McMaster departs from ‘frat boy’ attack while Cunningham calls himself ‘different’ in TV ads
In new television ads released Monday Gov. Henry McMaster and his Democratic challenger Joe Cunningham tried to differentiate themselves from stances of other politicians.
Both spots — McMaster’s second of the general election season and Cunningham’s first — portray the candidates in a positive light rather than attacking their opponent.
McMaster, as he did in an ad that ran before the primary election, distinguishes his decision-making in South Carolina from that of politicians in Washington, D.C.
“It’s hard to find common ground these days. But one thing folks agree on: Washington is totally broken,” McMaster says. “In Washington, they spend money that doesn’t even exist. We don’t do that here. In Washington, they try to defund the police. We don’t do that here. And they tried to close businesses and churches during COVID. Not here.”
Cunningham’s ad portrays him as “someone different” than politicians who have run in the past.
“What if, instead of politics as usual, someone different came along who champions freedom for our people and accountability for politicians? Someone has: Joe Cunningham,” the ad says.
McMaster’s campaign did not say how long its ad, titled “Not Here,” would run, but its first ad characterizing Cunningham as a “frat boy” ran for about two weeks. (Cunningham was not in a fraternity).
McMaster’s campaign said his new ad, which also features First Lady Peggy McMaster and their dog Mac, will run on both cable and network television around the state.
Cunningham’s campaign said its first ad of the general election is a six-figure buy and is running in “multiple media markets throughout the state.”
The ad, titled “Something Different,” mentions his push to put age limits on politicians, his call to eliminate the state income tax and his promise to protect access to abortion.
The ad includes photos of him with police officers, talking to a woman in a restaurant kitchen and other potential voters.
