Richard Shelby’s first TV ad of 2016 focuses on visits to all 67 Alabama counties

HOWARD KOPLOWITZ
AL.Com

 

U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., is making his personal contact with constituents the highlight of the first advertisement of his 2016 re-election campaign in a television ad set to air during the Alabama-Michigan State game Thursday night.

Titled “Sixty Seven,” the ad points out that Alabama’s senior senator makes visits to all 67 counties every year. Only one of Shelby’s senate colleagues accomplishes a similar feat.

“Richard Shelby holds real, face-to-face meetings in all of Alabama’s 67 counties each year — not just at election time,” a male voiceover says against video of Shelby shaking hands with people and hunting. “He knows the back roads, the quickest routes. His home’s here. He’s here when we need him. Richard stands up for us, stands up to Obama every single day.”

The ad, which features a number of Alabama landscapes, also portrays Shelby as “pushing good, conservative Alabama values” and standing up to President Barack Obama.

The Shelby campaign reserved $6 million worth of air time that includes tomorrow’s Cotton Bowl, which will feature the 60-second ad and a shortened 30-second version.

Shelby is facing four Republican challengers in the March 1 primary. Only one of his rivals, former Marine Capt. Jonathan McConnell, has a campaign commercial.

McConnell’s radio ad, which hit airwaves earlier this month, highlights his combat and small business experience while hitting Shelby as a “career politician,” alluding to the senator’s five terms in the Senate.

“America’s in crisis, but Washington’s career politicians only know how to protect themselves. As your senator, I’ll focus on protecting you and your family,” McConnell says in the ad.

Here’s the full transcript of Shelby’s first television ad of 2016:

“Some men go to Washington and become Wash. And some men just go there to work. Richard Shelby works up there each week, pushing good conservative Alabama values: A balanced budget amendment, helping our veterans, fighting against Obama’s short-sighted defense cuts, fighting illegal immigration and Obama’s amnesty. Then when the voting’s done, he hightails it back home and hits the road here. Listening, working, helping — it’s what his life’s about.

“Richard Shelby holds real, face-to-face meetings in all of Alabama’s 67 counties each year — not just at election time. He knows the back roads, the quickest routes. His home’s here. He’s here when we need him. Richard stands up for us, stands up to Obama every single day.”

Read the original story at AL.com.