Political advertising gets ugly, expensive

Here’s an excerpt from the Asheville Citizen-Times article:

Nathan Ramsey is no stranger to politics — and it’s a good thing he’s got a sense of humor.

A Fairview attorney and dairy farmer, Ramsey spent eight years on the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, battling it out as a lone Republican.

But in his new race for a state House seat, this is the first time he’s seen himself pictured with a Pinocchio nose, an image created by a Raleigh-based Democratic nonprofit, Common Sense Matters.

“I knew I needed some plastic surgery, but I thought I just needed some liposuction, not a nose job,” Ramsey said, referring to a mailer from the Raleigh-based Democratic nonprofit organization Common Sense Matters. It alleges “Nathan Ramsey flat out broke his promise on school funding.”

Welcome to the mean side of political life, and, with less than a month to go before Election Day, it’s about to get really nasty — for a lot candidates and regardless of political affiliation.

When it comes to ugly political advertising, all politicians lament that it’s so prevalent.

But they all do it — and they all spend a fortune on it in the process, inundating the public with ads that often don’t stand up to scrutiny.

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About Jake Frankel
Jake Frankel is an award-winning journalist who enjoys covering a wide range of topics, from politics and government to business, education and entertainment.

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