Adelson's Freedom's Watch launches new front

WASHINGTON -- Freedom’s Watch, the conservative advocacy organization funded by Las Vegas casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, is wading into one of the nation’s most competitive U.S. House races with a new television advertisement taking aim at Alabama congressional candidate Bobby Bright.

The 30-second ad takes aim at Bright, who is mayor of Montgomery, on the issue of taxes. Freedom’s Watch declined to discuss the size of the media buy but characterized it as “substantial.” The spot is set to run on broadcast stations in the Dothan media market beginning Thursday morning.

“As mayor of Montgomery, liberal Bobby Bright fought to raise sales taxes to 9%... one of the highest sales taxes in the country. Higher than New York. Higher than Boston. Even higher than San Francisco,” an announcer says.

“So, you pay more for… school clothes…home repairs…even a night out at the movies,” the ad continues. “Bright’s own assistant called it unfair. But Bright said he was ‘very pleased’ with the increase. Tell Bobby Bright to stop being liberal…with our money.”

Bright is running against Republican state legislator Jay Love for the seat of retiring U.S. Rep. Terry Everett (R-Ala.). While Freedom’s Watch has been active in House and Senate contests across the country, the advertisement marks the organization’s first foray into Alabama.

Kyra Jennings, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said the ad was aimed at deflecting attention from Love’s record of raising taxes.

“While Mayor Bright has never voted to raise taxes during his nine years as Mayor of Montgomery and balanced the city’s budget every year, Republican candidate Jay Love voted for the largest tax increase in Alabama history, and tried to raise taxes on working Alabama families by over one billion dollars,” said Jennings. “Instead of running this deceptive ad, Freedom’s Watch should be attacking Jay Love -- the only candidate in this race who has supported a $1.2 billion tax hike.”

Adelson, the operator of Las Vegas Sands who Forbes has ranked as the 12th wealthiest individual in the world, helped to launch Freedom’s Watch in 2007.