Republican airs ad against bailout package

Wisconsin Congressional candidate John Gard is one of the first Republican candidates looking to score some political points over the Wall Street bailout.

He released a new campaign ad today that criticizes the proposed bailout package, while attacking his Democratic opponent, Rep. Steve Kagen (D-Wis.), for voting to “raise taxes on families by $1,800.”

“Now they want to give a huge bailout to Wall Street billionaires. You play by the rules and fall further behind. While they break the rules, and Congress hands them your money,” Gard says in the ad. “Washington’s got it wrong again.”

This is the second time Kagen and Gard have faced off against each other. Kagen defeated Gard, 51 to 49 percent, in 2006.

Most campaigns were initially hesitant to take a firm stand on the proposed bailout deal. Many don’t want to be seen as playing politics with such a consequential piece of legislation.

But now candidates from both parties – particularly challengers who don’t have the responsibility of casting a vote on the bailout package – are beginning to attack the plan. Oregon Democrat Jeff Merkley, running against Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.), aired an ad Thursday opposing any bailouts “until CEO bonuses are cut and middle-class taxpayers are protected.”

And former Kansas City mayor Kay Barnes (D) slammed Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) for looking to “blindly fall in line with President Bush’s bailout plan with no questions asked.” Graves later came out in opposition to the proposed bailout package, saying he “has yet to see a proposal that will adequately protect taxpayers."