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Harris launches first general election ad in attorney general’s race

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Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party nominee for attorney general,became the first non-gubernatorial candidate for statewide office to hit the airwaves with ads this week, making what her campaign called a “five-figure” buy of radio time to attack her Republican opponent, Steve Cooley.

The ad is running on radio in Los Angeles, Cooley’s home turf and home to the largest block of Democratic votes in the state. The ad attacks Cooley for taking gifts while serving as Los Angeles County district attorney.

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[Updated: 5: 31 p.m.] Cooley spokesman Kevin Spillane said the ad was “a smear and a distortion” and an attempt by Harris to distract voters from her own record as district attorney of San Francisco.

“I think it fits into a larger narrative,” said Harris spokesman Brian Brokaw. “A number of questions have been raised about Steve Cooley. As long as he continues to duck the serious qustions, we’ll continue to raise them.”

Harris’s spot is just the opening salvo from the San Francisco district attorney, who has proven to be a prodigious fundraiser. She spent more than $2.7 million to win a crowded Democratic primary. Though she finished June with just $100K in the bank, she has rapidly been replenishing her campaign war chest. Records at the Secretary of State’s office show Harris has raised more than $541,000 since July 1.

Cooley raised about $1.9 million through June, and spent all but $120,000 of that money in the primary. Records show he has raised just over $316,000 since July 1.

-- Anthony York in Sacramento

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