Cross-posted from
MN Campaign Report.
In a press release today, the campaign of Gil Gutknecht (R-inc) sought to dampen the effect of ads running in Minnesota's First District criticizing the incumbent Republican. The ads, produced and paid for by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), include a photo of Gutknecht in a tuxedo, which, according to the Gutknecht camp, is an attempt to mislead voters because the photo is from a charity event where Gutknecht served as auctioneer.
In the press release, Gutknecht spokesman Bryan Anderson said "It's shameful, though not surprising, that Tim Walz would use a photograph of Congressman Gutknecht raising scholarship money for women in a deliberate attempt to mislead voters." While the photo in the ad does leave out the name and logo of the organization hosting the event, it is worth noting that the press release does not indicate how the AFSCME ad attempts to mislead voters.
Tim Walz for Communications Director Meredith Salsbery responded, "The Congressman's staff needs to spend less time worrying about his fashion and more time trying to solve America's problems. For the sake of our voters and our soldiers, I sincerely hope they're able to turn their attention from expensive men's clothing to the extremely expensive war we're fighting in Iraq."
The ads are part of a $90,000+ AFSCME ad buy criticizing the incumbent Gutknecht, as reported by MNCR last week.