Dayton and Entenza show off financial strength, release new ads

Matt Entenza, Mark Dayton

Two of the three Minnesota Democratic gubernatorial candidates, both millionaires who have utilized their personal finances to run expensive primary campaigns, released new ads Monday.

Mark Dayton and Matt Entenza have released numerous ads so far in the campaign, and the pace doesn’t appear to be slowing down as the August 10 primary approaches. Their opponent in the race, Margaret Anderson Kelliher, has only released two ads to date.

Neither ad focuses on the upcoming DFL primary, as both candidates attack Republican policies in their spots. Dayton’s ad is titled “Convictions” and highlights his “standing up” against George W. Bush and Tim Pawlenty, and it focuses on his proposal to raise taxes on the highest income bracket.

Here’s Dayton’s ad:

Entenza’s spot focuses on education policy, and states, “George Bush’s No Child Left Behind is hurting our kids,” and links the policy to presumed GOP gubernatorial nominee Tom Emmer. The ad shows various clips of children ripping up tests, with Entenza planning to get rid of No Child Left Behind, even though it is a federal policy outside of state jurisdiction.

Here’s Entenza’s ad: