State - Race for Governor Cox keeps up pressure on Hoekstra with 2nd TV ad Longtime congressman says AG is 'cherry-picking' through vote records

By Kathy Barks Hoffman AP Political Writer LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Attorney General Mike Cox launched another campaign ad Tuesday, chiding Rep. Pete Hoekstra for voting for the federal bailout of Wall Street banks and raising the federal debt ceiling. "Hoekstra gave Congress more money to spend, expanding our debt limit an additional five trillion" dollars, the ad's announcer says. The 30-second ad also criticizes Hoekstra for voting against an amendment that would have stopped funding for a lobster institute at the University of Maine and promotes Cox's record of trimming costs by cutting his staff. The ad is the second in two weeks launched by Cox against the longtime congressman who has led the five-person Republican field in recent polls. Hoekstra began promoting his conservative credentials last week in an ad in response to Cox's attack, saying he has shown "character and integrity" and listing high ratings from National Right to Life and National Rifle Association. Cox is "cherry-picking through vote records ... and distorting them to look a certain way," Hoekstra campaign spokeswoman Sara Sendek said Tuesday. "He's making Pete look like a big spender and in truth he's a fiscal conservative." Sendek said Cox is ignoring the fact that federal spending has increased over the past nine years to cover the cost of fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and counter the increased threat of terrorism. Cox isn't backing away from his attempt to tap into voter anger over multibillion-dollar bank bailouts and expensive federal earmarks -- and tie Hoekstra to both. The two Republicans began their on-air sparring last week. Both have concentrated their heaviest ad buys so far in west Michigan, targeting voters in the 2nd Congressional District that Hoekstra has represented for 18 years. Hoekstra has made minimal network TV buys, although his ad has aired on cable stations around the state. The ad is about to go off the air, Sendek said. Cox's ads have aired on more broadcast stations, although not in the Detroit area. His latest ad will run on some broadcast stations as well as statewide on cable stations for at least a week, Cox campaign spokesman Nick DeLeeuw said. Others in the GOP race are Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard, who has briefly advertised on cable stations, and Ann Arbor businessman Rick Snyder, who as the wealthiest candidate has been able to run four ads so far. GOP state Sen. Tom George has not run any TV ads. Neither have the Democrats in the race for governor, Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero and House Speaker Andy Dillon. Although the candidates are eager to distinguish themselves from their rivals with only 11 weeks left before the Aug. 3 primary election, they also have to save campaign cash for ads this summer. Published: Thu, May 20, 2010

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