Arkansas Democrat Mark Pryor has launched the first ad of his reelection campaign for 2014. His opening message to voters defends his vote against Obama’s gun control legislation, stressing that the proposals would have done nothing to prevent recent tragedies. His main target, though, is New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, whose gun control organization has run ads recently against Pryor.
Text of the ad:
The mayor of New York City is running ads against me because I opposed President Obama’s gun control legislation. Nothing in the Obama plan would have prevented tragedies like Newtown, Aurora, Tucson or even Jonesboro. I’m committed to finding real solutions to gun violence while protecting our Second Amendment rights.
I’m Mark Pryor, and I approve this message because no one from New York or Washington tells me what to do. I listen to Arkansas
Pryor is one of the more vulnerable Democrats running for reelection next year. Mitt Romney won the state by more than 20 points. If Republicans cannot defeat Pryor, it is unlikely they can take control of the Senate.
An attack on New York City’s Mayor is a good tactic in Arkansas. The implicit attack on Obama and his gun control proposals is more interesting. Simply labeling the proposals as “Obama’s gun control legislation” is for Pryor enough justification for how he voted. No doubt, it is enough for Arkansans as well.