Pro-John Kasich super PAC dings Marco Rubio in new ad
Ohio Gov. John Kasich has been driving home one message all week: that in spite of calls for the anti-Trump wing of the Republican Party to unite behind Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, he's the candidate his party should look to.
He's getting some help with that message from outside allies. On Thursday, a super PAC supporting Kasich released an ad making the case that Kasich, not Rubio, should be the GOP's standard-bearer. It also paints Rubio as the candidate of DC insiders and lobbyists, a tough label in a year where anti-establishment sentiment has swept through both parties.
Here's the ad:
"Washington politicians and lobbyists are rushing to crown Marco Rubio," says the ad, from pro-Kasich group New Day for America, with an image of Kasich and Rubio side by side. "But, national polls show John Kasich is the one who beats Hillary Clinton by eleven points, not Marco Rubio."
The image of Rubio then begins fading out, leaving just Kasich on screen. "And, that of all the GOP candidates, only John Kasich has the experience to be president," the ad continues. "Only John Kasich. DC lobbyists wrong? Now, there's a first."
Kasich made similar points when he appeared on CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday, when he argued that he's best equipped to take on Clinton in November. "Remember this: I'm the person who beats Hillary Clinton by more than any other Republican candidate for president," he said, saying party support should "consolidate my way."
The ad is part of a $500,000 buy across three March states Kasich's team is targeting: Vermont, Massachusetts and Michigan.