Elizabeth Dole Launches TV Ads Focusing On Issues

The first TV ads for Elizabeth Dole focus on North Carolina's high unemployment rate because of textile mill closings -- a problem she promises to tackle if elected to the U.S. Senate.

Johnathan Jordan of the North Carolina Republican Party said Dole's TV ad focuses on issues. He said name recognition is something the Republican already has.

"The fact that she is starting out with an issues ad shows you her name ID is very high. She doesn't need to push her name and her biography out," he said.

Scott Falmlen of the state Democratic Party said he is pleased that Dole's first TV ad issue is about foreign trade.

"Elizabeth Dole is the only candidate running for the United States Senate that supports trade legislation that is guaranteed to export jobs from North Carolina to other countries," he said.

A second commercial touting her small-town roots growing up in Salisbury will begin airing Wednesday. The other candidates are apparently waiting until election officials get a firm primary date before launching their ads.

The primary could take place either in late August or early September.

Both Dole and Erskine Bowles fattened their campaign funds with out-of-state money in the last few months. Officials said Dole has collected more than $195,000 from people in New York. Bowles has raised more than $385,000 from the Empire State.

Election officials also said Bowles attracted show-biz bucks. Mary Tyler Moore and Rob Reiner are just two of the big names who contributed to his campaign.