McConnell’s first ad hits Lunsford on gas tax

The ad war between U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) and his Democratic opponent, businessman Bruce Lunsford, of Louisville, kicked off in earnest this morning, when McConnell launched his first ad - a 30-second slam accusing Lunsford of contributing to higher gas taxes.

"Nearly 30 years ago, Bruce Lunsford lobbied for automatic gas tax increases," says the ad's narrator.

McConnell's campaign points to Lunsford's work in 1980 as a member of former Governor John Y. Brown's cabinet. Then, he was part of an effort to tie the rate of the gas tax in the state to the wholesale cost of gasoline - rather than set a flat rate per gallon.

Interestingly, the ad features footage of Lunsford speaking in Bowling Green and providing some explanation for the changing taxes on gasoline.

"We changed the way we tax gas in this state that gave us a budget that could grow," says Lunsford in the McConnell ad's sampled film.

In targeting the tax, the ad affixes the Democrat's name to the tax structure and claims the tax is still hitting pocketbooks in the state.

"The Lunsford automatic gas tax has already cost Kentuckians hundreds of millions," it continues.

The ad also argues, "Lunsford wants to pump tax payers for even more."

To back up that assertion, the campaign cites a PolWatchers report in which - as Ryan Alessi of that outlet reported this morning - Lunsford says he supports a windfall profit tax on oil companies, but mentions no support of further taxes on individuals at the gas pump.

In contextualizing the new attack ad on Lunsford, McConnell's campaign says the spot is their response to "constant attacks" from Lunsford.

Lunsford frequently lambasts McConnell on the campaign trail. During the Democratic primary campaign, Lunsford also targeted McConnell in some of his own television advertisements, though none have hit the air since Lunsford clinched the Democratic nomination on May 20.

A release from the McConnell campaign also suggests the senator l has been "the victim of misleading attacks on the airwaves and news pages from Lunsford allies for more than a year."

"After months and months of negative attacks, we are today beginning to set the record straight," said Justin Brasell, McConnell's campaign manager in a statement.

Brasell also suggested this ad would be the "first step" in their campaign against "Bruce Lunsford's record."

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