New round of ads on air in Michigan governor's race

9/16/2010
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Virg Bernero, left, meets with his Republican rival, Rick Snyder during Snyder's town hall meeting at the Hawthorne Valley Country Club, Monday in Westland, Mich.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Virg Bernero, left, meets with his Republican rival, Rick Snyder during Snyder's town hall meeting at the Hawthorne Valley Country Club, Monday in Westland, Mich.

LANSING, Mich. — Two new ads are being aired in the Michigan governor's race.

Democrat Virg Bernero began running an ad Thursday saying he cut Lansing's budget without layoffs during his five years as mayor and accusing GOP rival Rick Snyder of laying off workers while he was an executive at Gateway Inc.

The Republican National Committee began airing an ad Wednesday that shows Bernero agreeing he's a "career politician" and accusing him of raising taxes and fees.

A new poll shows Snyder has a 24-point lead in the race, in part because he's better known.

Bernero is trying to close the gap with ads promoting himself as a fighter for working families. Snyder has not run any of his own ads since the Aug. 3 primary election, relying instead on the RNC.