Independent group backing Greuel buys TV time to air runoff ad

The independent committee supporting Wendy Greuel’s bid has bought $500,000 in television time to air a new positive 30-second spot supporting Greuel’s mayoral bid, according to a source familiar with the ad.

The 30-second spot, posted on YouTube by Working Californians, features former President Bill Clinton stumping for Greuel at Langer’s Delicatessen on April 20.

“You want somebody who hit it out of the park every time she had a job, by getting something done that changed somebody else’s life,” Clinton says at the invitation-only event, seated next to a smiling Greuel in front of a wall covered in campaign signs. “That’s what I think about Wendy. I have seen her get things done.”

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Working Californians is an independent committee backing Greuel’s bid that cannot legally coordinate with her campaign, and is funded by labor and Hollywood executives. It spent heavily to support Greuel’s bid in the primary.

Much of the group’s funding has come from a union that represents many workers at the city’s Department of Water and Power, which Greuel’s rival, Eric Garcetti, has used to argue that Greuel is beholden to labor. Greuel has countered that she has the backing of labor and business interests, showing that she could bring all sides to the table. And she notes Garcetti also sought support from city unions.

The new ad, the group’s first in the runoff, could air as early as Wednesday and the ad is expected to continue appearing through May 8.

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Twitter: @LATSeema