Elections

Clinton Political Ads Highlight Gun Control In NH, Hide Stance In Iowa

Kerry Picket Political Reporter
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The Hillary Clinton campaign wants to both highlight her staunch support of gun control laws, but also obscure those views in places where it may hurt her at the polls.

According to an Associated Press analysis, one of every four Clinton TV ads airing in New Hampshire this past month illustrates her gun control platform, whereas in Iowa only 1 in 17 of Clinton’s spots has featured her stance on guns.

In fact, the AP notes that Clinton’s gun control spots in Iowa are far outpaced by her ads relating to healthcare, the economy, wages, and student loan debt.

“It may have to do with the polls and that the hunting tradition is stronger here in Iowa,” University of Iowa professor Tim Hagle told the AP.

On the other hand, Clinton aired 740 gun control ads among the 3,000 political ads she broadcast in New Hampshire.

The analysis was released as Clinton and her allies attack Sen. [crscore]Bernie Sanders[/crscore] for his vote on the 2005 “Protection of Lawful Commerce and Arms Act,” (PLCAA) legislation that protected American manufacturers, distributors, and dealers from liability when the criminal misuse of their products, which included firearms, happened.

Sanders defended his vote by saying it was necessary to defend the “small mom-and-pop gun shop” in Vermont from frivolous lawsuits. More recently at the last Democratic Debate, Sanders said of PLCAA, “If somebody has a gun and it falls into the hands of a murderer and that murderer kills somebody with the gun, do you hold the gun manufacturer responsible?”

During the Democratic debate in October, he said, “Not any more than you would hold a hammer company responsible if somebody beats somebody over the head with a hammer. That is not what a lawsuit should be about.”

The Clinton campaign finds itself polling behind Sanders in Iowa and New Hampshire and the Vermont senator took notice of the uptick of attacks from Clinton as the Iowa caucuses draw nearer.

Sanders said during an interview with The Washington Post that Clinton is running a “desperate” campaign which lacks excitement and is willing to “throw the kitchen sink” at him.

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