Lamb unveils TV ad in gubernatorial bid

Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb launched a television ad promoting his gubernatorial campaign this week, becoming the third Republican candidate in the crowded field to broadcast an appeal to voters months before the primary.

Lamb’s ad features photos from his time in the Secret Service — 1998 to 2002 — and makes generous use of the word “conservative.” Lamb says in the ad that he will “support and stand with President Trump as he works to improve our economy.”

The ad has been in rotation on the Fox News Channel. Lamb’s campaign manager, Keith Beall, said it is airing on multiple channels in multiple media markets. He declined to say how much money the campaign spent.

Tulsa businessman Kevin Stitt’s campaign started airing a basic biographical ad in mid-February. Stitt, making his first run for office, is mostly unknown; the first buy was an estimated $225,000.

Tulsa attorney Gary Richardson, who ran as an independent in 2002, aired a television ad in late December and early January promoting a web video about a client he represented.

A political action committee supporting Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett in the GOP race has funded television ads aimed at introducing him in Tulsa, where he has low recognition. Cornett’s own campaign has not launched television ads.

Lamb has won two statewide elections and is in his eighth year as lieutenant governor. He has traveled numerous times to all 77 counties in the state.

Asked whether Lamb was airing television earlier than originally planned, Beall said the campaign plan was being “executed as designed.”

Oklahoma’s primaries are on June 26.

Lamb’s ad is clearly targeted at state Republican primary voters, some of the most conservative people in one of the reddest states. Trump has high approval ratings in Oklahoma.

Lamb had more campaign cash when the year began than any of the other candidates — $2.6 million. That was $1 million more than Stitt’s campaign and $2 million more than Cornett’s.