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ATLANTA (AP) — Democrat Michelle Nunn of Georgia is out with another ad showing her with former President George H.W. Bush, who's asked her not to use him in her campaign for the state's open Senate seat.
Nunn's latest TV ad pushes back at attacks by Republican opponent David Perdue who has used a photo of her with President Barack Obama to show she'd support the president's agenda. In the new ad, Nunn says Perdue fails to mention the photo was taken at an event honoring the 41st president and shows she can work with both Democrats and Republicans.
Nunn is on leave as CEO of Points of Light, a major volunteer organization founded by Bush, as she looks to pick up a key Senate seat for Democrats. Republicans are looking to gain six seats to take control of the Senate and can't afford to lose the one held by retiring Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss.
Bush has endorsed Perdue. And the Nunn campaign has been "clearly, repeatedly and consistently told that President Bush did not want them to use his photo as part of this campaign," said Bush's spokesman Jim McGrath. "Apparently, the Nunn team feels they can repeatedly disregard the former president's wishes, which is very disappointing because it's so disrespectful."
Nunn spokesman Nathan Click said Nunn has the "utmost respect" for Bush and that the ad "highlights the work Michelle has done with presidents of both parties, including President George H.W. Bush, President Clinton and President George W. Bush."
The Bush family has also found itself in the middle of a back-and-forth over an attack ad against Nunn that suggested Points of Light routed money to groups linked to "terrorists," based on an internal strategy memo exploring possible GOP attacks. The ad was blasted by Points of Light Chairman Neil Bush who called on Perdue to condemn the ad, which was paid for by an outside group.
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