Former Sen. George Allen's (R-Va.) new ad rips former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine's (D) tax record, teeing off on a recent debate flub in which Kaine said he'd be "open to a proposal that would have some minimum tax level for everyone."
The ad opens with Kaine saying, "We ought to be held accountable for what we do in public life," before accusing him of pushing to raise taxes.
"Billions in proposed tax increases. Bitter debates, nearly shutting down state government. Tax hikes for anyone earning as little as $17,000 a year," the ad's narrator says before the clip of Kaine at last week's debate is played.
"Tim Kaine: Raising taxes on everyone," the ad concludes.
Kaine sought to explain after the debate that he meant only that he wouldn't rule out any tax proposals out of hand, not that he supported a minimum federal income tax for all, and the nonpartisan fact-checking site Politifact rated Allen's claim that Kaine wants to raise taxes on everyone
"false." But Kaine's flub has given Allen a clear opening to attack him as a tax-and-spend Democrat, a problem in a swing state that leans a bit fiscally conservative.
Kaine's campaign fired back.
"It's disappointing that George Allen would choose to run an ad that he knows is false. This is exactly what's wrong with Washington these days and further demonstrates why George Allen would not be able to help break the partisan gridlock there," Kaine spokeswoman Brandi Hoffine said in a statement. "The facts are that the tax burden on Virginia families was lower under Tim Kaine than under George Allen. Tim Kaine cut taxes for the lowest-income Virginians, while George Allen wants to cut taxes for the wealthiest Americans."
