Democratic outside group American Bridge launched a five-figure Facebook ad Thursday targeting Republican Troy Balderson in the special election for Ohio’s 12th District.
The digital ad, which will run through Tuesday’s election, hits Balderson for refusing to say if he’ll vote for embattled Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, for speaker.
Jordan came under fire last month when former Ohio State wrestlers said Jordan knew about sexual abuse allegations against a team doctor and did nothing.
The 30-second ad references a Columbus Dispatch report that says Balderson’s campaign refused multiple times to say if the candidate supports Jordan’s bid.
“Does Troy Balderson stand with the victims, or with Jim Jordan?” a narrator is heard asking in American Bridge’s ad.
American Bridge called Balderson’s dodge hypocritical after the Republican repeatedly attacked his opponent Democrat Danny O’Connor for fumbling an answer when asked if he’d back House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., for speaker should Democrats win the House.
“The fact that he couldn’t denounce a man at the center of such terrible accusations speaks volumes about his misplaced priorities and utter disregard for the victims. Ohio deserves better,” said American Bridge President Bradley Beychok.
The ad comes one day after a House Speaker Paul Ryan-aligned PAC launched a TV ad attacking O’Connor for waffling on whether he’d vote for Pelosi.
The Ohio 12th District special election is neck-and-neck and would be a huge upset if Democrats win. The red district encompasses parts of northern Columbus and stretches into affluent suburbs.
