Last week, several North Carolina TV stations took the unusual step of removing a Republican against Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Cheri Beasley. But the commercial 鈥� which criticizes Beasley for being soft on crime 鈥� is now back on the air, after Republicans made a small change.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee changed in the 30-second ad. The group said it鈥檚 now playing again on every TV station in which it bought time.
When TV stations, including WSOC in Charlotte, initially removed the ad, Beasley鈥檚 campaign called the commercial a false attack. It also said the GOP had been caught 鈥渓ying.鈥�
The issue is over Beasley鈥檚 tenure on the North Carolina Supreme Court.
In the original ad, the NSRC said Beasley 鈥� in a court ruling 鈥� 鈥渟et free鈥� a child pornography offender.
The reality is more complicated. Beasley voted with the court majority in upholding a court of appeals decision that a police detective had illegally searched an Onslow County man鈥檚 USB drive without a laptop.
The decision did not set the man free. He served another two years related to a photo that wasn鈥檛 subject to the court appeal.
The ad now says the Beasley 鈥渟ided with him鈥ot the police.鈥�
When TV stations initially removed the ad, Beasley鈥檚 campaign called the commercial a false attack. It also said the GOP had been caught 鈥渓ying.鈥� When asked about the ad running again, the Beasley campaign pointed to a statement given by a number of North Carolina sheriffs, who said Beasley is tough on crime.
WRAL also about another claim in the ad.
Chris Hartline with the NSRC said more attack ads are coming.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot more to come on this front so we鈥檙e happy to have a debate for the rest of the election on crime and her record on crime,鈥� he said.
Hartline said the NRSC believes the original ad was fair.
In response, the Beasley campaign and the Democratic Senate Majority PAC have countered with ads touting Beasley鈥檚 criminal justice record. noted that 鈥淛udge Beasley has cracked down on violent criminals her entire career.鈥�
Beasley has so far raised more money than her Republican opponent, Rep. Ted Budd, but has not yet attacked him in commercials. Dory MacMillan, a Beasley spokesperson, said Beasley is so far introducing herself to voters.
In a story in last month, the chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee said Democrats aren鈥檛 sure yet how much they will invest in the North Carolina race this fall. Democrats are trying to hold their slim Senate majority, and could devote more resources to other states, like Georgia, Nevada and New Hampshire.
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