Davis Reverses Promise Of Pulling Advertisement

One week after announcing he was pulling all negative advertising through November fifth, Governor Davis is on the air with an attack ad skewering challenger Bill Simon´s business background. The ad, which Davis first ran over the summer, focuses on a savings and loan Simon´s family invested in more than a decade ago. The thrift collapsed and the government seized it in 1993. Simon and other investors sued the federal government, alleging a change in law about how thrifts could count their assets caused the collapse. The case is currently being tried in Washington, D.C.

When Davis advisers announced last week they would be airing only positive ads through November fifth, they said it was because they were confident in their lead over Simon. On Saturday, Davis campaign press secretary Roger Salazar said he blames Simon for forcing them to return to attack ads by running attacks of his own.