THE AD: “Mirror,” a 30-second television commercial from Democrat Rick Neal’s congressional campaign. Neal is challenging Rep. Steve Stivers, R-Upper Arlington, for Ohio’s 15th congressional seat.

WHERE TO SEE IT: Columbus cable TV stations beginning today, followed by broadcast stations next week.

Get the facts: Read more of our ad watches

VIDEO: An image of Neal talking to a mirror. The image pans back to show Neal’s daughters and husband. The family discusses campaign finance in what appears to be their kitchen.

SCRIPT: Neal (talking to mirror) “I’m Rick Neal, and I approve this message. I’m Rick Neal and I approve this ad." Daughter Amoret: “Daddy, why do you always say that line?” Neal: “It has to do with the campaign finance law that Senator McCain wrote.” Daughter Sophia: “There are campaign finance laws?” Neal: “Yeah … sort of.” Daughter Amoret: “So that’s why you don’t take corporate PAC money?” Neal: “No, I do that because corporations have too much power." Daughter Amoret: “But the other guy, does he take the money?" Husband Tom: “Yeah, he takes millions and then he gives the corporations a big tax break.” Both girls: “That’s messed up!” Neal: “Uh, yeah.”

ANALYSIS: In choosing this as the theme of his first ad, Neal echoes Democrats such as Conor Lamb in Pennsylvania and Danny O’Connor in the adjacent 12th congressional district. The theme: By foregoing corporate political action committee money, they are not beholden to corporations and will not be on the hook to pass bills to help them out.

Stivers, like many Republican and Democratic candidates, accepts corporate money: Of the $3.2 million he accepted as of June 30, $2 million is from PACs. His donors include PACs for banks, energy companies and insurance companies. He also accepts money from fellow Republicans as well as at least one union: The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers Political Action League.

A quick review of Neal’s campaign finance records finds that of the $921,910 that he had raised as of June 30, $42,897 was from PACs, but none appear to be corporate. However, at least one union – AFSCME – kicked in, giving his campaign $2,500, as did Democrats including former Gov. Ted Strickland and O’Connor. And the Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights group, also contributed, as did America Works, the leadership PAC affiliated with Sen. Sherrod Brown. Neal’s spokesman said he accepts donations that are issue-oriented, reflecting subjects he’s taken a stand on. Neal also loaned his campaign $275,000.

When Brown’s PAC contributed to O’Connor, Republican Troy Balderson made hay of it, pointing out that Brown takes corporate PAC money, and therefore O’Connor took it indirectly. But that indirect link is hardly the smoking gun they want it to be. Just as one could argue that candidates who accept corporate dollars are beholden to them, so too are candidates who accept dollars from other special interests beholden to them. It's up to voters to decide which group of special interests is preferable.

jwehrman@dispatch.com

@jessicawehrman