The presidential campaigns quickly released new television commercials on Thursday morning, each hoping to build on - or move past - Wednesday's debate between the candidates, President Obama and Mitt Romney.
Mr. Obama's campaign used footage from the debate showing Mr. Romney denying that he has a $5 trillion tax cut plan.
“Why won't Romney level with us,†the ad asks. The ad suggests that it is because Mr. Romney would have to raise taxes on the middle class or make massive cuts in order to afford it.
“If we can't trust him here,†the ad says, showing a picture of Wednesday's debate stage, “how could we ever trust him here.†The scene shifts to a picture of the Oval Office.
Mr. Romney's ad asks the question: “Who will raise taxes on the middle class?â€
It cites an “independent, non-partisan study†which concludes that “Barack Obama and the liberals†will raise taxes on the middle class by $4,000 per family.
It adds that the study, which was done by the American Enterprise Institute, a leading conservative research group, concluded that Mr. Romney's own tax plan was “not a tax hike on the middle class.â€
The ad concludes: “Obama and his liberal allies? We can't afford four more years.â€
Follow Michael D. Shear on Twitter at @shearm.
