The National Republican Congressional Committee is back up on the air in the second district with another ad painting House challenger Amy Kennedy as a liberal extremist who wants to raised taxes and defund the police.
The 30-second spot, titled, “Whose Side,” shows short clips of Kennedy alongside footage of fires and protests as a male narrator attacks her over positions — some of which the candidate denies holding — before pivoting into attacks over her support of a public option.
Script: Whose side is millionaire Amy Kennedy on? Kennedy said ‘there’s a lot of merit’ to defunding police. She’s so anti-cop Kennedy even raised money for violent thugs and rapists. Amy Kennedy bails out criminals but wants New Jersey families to pay more. Kennedy backs expensive government-run health care that could raise taxes but also slash funding for hospitals. South Jersey would never recover with liberal Amy Kennedy.
Kennedy’s campaign has said similar attacks launched by the NRCC were off-base in the past.
“The NRCC is trying to mislead voters in a desperate attempt to attack Amy, because they know that Amy is heading into the general election against Jeff Van Drew with momentum and overwhelming grassroots support,” Kennedy campaign manager Josh Roesch previously told the New Jersey Globe. “Amy has been clear in her support for necessary reforms to our criminal justice system as well as investments in programs, on top of traditional policing, that would help keep our communities safe.”
Kennedy is running to oust Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis), who was elected as a Democrat in 2018 but defected to the GOP in December after losing support among his longtime party’s rank-and-file over his opposition to impeachment.
It’s not clear when or for how long the ad will run or how much money the NRCC put behind the buy.