April 14, 2008 Online ad delivers hard jab to Mass. Senator Kerry Play video

(Alison King, NECN: Boston, Mass.) - Lost in the blanket coverage of the presidential campaign is the fact that a third of the U.S. Senate is up for re-election this November. One of the incumbents is Massachusetts Senator John Kerry. Republicans are targeting his record in an ad that's running in newspapers and on the Internet. It's a jab with a joke.

NECN’s Alison King explains.

Script:

John Kerry knows negative ads - anyone who followed his 2004 presidential bid remembers the swift boat ads that attacked his service in Vietnam. This latest web ad isn't exactly on that level, still it paints an unflattering portrait of the 24-year Senate veteran - a portrait he is quick to debunk.

Kerry’s State Director also points out that passing bills is only one aspect of the Senate job. That Kerry has also taken on a strong leadership role, helping to give soldiers pay raises and to bring troops home from Iraq.

It's not being shown on TV - you have to watch it online, but opponents of Massachusetts Senator John Kerry hope this latest web-ad will have an impact on his re-election bid this year.

It was created by the National Republican Senatorial Committee - an organization that works toward getting Republicans elected to the Senate. It says Monday is the ninth anniversary of the last bill Senator Kerry was the lead sponsor on that went on to be signed into law. At least one of Kerry’s GOP opponents is already using it to his advantage.

Jim Ogonowski: “He's been here in Washington for 24-years and he hasn't done anything for the people of Massachusetts - he's only passed eight pieces of legislation.”

Jim Ogonowski ran for Congress last year, losing to Democrat Niki Tsongas. Now running against Kerry, Ogonowski is taking a tougher approach - including the purchase of this ad that appeared Monday in several Massachusetts newspapers including The Boston Globe.

Ogonowski: “The people of Massachusetts, they need to know. A lot of people are not aware of what is not being accomplished in Washington DC. This ad is just one step to show them exactly what their elected representatives are doing wrong.”

Drew O’Brien: “It's no surprise to me that the state GOP has decided to take a page out of the national GOP playbook and that is to begin to wage a campaign that is both negative and inaccurate.”

Kerry’s State Director, Drew O’Brien, says the ads are patently false and he provides a list of legislation that Kerry has written and passed -- relating to veterans affairs, Massachusetts fisherman and sexual predators to name a few. O’Brien says, Kerry was just ranked the 12th most powerful member of the U.S. Senate.

O’Brien: “And he was ranked the 12th most powerful member because he works to get legislation passed, he works with his colleagues in the Senate. And he works on behalf of Massachusetts.”

Rob Willington: “He's going to give you a list of resolutions and some other matters that he may have co-sponsored or tried to sign onto, that other Senators have sponsored - and he wants to take credit for other people's work - but the fact is, John Kerry has a pathetic voting record.”