Northup up with new radio ad on gas prices

Arguing that high gas prices will be the central issue of the race for Kentucky's 3rd Congressional District, the campaign of former U.S. Rep Anne Northup (R-Louisville) has launched a one-minute radio ad hammering her opponent, U.S. Rep John Yarmuth (D-Louisville), on energy policy.

Former U.S. Rep Anne Northup (R-Louisville): Politicker photo"Some people decide how to vote when they walk in the polling booth. Maybe you should decide when you drive into the gas station," says the narrator in the advertisement.

The ad contrasts Northup's stance favoring expanded domestic oil drilling in the outer continental shelf, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and in oil shale reserves with her opponent's opposition to those policies.

(Listen to the ad here.)

The new spot will run on five Louisville-area stations.

"Congress's unwillingness to take any meaningful action to lower the price of gas will be the most important issue of the race," said Northup's campaign manager Scott Will in a statement, speaking on the logic behind the ad.

"We spoke to hundreds of people over the Fourth of July weekend that were tired of excuses. That's why you'll hear us talking about sensible solutions that Anne has consistently supported, like continuing to develop alternative energies and reducing our dependence on foreign oil by drilling on American soil," added Will.

Discussion in the 3rd District race has almost entirely revolved around energy policy early in the general election campaign.

Northup has continued to hit Yarmuth for his opposition to drilling while Yarmuth supported a now-failed bill in the U.S. House that would force oil companies to drill on land upon domestic land which they already hold leases.

Last week, Yarmuth announced he and Congressional Democrats were working on legislation that would halt investment in the oil market by energy speculators - investment that Yarmuth says be accountable for up to 50 percent in the rise in the price of oil.