Candidates in 3rd CD battle over TV ad

The candidates competing in the 3rd Congressional District are in a mid-August tussle over a TV  ad that accuses the challenger of hiding her finances, an attack she says is a desperate attempt to distract voters from the issues.

The ad from U.S. Rep. Phil English (R-Erie) criticizes Democratic opponent Kathy Dahlkemper for not releasing her tax returns, as English and most national candidates, including John McCain and Barack Obama, have.

"Voters should expect full financial disclosure from their candidates," the ad says.

The 30-second spot has run on TV for several weeks.

Dahlkemper held a press conference Thursday to denounce the criticism as pointless. She told PolitickerPa.com afterward she has complied with every FEC requirement and has not released her tax returns only because it would jeopardize her small business, Dahlkemper Landscape Architects & Contractors.

"Obviously Congressman English has never worked one day in the private sector and doesn't understand small business issues," she said.

The Dahlkemper-English race in the once solidly Republican district is considered one of Pennsylvania's most competitive, symptomatic of the state's leftward shift since 2004.

Dahlkemper said the early negative ad tells her English "is extremely concerned about losing this race."

"I think he's scared," she said, "and he's throwing out anything that he can."

English's campaign responded to Dahlkemper's remarks by issuing a release that reiterated the ad's original point.

Only a single line on the tax return form relates to her business, said Adam Beebe, English campaign spokesman.

"Kathy has a history of manufacturing excuses instead of being honest with the public and unfortunately this is another example," he said.

Beebe added that asking Dahlkemper to be "forthright with the public" is not a negative attack.