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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

AdWatch: Otter, Fulcher both launch new TV ads, Fulcher stretches claims

Both Idaho Gov. Butch Otter and his Republican challenger, state Sen. Russ Fulcher, have launched new TV commercials in the final days leading up to Tuesday’s election, but Fulcher’s contains two false claims and an exaggeration. Fulcher’s ad, titled “It’s Time,” recites a litany of criticisms of Otter’s record in two terms as governor, as various claims flash on the screen, including “105,000 Idahoans lost insurance” and “Government dependence up 82 percent.” Neither of those claims is true. It also exaggerates the number of years Otter’s held elective office, claiming 40 years rather than 32.

Otter’s ad, titled, "Two Choices, portrays his move to launch a state insurance exchange as an example of his fighting the federal government, while Fulcher seeks to tie Otter to Democratic President Barack Obama. Voters seeing both these ads will be left with a question, said BSU professor emeritus Jim Weatherby: “Who do you trust, who do you believe? Because they can’t both be accurate.” You can read my full AdWatch story here at spokesman.com.



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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