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A new TV ad by congressional challenger Art Halvorson drew a harsh rebuke Wednesday from U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, R-9th District, who argued that Halvorson has attacked his family shortly after his mother’s death.
The commercial, which accused both Shuster and his father of questionable lobbyist ties, has added angry recriminations to the campaign in its final month.
Halvorson said Wednesday that he has nothing to apologize for.
“We did the right thing for all the right reasons,” he said.
Shuster’s mother, Patricia Rommel Shuster, died Sept. 28 at age 84. Her family held a memorial service Sunday, according to an obituary.
On Monday, Halvorson’s campaign posted a new ad online; it was set for broadcast on TV networks throughout the district, according to news website PoliticsPA. The ad points to Shuster’s father, former congressman Bud Shuster, and his ties to lobbyists before he stepped down in 2001.
“Fifteen years ago, Congressman Bud Shuster was found guilty of serious official misconduct,” a voiceover states. “He took family trips to Puerto Rico that were paid for by lobbyists.”
The voiceover continues: “And he spent $300,000 on dinners with his favorite lobbyist,” with the narrator’s voice rising suggestively as a photograph of onetime Bud Shuster aide Ann Eppard appears. It goes on to detail Bill Shuster’s own business ties, including a romantic relationship with an airline lobbyist.
Since the commercial – titled “Time to end the Shuster Dynasty” – first appeared, the younger Shuster has responded angrily, claiming Halvorson acted disrespectfully by citing his family so soon after his mother’s death.
“I’m no wallflower,” Shuster said in an interview. “When it comes to politics, I’ve been doing this for a while. … But for my opponent to attack not just me, but to attack my family less than 24 hours after my mother was buried, I have mixed emotions.”
Shuster decried what he called Halvorson’s “lust” for the 9th District seat, attributed the ad to malice and questioned his willingness to act on Christian principles.
The Manns Choice developer and Coast Guard veteran is on his third run against Shuster, this one in the general election after two losses in Republican primaries.
On Wednesday, Halvorson said he delayed the ad out of respect for Shuster’s family and noted that Shuster himself had campaigned in the week after his mother’s death. Shuster introduced GOP vice presidential hopeful Mike Pence on Thursday at a Johnstown rally.
“Mr. Shuster, for his part, has been out campaigning during this period, but we held the ad anyway,” Halvorson said. “It’s totally justified. We don’t apologize whatsoever.”
Halvorson, a conservative Republican, is running on the Democratic ballot position after a surprise write-in victory in the April primary. He attributed Shuster’s complaint to late-campaign desperation and suggested Shuster’s internal polling might show he’s in a difficult position.
Shuster acknowledged the strange situation of running against a fellow Republican who’s listed as a Democrat, but said he’s confident in a win next month.
“We feel good about the campaign. In 27 days, we’ll know for sure,” he said.
Mirror Staff Writer Ryan Brown is at 946-7457.