Republican U.S. Senate candidate Pete Hoekstra is altering his ad strategy following a storm of criticism over a spot deemed by many as insulting to Asians. The Hoekstra campaign is rotating a new TV ad into a statewide media purchase that will air instead. More from Michigan Public Radio’s Rick Pluta.
The first ad immediately became the target of criticism, nationwide attention and jokes. It depicts a young Chinese woman speaking in broken English.
“Debbie spend so much American money,” she says.
The new Hoekstra ad also takes aim at incumbent Senator Debbie Stabenow, as well as the coverage and criticism of the China ad...
“In spite of what the media says, this race is really about the chance to tell Washington to spend it not,” he says.
The new ad makes no mention of China. The Hoekstra campaign also pulled down a website associated with the China ad.
Hoekstra’s rivals for the Republican nomination have seized the moment, though. Clark Durant condemned the China ad.
“It demeans people,” he says.
Durant also moved up the launch of his campaign’s first TV ad buy.