Cantwell gets an assist from foe

Mike McGavick, the Republican candidate challenging Sen. Maria Cantwell, says a television commercial that shows Cantwell's head superimposed on a vulture's body should be taken off the air.

But the Free Enterprise Fund, the pro-business lobbying organization running the ad that advocates repeal of the federal estate tax, says it's not pulling the plug.

"This isn't the kind of ad that I think is helpful to the political process, and I wish it would be taken down," McGavick said in an interview Thursday.

He called the commercial an "inappropriate and personal attack."

"I have said over and over that my campaign will be a civil one that does not attack Senator Cantwell personally," McGavick said in a written statement.

The ad begins with vultures flying and feeding on a carcass. After displaying the words "the vulture wants your savings," the commercial shows the image of a vulture with Cantwell's head next to the words, "Maria Cantwell voted to keep the Death Tax."

Earlier this month, Cantwell was among the senators who blocked a GOP attempt to repeal the estate tax, which some opponents call the death tax.

The ad is part of a $4.1 million nationwide campaign against the tax.

The Cantwell commercial started running Wednesday in the Puget Sound area. Similar vulture commercials featuring candidates who opposed the tax have run in other states, including South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana and Arkansas, said Todd Schorle, the Free Enterprise Fund's spokesman.

"It's not personal, it's just the issue," Schorle said. "This is about Maria Cantwell and her vote."

Charla Neuman, Cantwell's spokeswoman, said she's not sure why McGavick has asked that the commercial be pulled, unless he thinks that helps his campaign.

As for the estate tax, Neuman said, Cantwell thinks the current tax is too high but complete repeal goes too far. "She'd like to see a compromise in between so that family farms and small businesses don't have to face that kind of tax," she said.

Anne Kim: 206-464-2591 or akim@seattletimes.com