DeB, AOC targeted in special-elex ads
A newly formed conservative advocacy group is trying to bring out the Republican vote in the Feb. 26 special election for public advocate by going after the right’s two top New York City foes: Mayor de Blasio and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Accountable New York, which is barred by law from backing any particular candidate, plans to run ads blasting the two left-wingers and railing about the city’s handling of issues like homelessness, Rikers Island, immigration and abortion.
Its organizers are hoping that a focus on politicians and policies that outrage conservatives could spur more of them to go to the polls and help the only elected Republican lawmaker in the crowded special election, Queens Councilmember Eric Ulrich.
Nearly all of the 17 candidates running are Democrats. The glaring exceptions are Ulrich and lesser-known Republican Manny Alicandro, a diehard supporter of President Trump.
Candidates can’t use party la- bels in a special election and must run under their own banner. The hope for Ulrich is that Democrats will split their vote among the many liberals, while the Republican will benefit from a united GOP and right-wing vote and score an unexpected victory.
Accountable New York is headed by veteran GOP political operative O’Brien Murray, who said he will have, at minimum, hundreds of thousands of dollars at his disposal to run ads on TV and social media.
“The public advocate’s election provides voters with an opportunity to express their disgust with Mayor de Blasio and the liberal machine that has taken over New York,” Murray said.
The first TV spot, scheduled to run Monday on Fox News, is called “You’re the Problem in Bill de Blasio’s New York.”
“Sick of being a sanctuary city? You’re the problem,” a narrator says as a headline about the vicious MS-13 gang appears on the screen.
A July 11, 2015, New York Post front page of a homeless man urinating on a Manhattan street — with the headline “20 years of cleaning up New York City Pissed Away” — figures prominently in the ad.
“Sick of the homeless urinating on your streets? You’re the problem,” the narrator says as The Post’s front page appears on the screen.
“Opposed to killing babies moments before delivery? You’re the problem. You want criminals on Rikers Island and not in your back yard and you’re the problem.”
The 30-second ad concludes, “No! Bill de Blasio is the problem! Get out and vote on Feb. 26 and be de Blasio’s worst nightmare.”
More ads are in the works — including ones targeting Ocasio-Cortez, according to Murray.
De Blasio’s office dismissed the attack ad as a distortion of the real conditions in the city.
“Crime’s at a record low, graduation rates are at record highs, and we have more jobs than at any point in city history,” said mayoral spokesman Eric Phillips. “Something tells me the ad will leave that out. I wonder why.”