CHARLESTON – The Republican Attorneys General Association has released three new television advertisements with just a week to go in the contentious race for attorney general.
The RAGA ads – two released Oct. 31 and one on Nov. 1 – come just a week before the general election.
Two of the ads are critical of Democratic candidate Doug Reynolds and praise incumbent AG Patrick Morrisey, while the third features U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito endorsing Morrisey.
In a press release, RAGA said the first two ads – titled “No Way” and “Easy Choice” – feature “West Virginians stating their opposition to Doug Reynolds and support for Patrick Morrisey in their own words.”
“Doug Reynolds is spending millions of his inherited fortune trying to purchase this office,” RAGA Executive Director Scott Will said. “Unfortunately for Doug, West Virginians are not buying what he is selling.
“They know Doug Reynolds is a Clinton supporter who will do nothing to stop her anti-coal agenda. Patrick Morrisey has earned the support of working West Virginians thanks to his tireless fight for their jobs and way of life.”
The third ad – titled “Senator” – features Capito talking about why she supports Morrisey.
“I’ve worked closely with Attorney General Patrick Morrisey in our battle to protect West Virginia jobs and families,” Capito said. “He’s fought the EPA, defended our second amendment rights and led the fight against the drug epidemic. Patrick Morrisey is smart, effective and a real fighter. That’s why I’m supporting him for Attorney General, and hope you will join me. He will always put West Virginia first.”
Will said RAGA is “thrilled and honored” Capito agreed to voice her support for Morrisey in this manner.
“Senator Capito is a strong voice for West Virginia in the United States Senate, and her word carries weight with the people of this state,” he said. “Her vocal support of Patrick Morrisey adds to the momentum we are seeing in the closing days and will help ensure victory for Patrick Morrisey and West Virginia’s way of life on Election Day.”
Reynolds’ campaign spokeswoman called the ads “the latest round of lies” from the Super PAC.
“With just over one week until the general election, and statewide support trending toward Doug Reynolds for Attorney General, the Republican Attorneys General Association is dropping another $950,000 in false, desperate attack ads,” Lynette Maselli said. “Pharmaceutical lobbyist Patrick Morrisey is days away from losing the office his Big Pharma friends bought and paid for four years ago, so his dark money Super PAC is spending an absurd amount of money in its latest attempt to buy this election.
“They've already spent $6 million; this new ad buy shows that another million is nothing to them if it keeps Morrisey in the Attorney General's office."
Maselli said Reynolds’ campaign sent a cease and desist letter to televisions stations statewide, in response to the latest round of false ads. She also said Morrisey is a shield for same drug companies that are “flooding West Virginia with addictive pain pills; so buying this election is their top priority.”
“Morrisey is a corrupt, self-serving politician who uses his office to line his family’s pockets by protecting drug companies who are ruining our state and putting West Virginian lives at risk,” Maselli said. “The drug companies that fund Morrisey's deep pocketed, dark money Super PAC have now spent $6 million to flood the airwaves with lies because West Virginians are learning the facts: Patrick Morrisey is unfit to be our Attorney General."
Maselli said the latest ads are just another attempt to deflect from the real issues.
“West Virginia has the highest overdose rate in the country, but pharmaceutical lobbyist Patrick Morrisey is still covering for his big drug companies and D.C. friends who have spent millions on his campaign,” she said. “The truth is, Morrisey and his out-of state Super PAC are both lying about Doug because they know Morrisey’s days are numbered and they’re running scared.”
