New Ted Cruz ad attacks Donald Trump's "New York values"
In a new television ad, Ted Cruz doubles down on his controversial line of attack against Donald Trump's "New York values."
The ad opens with a clip of Trump's appearance 1999 on NBC's "Meet the Press," in which Trump says, "I lived in New York City and Manhattan all my life, so my views are a little bit different than if I lived in Iowa."
Over ominous music, a female narrator then says, "They are different -- like on abortion." The ad then shows Trump remarking in the NBC interview, "I am pro-choice in every respect."
The ad will play statewide in Iowa starting Tuesday. The Iowa caucuses are held February 1.
When Cruz earlier this month attacked Trump's "New York values" in a Republican primary debate, it prompted a fierce backlash. For instance, conservative Rep. Peter King of New York declared that "New York values" are represented by the heroes of 9/11 and officers who fight terrorism. "Go back under a rock," he told Cruz via Twitter.
That, however, isn't stopping Cruz from using that line of attack.
Meanwhile, a pro-Cruz super PAC released its own ad on Monday that uses the exact same line from Trump's 1999 NBC interview in which he says, "I am pro-choice in every respect."
Super PACs are legally prohibited from coordinating with political campaigns.
The latest CBS Battleground Tracker shows a tight race between Cruz and Trump in Iowa: Trump has regained the lead and now has a 5-point edge over the Texas Republican.