Monday, July 23, 2012
9:37 AM
Thompson hits at Hovde for Washington contacts, Doyle donation in new ads
Two new ads Tommy Thompson accuse Eric Hovde of using political connections -- both in Washington and through former Gov. Jim Doyle -- for personal gain at the expense of taxpayers.
It's the latest in a series of negative ads from the top contenders in advance of the GOP primary on Aug. 14.
The 30-second television spot, entitled "Washington Games," features a board game with Hovde as a game piece hopping from square to square as the narrator says he ran a hedge fund “that used Uncle Sam to buy banks.”
The narrator goes on to say Hovde used government contacts to profit from taxpayer bailouts, “gamed” the system and “bet against American companies and homeowners.”
“After financial markets collapsed and families lost their life savings, Hovde bragged that he made a 40 percent profit,” the narrator says to close the spot. “Eric Hovde: He wins, taxpayers lose.”
The 60-second radio ad, entitled "Strong Armed," focuses more on his $500 donation to former Dem Gov. Jim Doyle in 2005.
The ad begins noting the contribution and asking what Hovde's "new excuse" was for the donation. The ad then plays audio of Hovde saying Doyle would annually "strong arm the real estate community" for donations and that he "capitulated" in 2005.
"Hovde gamed the system, building a business on his regulatory contacts and government assisted transactions, which leaves taxpayers holding the bag," the narrator says.
The ad ends with the narrator saying "If Hovde played the game with Doyle, what games will he play with Washington liberals?"
-- By Jason Smathers
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