With the launch of “Hillary Over Hoosiers,” the Republican Governors Association Right Direction PAC is once again targeting Democrat John Gregg. This time, the group is hoping to tie Gregg to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton – a connection that could hurt his chances in a state that generally turns red in presidential election years.
The spot opens with a shot of Clinton and Gregg on either side of the White House to emphasize how Gregg is “one of Hillary Clinton’s most vocal supporters.”
During the 2008 presidential primary, Gregg served as an honorary chair in Indiana for Clinton’s campaign – and even campaigned with President Bill Clinton in the Hoosier state. This year, however, Gregg has distanced himself from Clinton – not appearing at any rallies or campaign events.
The ad turns its focus to how Gregg failed to stand up to Clinton after she declared during a town hall, “We’re going to put a lot of coal miners and a lot of coal companies out of business.”
To emphasize how Gregg “abandoned” Indiana, the narrator ends, “[Greg] chooses Hillary over Hoosiers every time.”
The ad fails to mention how Gregg previously worked as a land agent for Peabody Coal Company and as a government affairs representative for Amax Coal Company.
The 2016 Indiana governor race was slated to be a rematch of the 2012 contest, when Republican Mike Pence defeated Gregg by about 3 points in an unexpected nail biter. Polls in late May indicating that Pence was leading Gregg by about 4 points, predicting a 2012 result all over again.
In a stroke of luck for Gregg, Pence withdrew from the race in mid-July to become Donald Trump’s running mate, forcing the Indiana Republican Central Committee to make a last minute substitution.
Just days before “Hillary Over Hoosiers” launched, the committee selected Eric Holcomb – the current Lieutenant Governor of Indiana – to replace Pence.
Follow us to see if the Holcomb gets a boost from the RGA’s rejuvenated ad campaign.
The spot opens with a shot of Clinton and Gregg on either side of the White House to emphasize how Gregg is “one of Hillary Clinton’s most vocal supporters.”
During the 2008 presidential primary, Gregg served as an honorary chair in Indiana for Clinton’s campaign – and even campaigned with President Bill Clinton in the Hoosier state. This year, however, Gregg has distanced himself from Clinton – not appearing at any rallies or campaign events.
The ad turns its focus to how Gregg failed to stand up to Clinton after she declared during a town hall, “We’re going to put a lot of coal miners and a lot of coal companies out of business.”
To emphasize how Gregg “abandoned” Indiana, the narrator ends, “[Greg] chooses Hillary over Hoosiers every time.”
The ad fails to mention how Gregg previously worked as a land agent for Peabody Coal Company and as a government affairs representative for Amax Coal Company.
Calculated Timing
The Republican Governors Association has repeatedly launched attack ads against Gregg throughout his campaign for Governor, but the timing of the most recent assault is no coincidence.The 2016 Indiana governor race was slated to be a rematch of the 2012 contest, when Republican Mike Pence defeated Gregg by about 3 points in an unexpected nail biter. Polls in late May indicating that Pence was leading Gregg by about 4 points, predicting a 2012 result all over again.
In a stroke of luck for Gregg, Pence withdrew from the race in mid-July to become Donald Trump’s running mate, forcing the Indiana Republican Central Committee to make a last minute substitution.
Just days before “Hillary Over Hoosiers” launched, the committee selected Eric Holcomb – the current Lieutenant Governor of Indiana – to replace Pence.
Follow us to see if the Holcomb gets a boost from the RGA’s rejuvenated ad campaign.