Whitman trains fire on Poizner as primary battle intensifies

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Looks like Meg Whitman has decided she has a primary race to run after all.

After weeks of introducing herself to voters and trying as much as possible to engage Democrat Jerry Brown directly, the Whitman campaign has launched a new 30-second ad entirely directed at Steve Poizner.

Poizner, the Republican state insurance commissioner, trails Whitman by wide margins in public opinion polls. But he has millions of dollars to spend on the race, and his recent ads have gone after Whitman, accusing her of being nothing more than a continuation of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Whitman’s new ad calls Poizner “Desperate, dishonest, and way more liberal that he says he is.�

Poizner spokesman Jarrod Agen said the ad was proof that Poizner was closing in on Whitman, and said it was Whitman, not Poizner, who is perpetuating false claims.

[Updated: 11:39 a.m.] “Meg Whitman’s hypocrisy has no limit as she is the only candidate that endorsed Al Gore, campaigned for Barbara Boxer, and supported Pete Wilson’s $112 billion in tax increases,� Agen said. “Meg Whitman is worried about this primary and has rehashed the same lies which have already been proven untrue.�

You can watch the spot below.

--Anthony York