayou State woke up Saturday to a damning ad from Vitter’s Democratic rival, state Rep. John Bel Edwards, attacking the Republican senator for his involvement in the “D.C. Madam” scandal. The 30-second spot comes just over two weeks before the Nov. 21 gubernatorial runoff, and follows several polls showing Edwards in the lead. On Thursday, Vitter was dealt another blow when one of his Republican primary rivals, Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne, endorsed Edwards in the runoff election.
The ad, titled “The Choice,” contrasts Edwards’ military experience with Vitter’s solicitation of escorts — sometimes, the ad implies, at the expense of his congressional duties. In 2007, Vitter apologized for his “very serious sin,” but was never charged with a crime.
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“David Vitter chose prostitutes over patriots,” the ad states. “Now, the choice is yours.”
“As a veteran, I think it’s disgusting that John Bel Edwards is using veteran’s grave stones in a gutter political attack ad,” said Ret. Army Col. Evans Spiceland, co-chairman of Veterans for Vitter. “This commercial is a disgrace to those of us who actually live by the honor code.”
The ad will air statewide beginning Saturday, the day early voting opens for the gubernatorial race. Mary Patricia Wray, a spokesman for Edwards, declined to comment on the size of the ad by. She also did not say whether Vitter’s involvement in the “D.C. Madam” scandal would be a focus of the campaign going forward.
Watch the full ad below:
Emma Margolin
Emma Margolin is a reporter at MSNBC.com.
Alex Jaffe