TRAVERSE CITY (AP) -- Republican Pete Hoekstra is accusing Democratic U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow of undermining the popular Medicare program by voting for President Barack Obama's health care plan.
Hoekstra is making Medicare the subject of his first television ad in his quest to unseat Stabenow. His campaign told The Associated Press on Monday the ad would air statewide. Stabenow's campaign has been running TV commercials for three weeks.
Hoekstra's ad takes a page from the playbook of Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney by saying the Obama plan diverts $716 billion from the federal health insurance program for seniors.
The ad shows what it says is video footage of Stabenow acknowledging she voted for Medicare cuts as part of the president's health initiative.
Stabenow's campaign says it plans to respond to the ad's claims.
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