Hatch, Branstad release new television campaign ads in Iowa

DES MOINES - With a week remaining before Iowans go to the polls, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jack Hatch on Monday resumed his television advertising with the first spot he has aired in October.

Hatch, a state senator from Des Moines who is challenging Republican Gov. Terry Branstad's bid for an unprecedented sixth term, has been at a significant fundraising disadvantage against the GOP incumbent throughout the campaign and stopped airing ads in late September as part of his campaign strategy.

Hatch's new 30-second ad, titled 'Fresh Start” that will run in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines TV markets, highlights Hatch's support for preschool and children's health care, his involvement in rebuilding Cedar Rapids after the 2008 flood and his proposed middle-class tax cut, according to the Hatch-Vernon campaign.

'Our closing ad is an upbeat, optimistic look at the opportunities a Hatch-Vernon administration will offer Iowans,” said Grant Woodard, manager of the Hatch-Vernon campaign. 'It's important Iowans know what Jack and Monica stand for and what they will focus on beginning with the 2015 legislative session.”

Campaign finance reports issued last week indicated Branstad had about $1.3 million in cash on hand while Hatch had about $280,000 in cash and outstanding loans totaling $140,000.

During his weekly news conference, Branstad called Hatch's effort inept and punctuated the point by telling reporters 'his campaign is so inept they couldn't even get the Des Moines Register's endorsement, let's face it.” The Register published an editorial in its Sunday edition saying the newspaper could not support either major-party candidate for governor in 2014.

Also Monday, the Branstad-Reynolds campaign released its closing ad of the general election titled, 'Inspired,” that features the governor speaking over positive images of Iowa about his view for Iowa's future and asking Iowans for their support next Tuesday. The governor and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds also plan to hold 13 campaign events across Iowa over the next three days.

'When Governor Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Reynolds travel to all 99 counties every single year, the thing they love the most is hearing from the people of Iowa as they tell their stories and share their dreams,” said Branstad-Reynolds campaign manager Jake Ketzner. 'These interactions have helped the governor and lieutenant governor lead Iowa's comeback because the policies they put in place become personal and more meaningful.”

l Comments: (515) 243-7220; rod.boshart@thegazette.com