Kaptur targets Wall St., wealthy in her 1st TV ad

Rep. Marcy Kaptur's TV ad began airing in the Cleveland-Lorain market. The spot called 'Service' highlights her efforts against Wall Street and wealthy congressmen. CLEVELAND.COM Enlarge

U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo) highlights her efforts against Wall Street and wealthy congressmen in her first television ad of the primary campaign, the campaign said Wednesday.

Titled Service, the ad is designed to introduce voters in the Cleveland-Lorain market to Miss Kaptur, campaign manager Steve Fought said. He said the cost of the buy is about $90,000, and the ad will run about 10 days.

That equates to more than one-tenth of the campaign war-chest Miss Kaptur reported as of Dec. 31, the most recent filing with the Federal Elections Commission.

The commercial is the same footage used two years ago in her race against Republican Rich Iott, spokesman Matt Klempner said.

"It's partly to save costs, but also her positions have not changed. And she still lives in the house that she grew up in," Mr. Klempner said.

Miss Kaptur poses in front of her house on Dority Road in southwest Toledo for part of the commercial.

Miss Kaptur, who has represented the 9th Congressional District since 1983, is facing two Clevelanders -- U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich of the 10th District and entrepreneur Graham Veysey -- for the Democratic nomination. The voting ends on March 6.

The newly redrawn district stretches into northern Lorain County and western Cuyahoga County, areas where Miss Kaptur has little name recognition.

The ad contains the same message that was put in her radio commercial several weeks ago: "Too many people are getting rich in Congress. Public service shouldn't be about enriching yourself. It should be about helping people."

As issues relating to that theme, Miss Kaptur says she led the fight against Wall Street bailouts, fought for criminal investigation of investment firm Goldman Sachs, and capped interest rates on credit cards.

Miss Kaptur voted for a 2009 law that set rules on credit cards to prohibit misleading practices and to prevent credit card companies from retroactively or suddenly raising interest rates on cards.

Mr. Fought said the reference to the wealth of members of Congress was not to any of Miss Kaptur's opponents but to recent media reports that members of Congress were more wealthy on average than the average American.

The commercial features a cameo of Michelle Wagner, who since has been elected Toledo Municipal Court judge, along with her husband, David Wagner, in the roles of typical citizens talking to their congressman.

In the ad, Miss Kaptur said she has voted against Congress' pay raises and donated the raises to local charities.

The commercial is believed to be the first to be aired on network programs. Mr. Veysey put one of his campaign videos on a cable channel two weeks ago.

Contact Tom Troy at: tomtroy@theblade.com or 419-724-6058.