GOP Senate candidate to start running TV ads

Republican U.S. Senate candidate John Chachas plans to begin running his first TV ads starting Tuesday, one focused on his biography and the other on his business experience.

The New York investment banker who grew up in Ely is fighting the perception that he's a carpetbagger returning to Nevada after living 20 years out of state to run for Sen. Harry Reid's seat. Chachas is facing a tough primary, running far behind the leading Republicans Sue Lowden, Danny Tarkanian and Sharron Angle. But he's willing to fund some of his own campaign, and has already given himself more than $1 million, which will help buy heavy radio and TV ad time.

In the biographical TV spot, Chachas notes that he has "deep roots in rural Nevada" and still pictures show him as a child on his family's ranch, standing next to his horse. Another photograph shows him holding a rifle. And an older couple is shown as he talks about coming from Greek immigrants who value hard work.

"John Chachas, a rural Nevada upbringing that built character, independence and confidence," a narrator says in the ad that also notes he's a husband and father.

The second TV ad focuses on Nevada's dismal economy with record high home foreclosure and jobless rates.

In the ad, Chachas walks across a street in a neighborhood with lots of "for sale" signs in front of homes and blames Washington for the economic crisis.

"Misguided Washington policies from people who love to spend your money emptied this neighborhood, leaving Nevadans buried under mortgages and businesses afraid to hire while government racks up trillion-dollar deficits." Chachas says.

Chachas, who has never run for office, also notes he's "a businessman and not a politician."

"We can fix this mess if we clean house in Washington," he says in the ad. "That's how we'll turn the lights back on in Nevada."

Former state Sen. Lowden was the first to come out with several TV ads, which focus on her biography and her experience as a lawmaker and a casino executive.

Tarkanian, a businessman and former University of Nevada, Las Vegas basketball star, launched a TV ad last week that shows him with his family and tells his story as well.

Angle, a former Reno assemblywoman, has released a couple of radio ads focused on her conservative, anti-tax voting record and experience.

Contact reporter Laura Myers at lmyers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2919.