Several new ads, including one on the air in the Lubbock area, are taking aim at Congressman Beto O'Rourke's bid for the U.S. Senate.
On Friday, it was reported by the Texas Tribune that Republican Senator Ted Cruz's campaign has launched four brand new campaign ads. The first ad showcases Cruz and attempts to praise Texans for conduct during Hurricane Harvey and rebuilding efforts.
The second advertisement took aim at O'Rourke, attacking the El Paso Democrat as soft on drugs. The ad spot, which is reportedly being run in the Lubbock area, attacks O'Rourke for his support for a resolution amendment on the El Paso City Council supporting an "open, honest, national dialogue on ending the prohibition of narcotics." These events unfolded in El Paso in 2009.
"Beto O'Rourke said we should consider legalizing all narcotics, including heroin — that would be destructive to our communities and families," a narrator in the advertisement said. "Texas needs a senator who’ll lead the fight against drug abuse, and help those in need get back to work."
A second attack ad on O'Rourke surfaced on Friday. This advertisement focused on comments by O'Rourke that he would consider impeaching President Donald Trump and again hit the narcotics issue. The advertisement attempted to suggest that O'Rourke's policy positions were too extreme for former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) and Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont). The ad officially declared O'Rourke as being "too reckless for Texas."
Another attack ad, which surfaced later in the day, attempted to paint O'Rourke as weak on illegal immigration.
Following the information on the advertisements, O'Rourke's campaign released a fundraising email, blaming the advertisements on Cruz and special interest groups.
"Here’s how we fight back: Every time Ted Cruz and the super PACs behind him launch negative attacks on Beto, we will make them pay by raising more money online and signing up more volunteers than ever before," the ad from Team Beto states. "We’re going to keep this campaign positive, and in doing so we’ll send an unmistakable message about the way campaigns should be run."
Cruz is facing O'Rourke and Libertarian Neal Dikeman in the November general election.
