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Georgia: Goddard’s First TV Ad Focuses on Biography

Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Rick Goddard, the Republican nominee in the battleground 8th district race against Rep. Jim Marshall (D), began airing his first television ad on Tuesday.

The new ad, released in the Macon and Albany media markets, highlights Goddard’s background as a fighter pilot and commander of the massive Warner Robins Air Logistics Center at Robins Air Force Base, which is a major employer of 8th district residents.

“He flew 227 combat missions over Vietnam, was decorated for valor. And, after 33 years, retired as a major general,” the 30-second bio ad states. “Rick Goddard. A leader who will use his conservative values to make Congress work for you.”

Marshall is also a decorated veteran who has proved over his three terms that he can hold strong to a conservative district that President Bush carried with 61 percent of the vote in 2004.

Marshall is leading the money race, reporting almost $1.4 million in cash on hand as of July 31, compared with Goddard’s less than $500,000.

Goddard’s new ad comes just days after he received some flack in the local press for using the term “uppity” to describe an African-American newscaster who was interviewing former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) at the Republican National Convention about the GOP vice presidential nominee, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

When asked about the statement, Tim Baker, spokesman for Goddard’s campaign, told the Atlanta Journal Constitution newspaper that “a member of the media dropped all pretense of objectivity during an interview with Newt Gingrich to arrogantly launch an attack on Gov. Sarah Palin’s experience, to which Rick came to her defense and simply evoked a word — that by definition — described the reporter’s demeanor as being superior, arrogant and presumptuous. To try and smear Rick’s character by suggesting that he meant anything other than the definition is ludicrous.”

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