Porter target of anti-war ads

By Lisa Mascaro

Thursday, April 17, 2008 | 3:05 p.m.

WASHINGTON — New radio ads are playing in Las Vegas today, attempting to tie Republican Rep. Jon Porter’s support for the Iraq war, which is costing taxpayers $12 billion a month, to the economic challenges Nevada families are facing at home.

Americans United for Change, the left-leaning group that is part of the broader national anti-war movement, singled out Porter among six lawmakers nationwide facing difficult re-election campaigns. The group is pressuring them switch their positions on war funding and support economic stimulus legislation making its way through Congress. The ads will run through next week on KXNT-AM.

Americans United spokesman Jeremy Funk said Porter made the list because “he has contributed as much as anybody, if not more, to Bush's failed legacy on the war and economy. We want to make an example of him and hopefully persuade him to make amends with upcoming votes.”

Porter says it’s the Democrats in control of Congress who should be blamed for the economic woes, not him. “On the Democrats’ watch, the price of gasoline has reached historic highs,” said Porter spokesman Matt Leffingwell. “Democrats now want to raise taxes on Nevada families.”

Porter’s spokesman said added in an email that groups like this funding ads against the congressman “need to come clean about who is really hurting Nevada.”