U.S. Senate candidate William Tong of Connecticut is the latest politician to fire at former Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-Mich.) for the Superbowl campaign ad many are calling racist.
The controversial ad goes after Hoekstra's rival in Michigan's hotly contested Senate race, incumbent Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D). The ad features an Asian woman speaking broken English, thanking 'Senator Debbie Spenditnow' for sending jobs to China. The spot set off a media firestorm after it aired on Superbowl Sunday, and continues to draw criticism.
"Hoekstra's ad is xenophobic, racist, fear-mongering, and quite frankly, disgusting. I've called for it to be pulled off the air," Tong wrote in an email to Politico Wednesday. The candidate released his own campaign ad, defending Asian-American immigrants:
Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), the first Chinese-American woman elected to Congress, also slammed the ad as racist and offensive. "I was stunned," Chu said on CNN Wednesday. "I couldn't believe that there would be somebody that would run such a violent, hateful ad."
Despite the onslaught of criticism from both sides of the aisle, Hoekstra continues to defend the ad, National Journal reports.
Hoekstra has received support from a Republican Senate candidate who is struggling for attention in nearby Ohio. Donna Glisman sent a letter of support to Hoekstra Wednesday, applauding the candidate for his "blunt message."
10 more election stories from beyond the presidential field:
Jon Tester Asks Denny Rehberg For A Ceasefire On Outside Groups' Spending In Senate Race [The Hill]
Democrats Knock John Brunner, Missouri Senate Candidate, For Hefty Salary Amid Layoffs [The Hill]. (Brunner's campaign declined to offer any explanations for the story to The Huffington Post.)
Kaine And Allen Still Deadlocked In Virginia Senate Race [Quinnipiac Poll]
Allen West Followed To New District By Democratic Challenger Patrick Murphy [HuffPost]
Mary Kaptur Airs First Ad In Race Against Dennis Kucinich [Cleveland.com]
Rick Perry's Presidential Campaign Manager Running A Super PAC For David Dewhurst's Senate Bid [Texas Tribune]
Rising Star State Sen. Ruben Kihuen Drops Out Of Race For Congress In Nevada [Las Vegas Sun]
Richard Lugar Is Hugely Popular In Ukraine [Washington Post]
Texas Redistricting Mess Could Delay Primary [Fox News]
Michigan GOP Chair Defends Hoekstra Ad [National Journal]