Campaign videos linking presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., have drawn attention from several political publications since they were released earlier this month.
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Democrat Conner Eldridge, a former U.S. attorney who is trying to unseat Boozman, isn't airing the spots on radio or television; they're appearing online, but they've caught the attention of The New York Times and The New Yorker. They've been featured on MSNBC and CNN. The first one has been viewed on YouTube more than 180,000 times.
Titled "Harassment," it features clips of Trump speaking disrespectfully about women: "She ate like a pig." "... I'd look her right in that fat ugly face." "... The boob job is terrible." "... Blood coming out of her wherever." "... Must be a pretty picture, you dropping to your knees."
It labels Boozman "a silent enabler" and shows a clip of him promising to support Trump if Trump leads the Republican ticket.
Released the same week that U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Gov. John Kasich of Ohio suspended their presidential campaigns, the ad appeared to some to offer a taste of what lies ahead.
"The two-minute ad was instantly seen as a preview of general-election attacks on down-ballot Republican candidates with Mr. Trump at the top of the ticket," The New York Times wrote.
A three-minute video, titled "Dangerous Nonsense," debuted last week and highlights other statements Trump has made on the campaign trail. It tells viewers that Eldridge is "not afraid of Donald Trump."
Both clips end with fundraising appeals.
Eldridge declined to say how much money the campaign is spending to promote the video on social media, but said the themes it highlights are important.
"I believe in the message that it is wrong to blindly follow anyone, and Sen. Boozman is wrong to blindly and silently follow Donald Trump," he said.
In an interview, Boozman said the Republican standard-bearer, whomever that may be, will be better than the Democratic alternative.
And he noted that Eldridge was the White House's choice to serve as a federal prosecutor in western Arkansas.
"A vote for him is a vote for a third term of President [Barack] Obama," Boozman added.
Metro on 05/16/2016