GOP guv-hopeful Steve Poizner is going on air with a new television spot highlighting his "hard line" stance on illegal immigration.
The 30-second spot, titled "Liberal Failure," is set to begin airing Tuesday. It is his second television buy of the primary.
In the ad, which features a car flying off a cliff as a symbol of California's downward trajectory, Poizner reprises his pledge to cut benefits for undocumented immigrants, saying the state's elected officials have "lacked the guts" to tackle immigration policy issues.
"As Governor, I will stop taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal immigrants. If necessary, I'll bring it to you as a ballot initiative," he says in the ad.
Poizner, who trailed Republican rival Meg Whitman by nearly 50 points in the latest Field Poll, has made his position on illegal immigration a central component of his campaign in recent weeks. The stance is likely to appeal to the most conservative segment of the electorate, voters likely to turn out for the GOP primary, but some say could alienate Latino voters in the general election.
The campaign said Poizner's platform on illegal immigration separates him from his opponent.
"Steve Poizner is willing to take bold steps in order to stop illegal immigration, while Meg Whitman wants to continue with the status quo," Communications Director Jarrod Agen said in a statement. "The differences in the Republican primary are clear - Steve is proposing bold reforms to turn off the magnets which draw illegal immigrants to California, while Meg Whitman advocates for amnesty."
Whitman spokeswoman Sarah Pompei said Whitman has "always been 100 percent opposed to amnesty" and accused Poizner of shifting his position to appeal to the GOP base.
"Steve Poizner's shift to the right on the issue of immigration is part of a pattern where he's changed his position on the issues in an attempt to cover up his past liberal record," she said. "It's a sign voters can't trust him on the issues."
Watch the ad below:
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