The first campaign ad of the 2013 NYC mayoral race aims not to back any particular candidate, but to take support away from the frontrunner. Airing today on NY1, MSNBC, and Cablevision, the spot takes aim at Christine Quinn, calling her out on decisions that ostensibly contradict her progressive pedigree on issues such as term limits, paid sick leave, and horse-drawn carriages.
An independent political action committee launched by a union leader, an animal rights activist, and a clean tech firm CEO created the ad. Quinn’s camp claims the PAC has ties to mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio, a claim denied by both de Blasio’s office and the PAC’s leadership.
“It seemed that Christine Quinn was getting some momentum and appeared to have a great deal of financial support based on the filings that we’ve seen, and we think a lot of it has to do with people who are progressive not realizing what her real politics are,” said Communications Workers of America union Local 1180 Arthur Cheliotes, who backed the ad. “Making assumptions, not based on her legislative record.
