Two Congressional candidates in the first District race are spending lavishly on television ads. Most of the ads concentrate on one issue; the candidates' records on state taxes. NHPR's David Darman has more.
The GOP's most recent ad concerning the first district doesn?t even mention the party's nominee, Jeb Bradley. Instead, the ad shows Democrat Martha Fuller Clark walking in a parade, in front of her van. As the video rolls, the ad drives home the message that Clark cannot be trusted on taxes.
AD: here comes Martha. Voting to bring an income tax to every town in new Hampshire. She's told you she'll fight unjust taxes, but the fact is, she voted in favor of creating the first income tax on new Hampshire workers. So, here comes Martha
State Republican leaders say they are running the ad to make sure voters become familiar with Clark's record in the Legislature. GOP spokesman Kate Whitman.
03 martha fuller clark has voted for an income tax four times. She's voted for an amazing amount of taxes. And that's what we're putting out there in our commercials. 03 21
While Clark did vote for an income tax in the New Hampshire House, she maintains she supported cutting other taxes if the income tax had passed. Clark says Republicans conveniently leave out this part of her record.
09 53 I voted against the permanent statewide property tax. In fact, I sponsored legislation to repeal that tax. Mr Bradley voted against his constituents, against the interests of Wolfeboro, to keep that permanent statewide property tax in place. 09 113
Bradley's own advertising emphasizes his votes to cut taxes to help maintain the so-called "New Hampshire Advantage".
AD: Americans pay more in taxes than they do on food, clothing and housing. Jeb Bradley believes that's wrong. That's why he never voted for a state income tax.
Political observers say they are not surprised that Republicans are focusing on Clark's vote for an income tax.
Chuck Todd of The Hotline in Washington D.C. says the issue is effective for the GOP because the Democrat running for governor is such a strong income tax advocate.
06 107 it appears that all the republican candidates on down the ballot are trying to hang mark fernald around the neck of every democrat running.06 217
Clark and the Democrats have reacted to Republican tactics by trying to broaden the discussion of taxes. Their ads remind voters that Bradley voted not only for the permanent statewide property tax, but that he also voted to raise other taxes, especially those effecting small businesses.
AD: Truth is, jeb Bradley voted for all of these taxes that hurt seniors, families, and small businesses. FADE: And jeb Bradley doesn't want you to know that while he was voting for the statewide property tax.
Bradley admits that the state's latest budget crisis forced him to vote to raise business taxes as a member of the legislature. But Bradley, who recently picked up the endorsement of the National Federation of Independent Businesses, says those votes were cast to resist implementing an income tax.
19 12 I've worked in an extraordinarily difficult period, with others, to avoid an income tax. Because an income tax would suck more money out of people's pockets than any of these other, small traditional taxes that we've had in new Hampshire. Do we like raising them? No, we don't... 19 43
Pollsters say Bradley and the GOP may be wise to stand firm against the income tax, even while supporting increases in other taxes. Pollster Andy Smith of the University of New Hampshire Survey Center says his research into voter attitudes shows anti income tax sentiment holds a special place in the psyche of many New Hampshire voters.
15 110 the thing about the tax issue that makes it so unique is that it cuts across political parties. Most of the other issues that people talk about tend to have a democratic position and a republican position on it and the republicans and democrats know where they are on that issue based on their partisanship, but 15 125 the tax issue really cuts across both parties. 15 128
While Democrats may well keep trying to broaden the tax debate in their advertising, Republicans will probably keep running anti income tax ads. Polling shows these ads have been effective. Still, no matter who wins, neither candidate will be voting on state taxes next year.
