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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

2014 Campaign Whoppers

2014 Campaign Whoppers

No shortage of tall tales in the midterm elections, from both parties.

Jenkins Ads Mislead on Carbon Tax, Coal

Jenkins Ads Mislead on Carbon Tax, Coal

Two highly misleading ads from Republican Evan Jenkins leave the false impression that Rep. Nick Rahall is responsible for higher electric rates and personally profited from his votes in Congress.

Midterm Medicare Mudslinging

Midterm Medicare Mudslinging

Democrats, Republicans spend nearly $50 million on TV ads that repeat old, scary Medicare claims.

Black Lung Battle in West Virginia

Black Lung Battle in West Virginia

Republican Evan Jenkins claims Democratic Rep. Nick Rahall “cut black lung benefits,” in an ad that fires back after Rahall claimed Jenkins pledged to “take away” black lung benefits from coal miners.

Doubling Down in West Virginia

Doubling Down in West Virginia

Rep. Nick Rahall’s latest TV ad doubles down on the deceptive claim that Republican Evan Jenkins has pledged to “take away” black lung benefits from coal miners.

NRCC, Again, Cherry-picks Data

NRCC, Again, Cherry-picks Data

The National Republican Congressional Committee once again uses selective evidence to attack a congressman for supporting President Obama. This time, the target is Democratic Rep. Nick Rahall of West Virginia.

Rahall Twists Jenkins’ Words

Rahall Twists Jenkins’ Words

Rep. Nick Rahall of West Virginia takes a quote from his Republican opponent, Evan Jenkins, out of context to falsely imply that Jenkins is “comfortable” with raising “seniors’ out-of-pocket costs” for Medicare by $6,000.

Bogus Attack in Coal Mine Country

Bogus Attack in Coal Mine Country

A TV ad in West Virginia’s 3rd District falsely claims that Republican Evan Jenkins “vowed to repeal black lung benefits.” Jenkins vowed to repeal the Affordable Care Act, not end black lung benefits.

House Majority PAC

A super PAC focused on returning Democrats to the majority in the House.

Tortured ‘Terror Ties’ in West Virginia

In a TV ad based on innuendos and half-truths, a GOP challenger accuses his Lebanese American opponent, Democratic Rep. Nick Rahall, of taking campaign cash from “a convicted terrorist” and “a group with terror ties.”

Rahall is a Presbyterian whose grandparents immigrated from Lebanon. The ad by his Republican opponent, Spike Maynard, first aired Oct. 20 in West Virginia’s 3rd Congressional District. It also claims Rahall is "bad for America," attempting to tie Rahall to terrorism using the classic guilt-by-association fallacy.