NRA Ad Uses Talarico's Own Words to Target His Senate Bid

The NRA is putting real money behind an ad campaign aimed at sinking James Talarico's Texas Senate bid, and the message is built entirely from his own words on gun bans.

The short version

The NRA Victory Fund has released a new 30-second spot called "Yes Absolutely," targeting Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico over his repeated support for banning so-called assault weapons and standard-capacity magazines. The ad pairs a 2020 clip of Talarico endorsing such a ban with a more recent NewsNation appearance where he was asked if an assault weapons ban is still "on the table" and answered, simply, "Absolutely."

According to Bearing Arms, the ad is part of a larger multi-million dollar NRA push to hold pro-gun majorities in Congress this midterm cycle, running alongside the group's Gun Bus tour and its usual get-out-the-vote machine of Orange Cards, text messages and door-knocking across Texas and other battleground states. Talarico is running against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Bearing Arms notes the race has been closer than many expected.

Key points

• Ad title: The NRA Victory Fund's new 30-second spot is titled "Yes Absolutely."
• The evidence: The ad splices a 2020 Talarico clip backing a ban on assault weapons and standard-capacity magazines with his recent "Absolutely" answer on NewsNation.
• The race: Talarico is challenging Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for a U.S. Senate seat, and Bearing Arms says polling has been tighter than many anticipated.
• Bigger push: The ad buy is one piece of a multi-million dollar NRA effort to protect pro-gun majorities in Congress this midterm cycle.
• Ground game: The campaign runs alongside the NRA's Gun Bus battleground tour and standard turnout tools — Orange Cards, targeted texts, and door-knocking in Texas and other swing states.
• The closing line: The ad tells viewers not to "be left defenseless" and urges them to vote against Talarico.

Bottom line

For Texas gun owners, this is a reminder that control of the Senate — and by extension, the fate of any future federal gun control push — is on the ballot this November, with Talarico's own statements doing the NRA's work for it. Anyone voting in Texas, or watching this race as a bellwether for gun policy nationally, should expect to see a lot more of this ad before Election Day.

Source: bearingarms.com