JEFFERSON CITY — A new political action committee launched the first of a series of television advertisements urging Missouri voters to cast their votes against former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens in the race for U.S. Senate.
With the primary election six weeks away, the Show Me Values PAC began airing Friday, less than a week after Greitens came under heavy criticism for releasing a video in which he urged voters to “hunt down” RINOs, or “Republicans in Name Only.”
The new ad is a compilation of news clips related to the scandals that plagued the Republican’s abbreviated tenure as chief executive, including felony charges or invasion of privacy and campaign finance-related offenses.
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It then skips forward to allegations raised by his ex-wife, Sheena Greitens, who has said Greitens was physically abusive to her and their children.
“Scandal. Felony charges. Physical abuse allegations. That’s not conservative,” the ad says.
It ends with a 2018 mug shot of Greitens with the words “Vote Against Eric Greitens.”
The new PAC, formed by Republicans and headed by a former Trump administration official, has scheduled more than $1 million worth of commercials through the end of June and is expected to remain involved in the race until the Aug. 2 primary.
Polls show Greitens leading a field that includes Attorney General Eric Schmitt, U.S. Reps. Vicky Hartzler and Billy Long, Missouri Senate President Dave Schatz and Ƶ attorney Mark McCloskey. Republicans are concerned a victory by Greitens could lead to a Democrat winning in November.
The PAC is being headed by Washington-based political consultant John DeStefano and is being funded, in part, by Republican mega-donor Rex Sinquefield, a retired Ƶ financier who is supporting Schmitt.
DeStefano, a political strategist, worked for more than a year in the White House during Trump’s tenure.
The ads are scheduled to run throughout Missouri on both broadcast and cable TV channels.
The creation of the super PAC comes as another effort is underway aimed at trying to end Greitens’ comeback bid.
Missouri native John F. Wood left his post this week as a senior investigative counsel on the House Jan. 6 committee to consider a possible independent bid for the Senate seat.
That effort has the support of former U.S. Sen. Jack Danforth, who says Greitens is too divisive to win the seat.
Wood, a Republican, formerly worked for Danforth and clerked for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
Posted at at 11 a.m. Friday, June 24.