Polistina objects to ‘fradulent’ TV ads by South Jersey Democratic group

State Sen. Vince Polistina (R-Egg Harbor Township) says network and cable TV ads from a new group tied to South Jersey Democrats associating him with State Sen. Edward Durr (R-Logan) are fraudulent “political hack jobs” and should be taken down.

“The ads attempt to link me to comments made by others and include inaccuracies about who ‘I back all the way,’ that I am ‘dangerous to women,’ and that I ‘don’t like women,’” Polistina said.

The ads by Brighter Future Forward, which was formed in June, launched a $530,000 ad buy tying Durr’s comments on abortion to Republicans running in other South Jersey districts.  Because the ads did not begin running until Monday, the group deftly avoided filing a 29-day pre-election report.

Instead, the group won’t need to file any information about their donors until October 27 – with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission not releasing those reports until November 2, six days before the election.  Vote-by-mail ballots and early voting will already be underway, and likely too late to make the source of Brighter Future Forward’s money a viable campaign issue by the Republicans.

From a practical standpoint, that makes the 527 political committee a dark money organization.

“The next step should be for this fraudulent, defamatory sham organization – who still didn’t file with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission or Federal Election Commission – to take down its bogus ads and stop lying to voters,” said Polistina.

The ad says that Polistina and others have not called out Durr for a Facebook page that said, ‘a woman does have a choice.  Keep her legs closed.’”  It also seeks to hold Polistina and others responsible for Durr clicking “Like” on a Facebook post from several years ago that suggested “spaying women like dogs.”

The organization purchased about $287,000 of Philadelphia broadcast television this week for an ad connecting Durr to Polistina and 4th district GOP Senate candidate Christopher Del Borrello.  Brighter Future Forward is spending roughly $58,000 on cable in the 2nd district, $110,000 in the 4th, and 75% in the 8th.

How much Brighter Future Forward plans to spend beyond this week is unclear.