By JEFF BRANSCOME THE FREE LANCE–STAR  May 2, 2017

Ryan M. Kelly / ASSOCIATED Press

Reeves

The ad opens with a bird’s-eye view of a suburban neighborhood.

It then zooms to a house, where a woman unloads groceries as two children kick a soccer ball in the driveway. Suddenly, two men wearing camouflage, their faces concealed by black head wraps, run from a nearby home carrying duffel bags.

The woman gasps and goes to protect the children.

“This is the America Obama left behind,” state Sen. Bryce Reeves, R–Spotsylvania County, says in a voice-over as the dramatic scene plays out. “Terrorists living here. FBI investigating ISIS nationwide. Frightening families.”

The ad closes with Reeves walking along a neighborhood street, vowing to “support our cops” and “defund sanctuary cities” as a law-enforcement vehicle passes with its emergency lights on.

It is Reeves’ first TV ad in his bid for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor. A campaign news release said it will begin airing Wednesday, but did not say in which markets. A Reeves spokeswoman said the ad will air in Caroline County and other localities in the Richmond market.

University of Mary Washington political science professor Stephen Farnsworth said “terrorism fears are often a key approach employed in Republican advertisements.” Criticism of former President Barack Obama is also common.

“If there is one thing that Republicans can agree on, it is attacks on Barack Obama,” he said. “It may not be a useful message in a general election to run against Obama, but among those people likely to vote in the Republican primary, it’s a sound approach.”

Sam Azzarelli, a spokeswoman for Reeves, noted that the senator is a former Army Ranger and police detective, saying he’s “focusing much of his campaign on public safety and ensuring that Virginians are secure both physically and fiscally.” Reeves is now an insurance agent.

State Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel, R–Fauquier County, and Del. Glenn R. Davis, R–Virginia Beach, are also seeking the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor in the June 13 primary.

Reeves had $443,932 in his lieutenant governor campaign account as of March 31, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. Vogel is leading the pack with $547,890, while Davis had $31,552.

Farnsworth said Reeves made a wise call to focus on his own views rather than attack his opponents, given the “nasty disputes” in the race.

Reeves recently asked a judge to allow his lawyer to depose Vogel over an email alleging he had an extramarital affair. He filed a defamation suit last year in response to the email, which he says is false.

The email’s sender was listed as Martha McDaniel, but Reeves thinks that may be a fictitious name. Vogel has denied involvement.

Farnsworth said Reeves and Vogel have similar levels of statewide recognition but that it’s hard to pick a favorite because the gubernatorial race has received most of the attention.

“In this race ... where you have two senators north of Richmond, the challenge is to become better known in Lynchburg, Roanoke, Bristol and places in between,” he said.