Neese begins ad campaign with focus on Trump
Oklahoma City Republican Terry Neese launched the first television ads of her congressional campaign on Tuesday, targeting GOP primary voters with her allegiance to President Donald Trump and his agenda.
The ads how sNee se wearing a Trump 2020 hat and features her narration about the need for toughness to build a wall, protect 2 nd Amendment rights and restart the economy. A handgun is shown being taken from a vehicle gloves box to accompany the 2nd Amendment line. Pictures of Neese with Trump and his son, Donald Trump Jr., are also shown.
Neese is the first candidate in the crowded Republican field for the 5th District congressional seat to air television ads.
Trump's popularity is
high among Oklahoma Republicans, which is the audience for GOP candidates. And though he received 54% of the vote in the 5th District in 2016, that was well below his margin statewide. The 5th District includes most of Oklahoma County and Pottawatomie and Seminole counties.
Public records posted by two Oklahoma City television stations show the Neese campaign spent about $35,000 for broadcast time at those stations for the next two weeks.
The 5th District seat is held by U.S. Rep. Kendra Horn, D-Oklahoma City, who knocked off Republican incumbent Steve Russell in 2018 and is one of the top targets of Republicans nationally this year. Horn voted to impeach Trump last year.
The primaries are June 30. Meanwhile, David Hill, who is also vying for the GOP nomination, called on the media and organizations to hold debates.
“Traditionally, civic clubs and others have provided forums where voters can hear directly from candidates instead of through 30-second television commercials or other forms of slick advertising,” he said “But because of the current crisis, these organizations are not meeting.”
Of the four leading candidates for the GOP nomination, Hill is the only one who hasn't held elective office or been a nominee for a major office. He is also lagging the other three in fundraising.