Attack ad attracts Angle contributions but provokes immigration reform groups

WASHINGTON -- Sharron Angle laughed all the way to the bank Wednesday after being cussed out on a network television talk show over her controversial new ad on immigration.

But at the same time, immigration reform groups said the provocative commercial motivated them to a substantial ad buy on Spanish-language radio in Nevada to counter the Republican's message and turn out voters against her.

The commercial, an attack ad on Democratic Sen. Harry Reid, has gained national attention and wide criticism for its imagery depicting Hispanics as young toughs and whites as young schoolchildren and distressed family members. Fact-checkers also have said the ad's message that Reid is soft on illegal immigrants is inaccurate in parts.

The controversy has driven even more attention to the Nevada Senate race, if that's possible.

Angle claimed she collected $150,000 from online donations after Joy Behar of "The View" called her a "bitch" and condemned the commercial unveiled Monday.

"Yikes, it's like a Hitler youth commercial," was Behar's first reaction on the show Tuesday after viewing the 30-second ad.

The Republican Senate candidate from Nevada sent Behar flowers and a thank you note for the publicity.

On "The View" on Wednesday, Behar said Angle should have taken the money spent on the flowers "and had some sensitivity training with it."

Hispanic activists continue to fume while Republican strategists have said Angle's focus on illegal immigration -- she has run at least four commercials on the topic -- was working for her.

In response, a coalition of immigration reform groups Tuesday began a "saturation level ad buy" on Spanish-language radio stations in Nevada to rebut Angle. The spots also seek to counter an earlier TV ad -- since pulled by Univision -- that urges Latinos not to vote.

"Millions of dollars have been spent on commercials that attack us and make us out to be criminals, insinuating that we don't deserve to be in this country," the new radio spot says.

"Don't let them fool you. They know that the Latino vote could be decisive in Nevada, and they want to intimidate you so you don't vote."

Frank Sharry, executive director of America's Voice, said the commercials would run through Election Day at a cost of "deep into five figures."

Sharry said the ads would not be on the air if not for Angle's strike against Latinos. The commercial time was bought by America's Voice, Campaign for Community Change and Mi Familia Vota Civic Participation Campaign.

"These ads will go down in political history as disgraceful and a new low," Sharry said of Angle's ads. "Whether she wins or loses it will be remembered as one of the most radical efforts to exploit racial divisions in order to win."

Sharry said the commercial apparently is aimed at Angle's base of conservative supporters. But, he added, "if they think it's going to work on the middle, I suspect they will be surprised. Independents are frustrated with illegal immigration like most Americans ... but what they don't like is racism."

Angel's campaign has defended the ads by saying that illegal immigration is not about race but about the rule of law in this country.

Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760.