According to conservative blogger Kleinheider, Harold Ford - the Democratic candidate for Frist's senate seat - is running "very strong anti-immigration" ads on the rightwing radio shock jock Steve Gill show.
I can't recall the substance of the ad but it was extremely hardcore. Very strong on employer sanctions. Unequivocally anti-immigration.
This ad, ran on the Steve Gill show of all things, strikes me as a warning shot. Harold Ford is not only refusing to cede the center -- he refuses to cede the Right.
I have to admire this strategy. Harold Ford is striking deep into enemy territory. Ford is smart politician. He has no primary competition. There is a place for liberal and progressive voters to go in the General but Ford is confident they won't go there.
There is also a gay candidate for the Frist senate seat.
The Ford is No Liberal blog quotes Kleinheider approvingly and adds:
Kleinheider is correct: Harold Ford Jr. is cedeing no voters in this race. He is running for the United States Senate to represent everyone, not just a few. And that is the way it should be.
The leader of the DINO Ford Fanclub meant to say that Ford hopes to represent everyone except liberals, progressives, gays, feminists, greens, immigrants, African-Americans, other minorities and, uhm, Democrats.
The Ford is No Liberal blog and Kleinheider provide this mp3 link to the ad, but it's nothing but garble to my ears. If it works for you, or if you see a transcript, let me know.
Immigration Harold Ford Democrats Tennessee 2006 Frist Steve Gill DINO Republicans U.S. Senate
