Roberti’s First TV Ad Takes Swipe At Donovan

Update: The Roberti camp has confirmed that the ad is the campaign’s first and will be running on television, but it declined to say anything about how much it costs or why Roberti doesn’t mention Donovan by name–even when he is clearly talking about the Speaker’s congressional campaign. The ad was released very quiety Friday–so quietly that a Roberti spokeswoman initially declined to comment at all about the video, in contrast to other campaigns, which often send out releases and messages on social media sites touting the release of their new ad. The ad has gotten about 60 views so far on YouTube.

Democrat Dan Roberti has released the first television ad in his fifth district congressional campaign, taking a swipe at front-runner Chris Donovan without mentioning the state House Speaker by name.

In the 32-second video, titled “Never Heard,” Roberti talks about how he “never heard” excuses while volunteering with a homeless shelter and with hurricane relief projects in New Orleans.

“You mostly hear excuses from politicians, especially when their campaign has been caught breaking the law by the FBI,” Roberti says. “I’m running for Congress with the most comprehensive jobs plan and an ethics plan the insiders and special interests hate. Because you deserve better.”

Donovan’s former finance director, Robert Braddock Jr., was indicted earlier this month on charges that he conspired to accept illegal donations for Donovan’s campaign.

Braddock and other campaign staffers were fired after he was arrested by federal agents in late May. Donovan, who is from Meriden, has not been charged with any crime.

Roberti’s ad is debuting less than four weeks before the public relations executive from Kent is to face Donovan and former state Rep. Elizabeth Esty, of Cheshire, in the Aug. 14 primary in the Fifth District, which includes the Hartford suburbs of Meriden and Simsbury and stretches westward to Danbury and Salisbury.

Esty has already begun airing television ads in the Fifth District. Donovan has not yet released a television ad.