- The Washington Times - Wednesday, September 12, 2012

George Allen wasn’t the only Virginian out with a new ad Wednesday. Tim Kaine, Mr. Allen’s Democratic opponent in the state’s U.S. Senate race, also unveiled a new 30-second spot.

Titled “Actions Matter,” Mr. Kaine lays out what he calls a “real difference” between himself and his fellow former Virginia governor in the ad.

“As governor, I cut five billion in spending, balanced the budget, and cut my own pay,” Mr. Kaine says. “George Allen increased spending 45 percent as governor, helped turn a record surplus into a massive deficit as a senator, voted four times to raise the debt ceiling, and voted four times to raise his own pay. Now that’s a real difference.”

In response, the Allen campaign blasted Mr. Kaine for peddling a “fake ’fiscal responsibility’ record.”

“The truth is that George Allen cut his pay by 10 percent all four years as governor, while Tim Kaine waited well into his second year to cut his pay by only 5 percent,” said Allen spokeswoman Emily Davis. “Tim Kaine pats himself on the back for following the Virginia Constitution’s requirement of a balanced budget while he traveled the country as the Democratic national party chairman, championing policies that led to federal deficits eight times higher than when George Allen left the Senate. George Allen cut the size of the Virginia government by 9 percent while adding 300,000 net new private sector jobs…Virginians are looking for real leadership based on a proven record of creating jobs, not another Washington political salesman who plays loose with the facts.”

As promised, Mr. Kaine’s campaign also rebutted three ads released Tuesday by Crossroads GPS, the sister organization of the Karl Rove-affiliated Super PAC American Crossroads, that dinged him for proposing cuts to education and supporting a congressional plan that’s led to the prospect of half a trillion dollars in defense cuts starting to kick in next year, absent action from Congress.

“We’d say Crossroads needs to check their facts, but it’s clear they only deal in exaggerations, misstatements, and out-of-context quotes,” said Kaine spokeswoman Brandi Hoffine. “Virginians have had enough of grandstanding and petty political games. Now is the time for real leadership that finds a middle ground approach to avoid these harmful cuts to defense, Medicaid, pre-K education programs, and other vital services.”

Mr. Kaine’s campaign also pointed to the fact that he invested heavily in early childhood education as governor, along with other items like need-based tuition assistance. They also cited a Roanoke Times article pointing out the $357 million in proposed education cuts in Mr. Kaine’s outgoing budget was part of a broader package to help close a $4.2 billion shortfall, that he proposed using federal stimulus funds to offset part of the cuts, and that the General Assembly and his successor, Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell, ended up enacting a budget that cut direct aid to schools by $645 million.

“Actions Matter:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv_eSw2uKus&feature=youtu.be

• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.

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