Fong begins statewide radio ad campaign; Dems cry 'foul'

By James Q. Lynch

The Gazette

CEDAR RAPIDS – Republican gubernatorial hopeful Christian Fong is on the airwaves with a statewide radio campaign.

His first ad, “Iowa Dream, focuses on introducing Fong and outlining his story for likely primary voters. It tells the story of the Cedar Rapids businessman's father, Nelson Fong, who left China to escape Communism and eventually settled in western Iowa where he lived his American Dream, according to the ad.

Fong says he sees that dream slipping away because of overspending and borrowing by state government. “As governor I would end the use of taxpayer money to fund lobbyists and veto any budget that is not balanced,” he says in the 60-second ad.

“It's time for people to hear who Christian Fong is,” his campaign manager Marlys Popma said about the ad buy that will focus heavily on conservative talk radio that attracts likely voters in the June 2010 GOP primary election. The ad is designed to lay out Fong's social and economic conservative philosophies, she said.

The ad is scheduled to run at least two weeks, she said, and likely will be followed by more ads.

“We want to let people know where Christian is at on the issues, to let them hear his thoughts on managing the state budget and on social issues,” the veteran Republican campaign operative said.

Iowa Democratic State Chairman Michael Kiernan called for Fong to take down the “materially false and misleading” ad for the party takes other action.

He objects to Fong's assertion state government has borrowed nearly $1 billion to pay its bills.

“To suggest money borrowed for the I-JOBS initiative means the budget is out of balance is false,” Kiernan said.  “It's like telling Iowans who have home mortgages that their personal finances won't be balanced for 30 years.  It makes no sense.”

Kiernan pointed out Democrats recently took legal action to halt the airing of an ad they objected to in a special election in southern Iowa.

Fong's fundraising -- he announced earlier this summer he's raised more than $100,000 -- allows him to begin a media campaign roughly 10 months before the June 2010 primary election, Popma said. She wouldn't say how much more he's raised, but said Fong has a fundraiser scheduled for September that is expected to raise a “substantial amount.”

Although speculation that former Gov. Terry Branstad will join the race has reportedly slowed contributions to candidates, Popma said it probably has had less impact on Fong than on candidates who are tapping “old money” sources.

“So much of (Fong's) support is not from traditional Republican sources,” Popma said. It's coming from Republicans and other conservatives “who are looking for someone with a new vision, someone from outside the Des Moines beltway.”

Others seeking the nomination include Rep. Chris Rants and businessman Bob Vander Plaats, both of Sioux City; Iowa Senate Minority Leader Paul McKinley of Chariton; Rep. Rod Roberts of Carroll and Sen. Jerry Behn of Boone.