* Press release…

The Kirk For Senate campaign launched its first television ad of 2016, titled “Security.” The ad highlights the growing threat of ISIS and the stark national security contrast between Senator Mark Kirk and Rep. Tammy Duckworth. The statewide ad buy begins today.

Statement from Kirk For Senate Campaign Manager Kevin Artl:

“Rep. Duckworth’s delusions on national security endanger Americans. Rep. Duckworth has repeatedly ignored reports that ISIS is printing fake Syrian passports and that terrorist plotters have already been arrested on U.S. soil posing as refugees. Her calls for allowing 200,000 Syrian refugees into the United States, despite grave concerns from our nation’s top security advisers about the vetting process, prove once again she is naive and reckless.”

The terrorists referred to above were Iraqis who were plotting an attack in Iraq, not the US.

* Whatevs. Kirk needs to shore up his name ID, which is low, and his GOP primary support, which could be better. I also agree with much of this [slightly altered by me] e-mail from a Democratic pal…

Looking at his buy (which essentially matches and in some places exceeds Duckworth’s) this looks like an attempt to keep Duckworth’s numbers in some check to make sure there’s no post-primary polls that show this out of reach. If Duckworth has airwaves to herself with positives, she might build a 10-15 point lead…and everyone would decide he’s toast. He’s got to keep it close.

But it’s also interesting that they’re spending so much. They’ve been telling everyone that they’re going to have that big post-primary COH advantage because of Duckworth’s ‘messy’ primary… And yet he may spend more than she does. Too bad for them Zopp is such a disaster

* The spot…

* The script…

AUDIO: ISIS used fake Syrian passports to commit the horrific Paris attacks. Now we know they’re printing thousands more.

TEXT: ISIS Used Fake Syrian Passports to Attack Paris. ISIS Printing Thousands of Fake Passports

AUDIO: Still, Tammy Duckworth supports bringing 200,000 Syrian refugees to America.

AUDIO OF DUCKWORTH: I signed on for 200,000 Refugees. (:02)

TEXT: Tammy Duckworth Supports Bringing 200,000 Syrian Refugees to America.

AUDIO: Even though the FBI says there’s no way to guarantee they aren’t terrorists.

TEXT: 15 Refugees Involved in Terror-Related Cases.

AUDIO: Mark Kirk is leading the fight to stop refugees until it can be done safely.

TEXT: Mark Kirk, Stop Syrian Refugees Until It Can Be Done Safely

AUDIO: Who do you trust to protect your family? Mark Kirk

AUDIO OF KIRK: I’m Mark Kirk and I approved this message.

*** UPDATE *** Response…

Senator Mark Kirk, routinely labeled the most endangered incumbent U.S. Senator, is out today with an incredibly dishonest new campaign ad attacking Tammy Duckworth. The ad is virtually identical to one his campaign aired in December, and which fact-checkers referred to as ‘bogus,’ ‘exaggerated,’ and something for which Kirk ‘[s]hould be ashamed.’

In response, Duckworth campaign spokesman Matt McGrath issued the following statement:

“First, Senator Kirk didn’t tell the truth about his military record, now he’s not telling the truth about Tammy Duckworth. The last time Kirk ran an ad like this independent fact checkers said the attacks were false, and they saw it for what it was: shameful and deceptive fear-mongering. But let’s be clear: this issue speaks to a real difference in this campaign: Tammy Duckworth believes in leading through strength and not fear, and that America is safest when we stand firmly by our values. Kirk is once again resorting to dishonesty and the lowest common denominator to paper over his record of being wrong about every major foreign policy decision of the last 15 years, and now he’s all too willing to embrace the odious, anti-Muslim politics and tactics of Donald Trump, which make us less safe.

“At any rate, all you need to know about Kirk’s campaign and his standing with Illinois voters is that his first ad of 2016 is an attack on Tammy Duckworth — and a totally dishonest one at that. It’s an unfortunate and undignified path for Senator Kirk to pursue, regardless of his desperate political situation.” — Matt McGrath, campaign spokesman

Please see the attached fact-check document.

The document is here.