Maine Voter Claims She Was Lied To For Political Ad
Maine laundromat owner says she was tricked into appearing in a political ad for Democrat Troy Jackson.
2 min read
A Maine laundromat owner has claimed she was misled into appearing in a political ad for Democrat Troy Jackson, despite being a longtime supporter of Republican Sen. Susan Collins. Kelly Kusnirak, who runs a laundromat in Scarborough, said she was surprised to see her face in an ad that was actually promoting Jackson, not Collins.
Unaware of the Ad’s Purpose
Kusnirak told The Maine Wire that a videographer approached her last spring and told her she was filming for the Collins campaign. As a devoted Collins supporter, she agreed to participate. However, she was shocked to later discover that the footage was being used for Jackson’s campaign.
“No, absolutely not. I am not a Troy Jackson supporter at all,” Kusnirak said. “I definitely feel like I was misled because when I did finally see the ad, I was like, oh, wow, look at that banner: Troy Jackson.”
Ad Blames Collins for Economic Issues
The ad, funded by the Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy PAC, features Kusnirak complaining about Maine’s cost of living and blaming Collins for rising prices. However, Kusnirak argues that the real blame lies with the Democratic-controlled State House in Augusta.
“The economic problems we have in Maine right now are pretty much the result of our legislature in Augusta that has been in control for the past eight years,” she said. “Susan Collins works on the national level, but she always puts Maine first when she makes decisions that affect Maine.”
Jackson’s Campaign and PAC Funding
Jackson, who is running for Senate, replaced Graham Platner, who dropped out of the race after sexual assault allegations. A small party convention selected Jackson as his replacement. The ad, paid for by the CFFE PAC, has reported over $5 million in outside spending, including significant contributions to Jackson and other candidates.
The PAC’s largest donor is Pivotal Ventures, a firm associated with Melinda French Gates. Kusnirak expressed concerns about the potential for misinformation in politics, questioning how far the campaign might go to mislead voters.
Public Reaction and Concerns
Kusnirak’s experience highlights concerns about the integrity of political advertising and voter manipulation. She emphasized that the ad misrepresented the root causes of Maine’s economic challenges and called for accountability.
Source: Daily Wire
