Lenda SherrellNASHVILLE -- Democrat Lenda Sherrell's first TV ad in Tennessee's 4th Congressional District race never mentions her opponent, Republican U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, but much of it appears directed at him.
The 30-second spot, which the 4th Congressional District candidate's campaign says starts today, also never mentions she's a Democrat. Instead it talks about honesty, trust, timeless values and more.
Noting she grew up in a small community, Sherrell says in the ad that "we were taught the values of honesty, loyalty and looking out for each other."
She adds: "We learned that actions speak louder than words."
Sherrell goes on to say "we didn't think of each other as Republicans or Democrats, just neighbors. We've lost that sense of community, and we need to get it back. As an accountant, wife and grandmother, I know a lot about the importance of trust."
Sherell ends on the trust note as well, saying "we may not agree on every issue, but I'll always be worthy of your trust."
DesJarlais barely scraped through his GOP primary in August with a 38-vote victory in a hard-fought race. During the campaign, his Republican challenger, Jim Tracy, hit the congressman on documents from DesJarlais' 2001 divorce which were released after the lawmaker's 2012 race.
They show the self-styled pro-life South Pittsburg physician had conducted affairs with at least two patients, pressured one of them to get an abortion and went along with his former wife's decision on two abortions.
DesJarlais says that's all in the past and has happily remarried.