Ad: Balukoff ‘needs a script’

The Republican Governors Association launched a new anti-A.J. Balukoff ad in Idaho on Tuesday, this one using a video clip from the governors’ debate in Coeur d’Alene where Balukoff momentarily lost his place in his opening remarks.

The ad suggests Balukoff “needs a script,” and repeats several claims from an earlier Republican Governors Association ad attempting to tie Balukoff, a Democrat, to President Barack Obama, while adding several new ones as well.

Balukoff has said he voted for Mitt Romney in the last presidential election.

“Tying Balukoff again to Obama and to gun control could be hurtful,” said Jim Weatherby, emeritus professor at Boise State University and a longtime observer of Idaho politics. “Those are two hot-button issues. But as to losing his place in his presentation, that’s pretty shallow stuff.”

The video clip is from Balukoff’s two-minute opening remarks at an Oct. 3 debate at the Coeur d’Alene Library. Gov. Butch Otter visibly read from prepared remarks during his opening comments, while Balukoff largely spoke without looking at his text – except when he lost his place.

Among the two other candidates in the debate, Libertarian John Bujak spoke to the audience without referring to prepared remarks, while independent candidate “Pro-Life” occasionally looked down at his notes.

“It’s a rather cheap shot,” said Mike Lanza, spokesman for Balukoff’s campaign. “Anybody speaking publicly has moments where they’re trying to collect their thoughts.” He called the commercial “just a rehash of the same distortions and misrepresentations of A.J.’s positions.”

The new governors association ad comes on the heels of three new commercials from the candidates themselves, all positive ads focusing on the candidates’ positions. All three of those – two from Balukoff, and one from Otter – are airing in the Spokane broadcast TV market. The new governors association ad isn’t, but it is running statewide in Idaho, including on cable TV in North Idaho.