Anti-Christine Quinn Ads Begin

The New York Times reports:

As a succession of blurbs from newspaper articles suggest that she has waffled on key issues, the narrator concludes, “When Christine Quinn doesn’t support our values, how can you support her for mayor?” So goes a commercial attacking Ms. Quinn that, starting on Monday, is scheduled to appear on cable television stations like MSNBC and Bravo for three weeks. The 30-second commercial, the first of the mayoral race, comes quite early in the primary season, underscoring the competitive nature of the contest to succeed Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. The commercial is not the work of one of Ms. Quinn’s opponents for the Democratic nomination, but of a coalition of left-leaning labor unions and Democratic activists who say they are not backing anyone in particular.

According to the Times, the group has pledged $1M to the campaign, which launches with a $250K television buy.  A spokesman for Quinn is blaming the ads on NYC Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, who is also running for mayor and reportedly has ties to some members of the group behind the ads. A spokesman for de Blasio has denied his involvement.

(Tipped by JMG reader Bill)