A married Republican congressman who was caught kissing one of his staffers has brought out his wife to speak positively of his character in a new television ad, titled "Blessed," that was released Monday.
Rep. Vance McAllister (R-La.), who has pursued a rather circuitous bid for re-election, is defending his seat against several challengers, including Zach Dasher, a Club for Growth-backed candidate with "Duck Dynasty" family ties.
McAllister, who presents himself as a social conservative, was criticized as a hypocrite after a video leaked in April showing him kissing his district scheduler. The new ad apparently aims to reassure his constituents that his family is standing by him.
"Life is filled with ups and downs," the congressman says as the ad begins.
"But a man’s character is based on how many times he gets back up and stands again," his wife, Kelly McAllister, says, adding that she feels "blessed to have a husband who owns up to his mistakes, never gives up, always fighting for the good people of Louisiana."
The congressman also says that he feels lucky to be "blessed with a great family and wonderful Christian wife."
In June, his wife had said she was "behind him 100 percent," after Louisiana Republican Party Chairman Roger Villere, Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) and then-House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) all called for McAllister to resign.
McAllister faces Dasher and others in Louisiana's nonpartisan primary on Nov. 4. If no candidate wins at least 50 percent of the vote, the top two vote-getters meet again in a Dec. 6 runoff.
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