HMP Ad: Scott Garrett’s Dixieland Views Don’t Belong in Jersey

Washington, D.C. – Today, House Majority PAC announced its second ad in the race for New Jersey’s Fifth Congressional District. The group’s newest spot, “Dixie,” calls out Congressman Scott Garrett for opposing a ban on Confederate flags in military cemeteries and reminds voters of his anti-LGBT views which have led newspapers like the Star-Ledger to slam Garrett as “a crazy extremist” and “a shameless bigot.” Bloomberg News has also described Garrett’s views as “those of a rural Alabama conservative.”
 
“Dixie” can be viewed online here.
 
“More than a thousand miles and a hundred years separate Congressman Garrett’s views from the values of New Jersey voters,” said House Majority PAC spokesperson Jeb Fain. “Whether his outrageous defense of a symbol of racial hatred or his shameful discrimination against LGBT Americans, Garrett has proven he has no business representing the people of North Jersey.”
 
The ad will begin airing on cable across the Fifth District next Tuesday, September 6, with a new $162,000 buy.
 
Additionally, HMP will again target NJ-05 voters vacationing at the Jersey Shore this Labor Day weekend with an airplane banner – which will be visible at beaches from Belmar to Sandy Hook. The banner will direct voters to www.GarrettBigotry.comwhere they can now view the ad, “Dixie,” as well as link to many of the articles and editorials which have spotlighted and denounced Garrett’s backwards rhetoric and record on issues like the Confederate flag and LGBT equality. The banner will be followed by a letter trail which reads, “Rep. Scott Garrett – Move to Alabama.” In the event of inclement weather, the date of the flight will be adjusted to a later weekend.
 
In June, House Majority PAC launched an initial media campaign eventually totaling more than $700,000 against Garrett. The campaign included the ad, “Quotes,” which ran for over six weeks on cable. “Quotes” amplified concerns raised about Garrett by New Jersey newspapers and spotlighted how multiple businesses have distanced themselves from Garrett in light of his bigotry. Other components of the initial campaign included a direct mail program, the GarrettBigotry.com website, digital ads, billboards reaching district commuters along NJ Route 17, and a banner plane that flew on two previous summer weekends along the Jersey Shore. 
 
Following HMP’s first NJ-05 media campaign, a Democratic poll found Garrett in a statistical tie with his Democratic challenger Josh Gottheimer – 44% to 42%.