Ohio Democrat rolling out first TV ad

Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld is releasing the first TV ad of the Ohio Senate race, calling for a “new agenda” in Washington.

 

Sittenfeld is a Democrat running in a primary against former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, who is the favorite to win the nomination to take on Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio). 

 

“I’m P.G. Sittenfeld, and I’m running for the Senate to offer a new agenda, one that works to reduce inequality, cut student loan debt, expand retirement security and protect our environment,” he says in the ad. 

{mosads}The ad — which includes video of Democratic presidents Bill Clinton, John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama—will air Tuesday during a break in the party’s first presidential primary debate. 

The TV ad will air across Ohio in Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Toledo and Youngstown. 

Sittenfeld also asks viewers to follow him on Twitter, where’ll he be live-tweeting the Democratic debate, adding that “our leaders have always proven themselves worthy in the battle of ideas.” 

The 31-year-old candidate doesn’t mention his background during his first TV ad. According to a Qunnipiac University poll released earlier this month, 86 percent of Ohio voters don’t know enough about Sittenfeld to have an opinion of his candidacy. 

Dale Butland, Sittenfeld’s communications director, said that because he’s relatively unknown, “this ad will allow many voters to meet PG for the first time.” 

“We want to let Democrats who believe Washington needs fresh faces and new voices know that they will have a choice in the Democratic primary next March,” he added in a statement.

An advisor for Sittenfeld’s campaign earlier this year accused David Pepper, the chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, of trying to pressure Sittenfeld to get out of the Senate race. 

Portman is seen as vulnerable next year in Ohio, which voted for President Obama in the last two presidential elections. The Republican has raised more than $2 million during the last three months to protect his seat.