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Capitol View®
Tim Pugmire

IP features five candidates in first TV ad

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The Independence Party of Minnesota is out with a TV campaign ad that highlights five candidates for statewide office.

The 30 second spot refers to the IP team as “The Independents,” and opens with the candidates walking down stairway together wearing sunglasses. Each candidate is then introduced individually with a nickname.

Gubernatorial candidate Hannah Nicollet is called “the new girl," and her lieutenant governor running mate Tim Gieseke is “the intellect.” Attorney general candidate Barndan Borgos is “the advocate,” secretary of state candidate Bob Helland is “the guardian,” and state auditor candidate Pat Dean is “the whistleblower.”

Mark Jenkins, the party chairman, said at news conference that the ad began running this morning in Mankato and Rochester. He said it will air in the Twin Cities beginning Friday.

“We’re going to be new. We’re going to be a little edgy, a little different than the political ads you’ve gotten used to in the past,” Jenkins said.

The IP needs one of its statewide candidates to get at least 5 percent of the vote to retain its major party status.

Jenkins said the initial media buy is $7,000, and the party hopes to raise enough money to keep ads running until Election Day.

“Our target is to spend every penny we’ve got to get as much exposure for these candidates as we can,” he said.

The IP ad does not include U.S. Senate candidate Steve Carlson, who defeated the party’s endorsed candidate in the primary election.

Jenkins said Carlson is not involved in the party and is running his own campaign.