IA-Sen: Greenfield Hits Federal Response To COVID In New Ad

U.S. Senate candidate Theresa Greenfield launched today a new statewide television ad focused on the coronavirus pandemic and how corporate lobbyists have impacted the federal government’s response.

“Best of Iowa” is the first TV ad Greenfield’s campaign has aired since the Des Moines Register unveiled its latest poll June 13 showing the former small business president leading Republican Sen. Joni Ernst by three percentage points.

Greenfield has been vocal about the pandemic since coronavirus cases first were detected in Iowa early in March. On April 1 she called for a statewide stay-at-home order, and since then has advocated for free COVID-19 testing, more personal protective equipment for frontline workers and easier access to mail-in voting.

“Iowans deserve leaders who will stand up to the corporate special interests and fight to put them first,” said Izzi Levy, a Greenfield spokesperson. “That’s exactly what Theresa is doing — consistently calling for more accountability and stronger protections for our frontline workers.”

The 30-second ad begins with the coronavirus — which has killed more than 118,000 Americans, including 680 Iowans —and ends with Greenfield’s pledge not accept corporate PAC money “because I don’t think politicians should put corporate interests ahead of you.”

Greenfield doesn’t mention Ernst, but text on the screen points to Republicans’ $500 billion “Exchange Stabilization Fund” included in the March CARES Act, which Democrats accused of being a “slush fund” for President Trump and corporate America.

“During this crisis, we’ve seen the best of Iowa, but we’ve also seen the worst of Washington,” Greenfield says in the ad. “The lobbyists swooped in and politicians voted to bailout their big corporate donors. Workers and small businesses got the short end of the stick — again.”

“Best of Iowa” is the second TV ad Greenfield’s campaign has aired since clinching the Democratic nomination June 2. Ernst’s campaign has yet to go up on TV.

 

By Elizabeth Meyer
Posted 6/19/20

Iowa Starting Line is an independently-owned progressive news outlet devoted to providing unique, insightful coverage on Iowa news and politics. We need reader support to continue operating — please donate here. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for more coverage.