Fresh off the first set of gubernatorial debates, an independent expenditure group supporting Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Tenafly)’s campaign for governor is up on the air with an ad promoting his plan to cut taxes – and the group is spending nearly $1 million to broadcast it, per numbers obtained by the New Jersey Globe.
The group, Affordable New Jersey, does not seem to have filed any paperwork yet with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, so it’s not yet known where its funding is coming from. But if the expenditure beginning this morning is anything to go off of, it may play a major role in the six-way Democratic gubernatorial primary.
The ad, entitled “The Problem,” promotes a plan that Gottheimer released last month to reduce property taxes, give tax credits to renters, and lower seniors’ taxes, among other proposals. Somewhat unusually, the ad also features footage of Gottheimer himself talking to the camera about his plans for New Jersey, even though the group says the ad was not made with the cooperation or prior consent of any candidate.
That’s because it’s footage coming from an 11-minute YouTube video that Gottheimer’s campaign posted last month, most of which is audio-free stock footage of Gottheimer meeting with voters. The video was likely made with groups exactly like Affordable New Jersey in mind, giving them easy access to campaign footage without having to directly coordinate with Gottheimer.
Gottheimer’s own campaign has also focused heavily on lowering taxes in its own messaging. It was an issue Gottheimer brought up repeatedly during Sunday night’s Democratic debate, and a seven-figure digital ad buy from Gottheimer’s campaign is promoting his tax cut plan far and wide.
Script:
Narrator: “Jersey’s problem? A crazy expensive, ‘are you f#$*!% kidding me?,’ ‘who can afford this?’ problem. Well Josh Gottheimer’s a proven problem solver, and he’s running for governor with plans to cut property taxes 15%, tax credits for renters, and lower taxes for seniors.”
Gottheimer: “Jersey’s unaffordable, and there are plenty of naysayers and doubters who will tell you it can’t be fixed. They’ve given up; I haven’t. I’m going to cut your taxes and solve this problem.”
Narrator: “Josh Gottheimer: Lower taxes, lower costs for Jersey.”