In a new TV spot released Friday, former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore makes the case that he is the right candidate to lead the U.S. in defeating the Islamic State and takes aim at Democrats for their refusal to say “radical Islamic terrorists.”
The ad, titled “Trust,” features Gilmore listing off his national security credentials, including his service in Army Intelligence and time as chairman of a terrorism commission that warned of an attack before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He was Virginia governor during the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
“I’m not a Washington politician or an amateur,” Gilmore says. “As president I will defeat ISIS, and keep you safe.”
Gilmore also uses the 30-second ad to criticize Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton and President Obama, who have been bashed for their reluctance to label the Islamic State as “Islamic.”
“Obama and Clinton just don’t get it — these are radical Islamic terrorists,” Gilmore is heard saying as photos of Islamic State fighters flash across the screen. “We can’t trust our safety to Washington politicians — or inexperienced amateurs.”
During the second Democratic presidential debate in mid-November, Clinton refused to label the Islamic State as “Islamic,” choosing instead to call them a “jihadist terrorist group.” When pressed to explain her careful wording by moderator John Dickerson, she explained that talking about Muslims who are also jihadists is not helpful and that Muslim countries need to be encouraged to help in the fight against the terror group. Obama also has hesitated to refer to radical Islamic terrorism.
The commercial begins airing Friday on NBC stations in early primary states New Hampshire, South Carolina and Iowa as a result of a deal struck between some candidates and the network after Republican candidate Donald Trump received 12 minutes of air time appearing on “Saturday Night Live” on Nov. 7. According to Federal Communications Commission “equal time” regulations, presidential candidates are entitled to equal air time for any event that does not qualify as a news event.
Gilmore, with Ohio Gov. John Kasich, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham all received free air time after filing requests for equal time.
Watch Gilmore’s ad below:
