Supporters of John Kasich are running a new television ad in South Carolina criticizing a pro-Jeb Bush super PAC’s attack on the Ohio governor’s record on defense spending as a congressman. The ad from New Day for America, the pro-Kasich super PAC, depicts a man wearing a “Jeb!” button covered in mud.
“Jeb Bush and his allies have spent millions attacking John Kasich, yet Kasich is one of three candidates with a top-two finish under his belt and Jeb has failed to earn more than a purple participation ribbon,” said Connie Wehrkamp, New Day for America spokeswoman, in a statement. “John Kasich actually has national security experience, unlike Jeb Bush, and worked for nearly two decades to strengthen our military. We’re very confident the voters of South Carolina will believe the speaker over Jeb’s negative attack machine.”
Right to Rise USA, the super PAC supporting Bush’s presidential campaign, appears to have removed its ad online, but it is still viewable. Bush has made criticizing his Republican opponents’ record on defense spending a hallmark of his campaign in the Palmetto State, but has notably excluded condemning Kasich.
“Why did John Kasich spend his career supporting massive defense cuts?” a narrator asks in the controversial Right to Rise ad. “Kasich wanted cuts so severe even Bill Clinton said they would harm defense. John Kasich: dangerously wrong on national security.”
Kasich’s ad responds with a narrator reading a quote from former House Speaker Newt Gingrich that appeared in the Atlanta Journal Constitution. The Kasich supporters’ ad identifies Gingrich as the winner of the 2012 South Carolina Republican primary, not as a former speaker.
“Any suggestion that John Kasich is anti-defense is simply false,” Gingrich is quoted as saying. “I served with him for 16 years and he consistently fought for a better, more effective military. Any ad attacking Kasich on defense should be pulled as false and misleading.”
The dispute between Bush’s and Kasich’s supporters is emblematic of a larger battle between the two candidates, who are fighting for their political futures in South Carolina. Kasich ranks fourth in the Washington Examiner‘s newest GOP presidential power rankings. Bush ranks fifth out of six Republican candidates.
