Before Tuesday's terrorist attack in New York City, Democrats lauded the progressive Latino Victory Fund's ad that depicted a supporter of Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie as a violent racist who chased minority kids with a pickup truck.
The Latino Victory Fund pulled the ad following the attack in Manhattan, where a suspected terrorist killed eight people and injured nearly a dozen others by driving a rental truck down a bike path. The group also released a statement describing why it canceled the ad.
"We knew our ad would ruffle feathers. We held a mirror up to the Republican Party, and they don't like what they see," said Cristóbal J. Alex, president of the Latino Victory Fund. "We have decided to pull our ad at this time. Given recent events, we will be placing other powerful ads into rotation that highlight the reasons we need to elect progressive leaders in Virginia."
Latino Victory Fund Statement: pic.twitter.com/VE8T3N3zI2
— Latino Victory (@latinovictoryus) October 31, 2017
Before the ad was pulled, Democratic activists and operatives praised it as moving and accurate.
Former Hillary Clinton spokesman and former Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee official Jesse Ferguson called the ad one of the most "powerful" he has watched.
I've watched a lot of powerful TV ads in my career and this new one about Gillespie/Trump ranks near the top.
Watch. Share. Vote. https://t.co/AfLH1XSpkV
— Jesse Ferguson (@JesseFFerguson) October 30, 2017
Hispanic Media Director for the DCCC Javier Gamboa also called the ad "powerful."
Powerful ad from @latinovictoryus. ⬇️ https://t.co/sAC9IKzvJn
— Javier Gamboa (@JJavierGamboa) October 30, 2017
Markos Moulitsas, founder of the liberal Daily Kos, appeared to revel in the anger expressed by Gillespie and other Republicans at the ad.
See responses to tweet below. Explicitly racist Republican Party angry that people are explicitly calling out their racism. https://t.co/216yAlmemT
— Markos Moulitsas (@markos) October 30, 2017
Daily Kos staff writer Gabe Ortíz endorsed the ad and said communities of color in Virginia and the country live in fear.
Yes, immigrants and communities of color in Virginia and around the country are afraid. #VAGov https://t.co/AF8Dg9wfgT
— Gabe Ortíz (@TUSK81) October 31, 2017
Host and managing editor of TV One's daily morning show "News One Now" Roland Martin said the ad was "brutal" and that Gillespie needed to explain his stance on Confederate statues.
Wow. This @latinovictoryus ad is BRUTAL! I need @EdWGillespie to explain his statue stance when he keeps saying 'our" history. https://t.co/04ka1GL4io
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) October 31, 2017
Here is the Latino Victory Fund ad.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=18&v=Uj3pqe24uRA
Gillespie said Tuesday that donations have tripled since the controversial ad was released.
Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ralph Northam's campaign has made previous attempts to paint the Gillespie campaign as racially charged. One mailer from Virginia Democrats, including the Northam campaign, tied Gillespie to white nationalists who protested in Charlottesville, Va. earlier this year.
.@RalphNortham’s campaign reaches a new low: exploiting Charlottesville tragedy to score political points https://t.co/JHJiXyZ5V1 #VAGov pic.twitter.com/4IATNh5Qq0
— Eric Wilson (@ericwilson) October 25, 2017
Former Hillary Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon tweeted a picture of the white nationalist protest in Charlottesville and said it was a "live look" at a Gillespie campaign strategy meeting.
Live look at Ed Gillespie campaign strategy meeting: pic.twitter.com/izcs57hZUv
— Brian Fallon (@brianefallon) October 27, 2017