Updated: Northup swings at Yarmuth on energy in first ad

Former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup (R-Louisville) opened up her general election television advertising effort yesterday with a new ad that criticizes opponent and incumbent U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) on energy policy.

The thirty-second ad - entitled "Results" - finds Northup jabbing at Yarmuth for his support of the recent Democratically-favored energy package that Republicans criticized for not being a sufficient solution. Northup picks up that standard in her new spot.

"What’s the difference between a talker and a doer? Results," says Northup in the ad. "Take gas prices. John Yarmuth says we should explore for American oil. But the bill he actually voted for – it’s a sham."

Northup then argues the bill in question - H.R. 6899 - "blocks drilling on 80 percent of off-shore oil, permanently."

Some Republicans in the House - where the bill passed - said the Comprehensive American Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act did not do enough in allowing drilling in areas more than 50 miles off-shore, claiming most available oil was within 50 miles from American shores.

Democrats countered the bill was a compromise effort that would help the nation gain energy independence.

In her spot, Northup claims Yarmuth's support of H.R. 6899 was suited for the election year.

"Yarmuth just wants to talk about energy enough to get through an election," she says in the spot.

Northup has touched on the energy issue in several of her public appearances thus far in the campaign, calling for expanded drilling at a press conference earlier this year and running radio ads critical of Yarmuth on the issue.

H.R. 6899 remains pending in the U.S. Senate, but consideration there is not likely before the November election.

Updated, 7:24 pm: The Yarmuth campaign fired off a response to Northup's ad this afternoon defending the House legislation and jabbing at the Republican candidate.

"The truth is Congress just ended the quarter century ban on off-shore drilling. But we know better than to expect the truth from Anne's ads, especially when they are bought and paid for with her oil company contributions," said Yarmuth's campaign manager, Dan Geldon, in a statement.

"But what's most telling is that after ten years in Congress, she just ran an ad called 'Results' and couldn't come up with a single accomplishment of her own worth talking about," added Geldon.