Rayburn now airing TV, radio ads

Fifth Congressional District Republican candidate Bentley Rayburn’s campaign has made its first media ad buys of the election cycle, purchasing both television and radio spots over the past couple weeks.

Rayburn’s first television ad, which began airing this week on broadcast and cable stations in Colorado Springs and Canon City, is an informational spot showing the retired Air Force general with his family and is interspersed with old photos of him in the military.

In the ad, Rayburn says he’s “the only Republican candidate who’s not a lawyer, lobbyist or professional politician.

“I spent 31 years on active duty so I understand the needs of our military and our veterans,” Rayburn said in the ad. “As a major general in the Air Force, I managed a budget of over $17 billion. I know how valuable our tax dollars are.”

Rayburn has also been airing 60-second spots on local radio stations with a significant conservative audience for the past two weeks.

This week’s radio ad features two speakers advocating how “it just makes sense” for a military veteran to represent the 5th Congressional District, which has five military bases and an economy fueled by defense spending.

The radio ad, titled “Incumbent,” starts off by focusing on incumbent U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colorado Springs), who does not have prior military experience.

Rayburn manager Mike Hesse said the campaign will change radio ads every week; the current TV ad will continue airing on a week-by-week basis, he said.