Clinton, GOP Presidential Attack Ads Hit TV Airwaves

WASHINGTON —  A new Clinton campaign ad portrays Sen. Bob Dole as a quitter, and a GOP spot snickers at Clinton’s claims that a sexual-harassment case could be delayed because he’s commander in chief. With election day still more than five months away, the presidential ad war is getting intensely personal.

The Clinton campaign ad, released Friday, portrays Dole, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, as “quitting, giving up, leaving behind the gridlock he helped create” by deciding to resign his Senate seat.

The GOP ad, scoffs at arguments made to the Supreme Court this week by Clinton’s lawyers that his role as commander in chief of the armed forces could entitle him to a postponement of a civil suit filed by a former Arkansas state employee who says Clinton propositioned her in 1991.

“Active duty???” the ad asks, while displaying footage of Clinton golfing, jogging and biking. “Bill Clinton. He’s really something.”

White House spokesman Mike McCurry complained that the GOP ad is “a cheap shot” and accused the Republicans of engaging in “spitball politics.” Meanwhile, the Clinton campaign was distributing its ad faulting Dole for deciding to leave the Senate.

Dole campaign manager Scott Reed pointed out that on May 15, Clinton had “warmly praised Bob Dole” as he announced his resignation plans. “Today, Bill Clinton viciously attacks him for the same decision. That is the kind of hypocrisy that frustrates so many voters and is so common from this president.”

Clinton and the Democratic National Committee have been hitting the airwaves in key electoral states all spring to promote the president’s record. The newest Clinton ad was airing in markets nationwide at a cost of about $1.2 million.

Hampered by dwindling resources, Dole’s camp has been slow to respond. GOP sources said the party’s new ad would run only on CNN and in Washington, at a cost of about $125,000, part of the $12 million the party is allowed to give directly to its candidate.