Democrats get early start with bashing of Porter

A year and a half before the election, Democrats already are taking to the airwaves to beat up on Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee on Monday will begin a five-day campaign of radio ads in Southern Nevada accusing Porter of voting against veterans' benefits and pay raises for active-duty soldiers. Porter is one of seven Republican members of Congress targeted by the radio campaign.

"When they go down to their district, they say they support veterans and the troops. Then they come back to D.C. and vote the other way," committee spokesman Fernando Cuevas said. "There's a large percentage of veterans in the district, and we just feel that it's important that they know how their representative is voting on issues that matter to them."

The 60-second ads set their accusation to the tune of military-sounding drums and trumpets. They give the phone number of Porter's congressional office and urge listeners to "tell him he owes our soldiers and veterans more than patriotic speeches this Fourth of July."

The ads are scheduled to be broadcast on KXNT-AM and KWNR-FM. Porter and six other Republicans are being hit with the radio ads, while seven other Republicans are being blasted through automated phone calls and e-mails.

Porter spokesman Matt Leffingwell called the ads misleading. While Porter voted against an amendment to give $1,500 bonuses to soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2003, he later voted for a $5,500 pay increase for military personnel, Leffingwell said.

Leffingwell noted that all the votes referred to in the ads occurred between 2003 and 2006 and were used against him in last year's campaign. "We're glad the Democrats believe in recycling, but recycling the same old talking points is disingenuous," he said.

Porter in 2006 defeated his Democratic challenger, first-time candidate Tessa Hafen, by fewer than 4,000 votes. Leffingwell said the radio ads were a good sign because they showed that Democrats know it will be difficult to defeat Porter.

"They obviously feel that the congressman knows how to run tough elections, and they have to start early in our district," Leffingwell said.

Although one Democrat, accountant Andrew Martin, already has declared his candidacy for the suburban Las Vegas seat, the DCCC still is trying to recruit a candidate to support in the race.