NRCC ad says ‘enough’ of Murtha after ‘racist’ comments

National Republicans launched a new television ad in an effort to oust U.S. Rep. John Murtha, the veteran southwestern Pennsylvania congressman who is taking heat after calling his constituents rednecks and racists in recent interviews.

The ad reprises Murtha’s recent comments along and replays comments he made in years prior suggesting that U.S. troops in Iraq had killed innocent civilians. As the 30-second ad comes to a close, the word “ENOUGH” flashes across the screen.

The National Republican Congressional Committee is paying for the spot with $84,000 in coordinated funds. The ad will be airing in the Pittsburgh media market over the next week in a substantial buy of between 400 and 500 points.

Murtha, who has served in Congress for more than 30 years, is facing a challenge from Republican William Russell, a retired army officer who served in Iraq. A poll conducted last week by the GOP firm Susquehanna Polling and Research, conducted after Murtha’s controversial remarks, showed the Democrat holding a surprisingly narrow 46 percent to 41 percent edge over Russell.

On Monday, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee registered its first independent expenditures in the district, spending about $2,500 on phone banking in support of Murtha.

The 12th Congressional District tends to be conservative-minded but has traditionally supported Murtha heavily. In 2006 he was re-elected with 61 percent of the vote.