Strouse to debut TV ad

The Congressional race in the Eighth District - where national Democrats are eager to unseat a well-funded Republican incumbent - will reach a broader audience this week.

On Thursday, Kevin Strouse, one of two Democrats competing to challenge U.S. Rep Mike Fitzpatrick (R., Bucks), will begin airing a 30-second television ad on cable and broadcast networks, according to his campaign.

The ad - which juxtaposes a Strouse voiceover highlighting his "serious" personality and background against video of him playing with his two children - will be the first television purchase in the race. It is embedded below.

The ad does not mention Shaughnessy Naughton, the 35-year-old businesswoman also competing for the Democratic nomination, nor does it bring up Fitzpatrick, the three-term Congressman and former county commissioner who awaits the Democratic primary victor.

Strouse's campaign manager, Brendan McPhillips, declined to disclose how much was being spent on the ad purchase. The commercial will run until the May 20 primary election, McPhillips said.

The ad's debut will come in the same week that two candidates in the neighboring 13th District - State Sen. Daylin Leach and State Rep. Brendan Boyle, both Democrats - began running their own television spots.

Strouse, 34, an Army veteran and former CIA employee, raised about $165,000 in campaign funds this quarter - $115,000 from donors, $50,000 from a loan - and had $563,000 to spend, according to campaign finance reports.

Naughton raised nearly $125,000 and had $208,000 on hand.

Both were outpaced by Fitzpatrick, who raised almost $337,000 this quarter and had about $1.5 million in cash on hand, records say.

Naughton's campaign manager, Josh Morrow, did not rule out a Naughton television ad but said their emphasis was on an early direct-mail campaign.