"Voters First" Hits Airwaves With First Statewide TV Ads

The group that’s backing a proposed change to Ohio’s constitution over redistricting is putting ads on the air statewide, three weeks after the group opposing the change first put their spots out. Voter’s First, the group that wants Ohioans to approve a ballot measure that would change the way congressional and legislative district lines are drawn, is putting an ad on television stations statewide. Voters First spokesman Brian Rothenberg says he knows the proposed citizen’s initiative plan is being outspent by Issue 2 opponents, but he still thinks the issue could win at the ballot box.

"And when you look at the fact that our progressive base, I know the Democratic party has endorsed this in many counties, those folks are ahead on early voting when you look at the presidential election information. It actually says that we might be in a stronger position than anybody thought we were, and here we are with two weeks to go and we’ve got an excellent opportunity to win." The Ohio Democratic Party and unions advocating on behalf of Democratic candidates and causes are urging voters to vote for the new plan. Rothenberg won’t say how much his group intends to spend on the new ads, or who is paying for them. Here's the new ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVBqe5YxKT0 "Well, I think the ad is extremely deceptive," says Carlo LaParo, a spokeman for "Protect Your Vote", the main group opposing the constitutional change. LaParo says the ad doesn’t explain that some politicians and lobbyists would still be allowed to serve on the board that would draw the lines if voters would approve the plan. But he doesn’t think that’s likely to happen anyway.

LaParo notes most every newspaper in the state has written editorials against the proposed amendment and he adds many interest groups are also against it.