Let the ad wars begin.
In my article this morning about Comcast cable guy Richard Brehm, I highlighted a growing trend toward cable in political advertising.
Apparently, it's a trend that Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mark Kirk hasn't ignored.
This morning, Kirk went live with his first television spot of the 2010 general-election season. It's an introductory piece that highlights his "independent" thinking — a claim to fame that Democrat Alexi Giannoulias' campaign has been quick to retort.
Kirk spent about $62,000 to air the ad over 18 of 34 cable zones in the Chicago area. Kirk's spokesman, Eric Elk, says the spot is also airing statewide on broadcast networks.
It's the first big move to bring the Senate campaign to TV airwaves, and I would expect the Giannoulias campaign to respond very soon.
During the primary, Giannoulias' advisers waited for opponent David Hoffman to get on TV first, then pounced back with a "reality check."
Kathleen Strand, Giannoulias' spokesman, responded to the ad about three hours after Kirk's people released it in an e-mail to supporters.
"Congressman Mark Kirk's claim that he is a budget hawk just doesn't fly with his record of supporting all of Bush's reckless budgets that led to the doubling of the national debt and the greatest recession since the Great Depression," Strand said.
"Like a typical Washington politician, Mark Kirk will say one thing while his voting record reflects quite another. Illinois voters deserve a fresh voice in Washington who will put their interests ahead of the corporate special interests."
Consider that a preview of the Giannoulias ads to come.