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NRA to run Benghazi-themed ad attacking Clinton in battleground states

MARKETWATCH 12:06 PM ET 6/29/2016

Donald Trump just got a $2-million shot in the arm from one of his deep-pocketed supporters.

In its first ad campaign of the 2016 presidential race, the National Rifle Association is trotting out a Benghazi survivor to support the presumptive Republican nominee, according to USA Today (http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/ politics/elections/2016/06/29/nra-2-million-ad-campaign-trump-benghazi/86484306/).

The "Stop Clinton, Vote Trump" spot features Mark Geist, a Marine vet and security contractor who fought in the assault that cost four American lives. In the 30-second ad, Geist strolls through a cemetery, backed by a dramatic soundtrack, as he lays out his case for voting for Trump.

"A lot of people say they're not going to vote this November because their candidate didn't win; Well, I know some people who won't be voting this year either," says Geist, who endorsed Trump back in February. "Hillary as President? No thanks. I served in Benghazi. My friends didn't make it. They did their part. Do yours."

Watch the full video:

http://www.youtube.com/embed/SIl20jItjHY

The ad will air across the battleground states of Colorado, Ohio, Nevada, Florida, Virginia and Pennsylvania, USA Today reported.

Word of the NRA campaign follows the release of the final report on the attacks (http://www.wsj.com/articles/gop- written-house-benghazi-report-faults-obama-administration-on-libya-risk-strategy-1467121159) from the House Benghazi Committee, which laid out an array of missteps by the Obama administration but didn't contain much in the way of new criticisms aimed at Hillary Clinton.

After the report came to light, the New Yorker published an interview (http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/chris- stevenss-family-dont-blame-hillary-clinton-for-benghazi) with the sister of former Libyan Ambassador Chris Stevens, who died in the attacks.

"I do not blame Hillary Clinton or Leon Panetta," she said. "They were balancing security efforts at embassies and missions around the world. And their staffs were doing their best to provide what they could with the resources they had."

-Shawn Langlois; 415-439-6400; [e-mail]


(END) Dow Jones Newswires
06-29-161206ET
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