Working with Democrats has become lethal for many Republican candidates around the country, but Sen. Scott Brown is flashing his bipartisan credentials to Massachusetts moderates in a new television ad that began airing Tuesday.
Seated in a diner booth, Mr. Brown pours coffee as he complains about battles in Washington. He’s not one of those lawmakers, he tells the camera.
Instead, he touts his votes for the Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform — he was one of three GOP senators to vote for the 2010 legislation — and a bill toughening insider trading bans for members of Congress, called the Stock Act. He helped shepherd the bipartisan legislation to President Obama’s desk earlier this year.
The ad takes place at James’ Breakfast and More in Wrentham, Mass., where his campaign says he’s a regular, and is airing in four markets — Boston; Springfield, Mass.; Providence, R.I.; and Albany, N.Y.
“You know what makes me really proud? Being called one of the most bipartisan senators in the country,” Mr. Brown says, pouring coffee into a diner mug.
“You deserve another cup,” a waitress responds.
Battling Democrat Elizabeth Warren, Mr. Brown faces a different challenge from many of his veteran Republican colleagues, who are struggling to present themselves as conservative enough in tough primary battles as their states move further to the right. Earlier this month, Indiana Sen. Richard G. Lugar was ousted by a primary opponent who painted him as too friendly with Democrats, while Utah Sen. Orrin G. Hatch faces a tough primary challenger in June.
