Dark money group tied to South Jersey Dems on TV tying GOP candidates to Durr

A new dark money group with ties to South Jersey Democrats has purchased about $530,000 of Philadelphia network and cable TV ads seeking to tie Republican candidates in three South Jersey districts to controversial comments on abortion made by State Sen. Edward Durr (R-Logan).

Brighter Future Forward accuses State Sen. Vincent Polistina (R-Egg Harbor Township), GOP State Senate candidate Christopher Del Borrello, and Assemblymen Michael Torrissi, Jr. (R-Hammonton) and Brandon Umba (R-Medford) of standing by while Durr “spews hate.”

Alexis Degan, a Democratic operative who previously served as chief of staff to the 5th district legislative delegation, filed the new group as a non-profit in June.  No filings have been made with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission.

The organization purchased about $287,000 of Philadelphia broadcast television time this week for an ad that connects Durr to Polistina and Del Borrello, according to ad placement data obtained by the New Jersey Globe.   Brighter Future Forward is spending roughly $58,000 on cable in the 2nd district, $110,000 in the 4th, and 75% in the 8th.

The ads repeat a comment Durr made on Facebook prior to his election to the Senate, saying that “a woman does have a choice – keep her legs closed.”

The dark money ad also seeks to hold Polistina, Del Borrello, Torrissi, and Umba responsible for Durr clicking like on a Facebook post several years ago about “spaying women like dogs.”

Script: “Michael Torrissi and Brandon Umba have a lot of sway over women’s health. Their team would ban abortion, and they stand by when their extreme colleague, Ed Durr, spews hate.  Durr said, quote, ‘A woman does have a choice.  Keep her legs closed.’  He publicly endorsed the idea of spaying women like dogs, and Durr would criminalize abortion and jail doctors who perform them.  Torrissi.  Umba.  Durr.  Offensive and dangerous.”

Degan worked for the Camden County Democratic Committee and then the Camden County Office of Constituent Services before joining the 5th district office in 2012.  She worked for State Sens. Donald Norcross (D-Camden) and Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D-Barrington), Assemblymen Angel Fuentes (D-Camden), Whip Wilson (D-Camden), and Arthur Barclay (D-Camden), and Assemblywoman Patricia Egan Jones (D-Barrington).

She is currently vice president of development and communications for Volunteers of America/Delaware Valley.  Degan did not immediately respond to a message left with her assistant.