Former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine (D) is out with a new Web video that fires back against former Sen. George Allen's (R-Va.) attacks on his support of the debt-ceiling compromise and the resultant looming cuts in military funding.
The video attacks Allen for voting for increased deficit spending while "voting against our troops."
Kaine's video says Allen voted to increase his own pay four times and in favor of legislation that added $3.2 trillion in new debt. He said Allen supported 52,319 earmarks while in Congress.
After rattling off some of the stranger-sounding earmarks ("$1.3 million in berry research," "$1 million to study bear DNA," "$270,000 to fight 'goth' culture,") the video criticizes Allen for voting for tax breaks for "the wealthiest Americans" and subsidies for oil companies. It also argues Allen voted to go to war in Iraq and Afghanistan without funding the war effort, and that he voted against safety equipment like bulletproof helmets and high-tech body armor.
"Only one candidate has voted to create a massive deficit while voting against our troops: George Allen," the video closes.
According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the video's claims about Allen voting against funding for the troops are similar to false attacks made against him in 2006.
Allen's campaign pointed this out to debunk the ad.
"By using past lies and distortions that were proven to be false, it seems like Tim Kaine has reverted to the Washington style of doing things that he learned during his time as Democrat National Committee Chairman," said Allen spokeswoman Emily Davis, referring to Kaine's time heading Democratic National Committee.
Allen's campaign also put out statements from Virginia military veterans slamming Kaine and touting his campaign.
"Tim Kaine is the only candidate in this race who supported the deal last summer that has put over 200,000 Virginia jobs at risk and would severely harm our military with $500 billion in defense cuts," said former American Legion national vice-Chairman and Air Force veteran Mike Harris. "George Allen has a strong record of being a committed partner for our armed forces and their families — he fought to increase the death benefit for families of fallen soldiers from $12,000 to $100,000; increased education benefits for those serving; and has continually fought to stop massive cuts to TRICARE."
Virginia has a huge population of active-duty servicemen and military veterans, and the fight over who will fight for the troops is a crucial one in this nip-and-tuck Senate race, which The Hill rates a "toss-up."
Allen went on the offensive against Kaine earlier this week for the former governor's support of the bipartisan compromise on the deal last summer to raise the debt ceiling in exchange for big cuts to both domestic and military spending. Allen attacked Kaine for agreeing to defense cuts that were supposed to be triggered by the deal.
Kaine pointed out that Virginia Republicans, including House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, had backed the compromise as well. Now he's seeking to shift the blame to Allen for forcing the issue in the first place.
This post was updated at 11:05 a.m.
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