Critics say Wendy Davis 'wheelchair' ad against disabled opponent goes too far

Critics are saying that a new ad from Democratic Texas state Sen. Wendy Davis' campaign for governor goes too far in its attack against her opponent, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott (R), who is disabled.

Talking Points Memo reported on the ad, which debuted Friday and opens with a shot of a wheelchair.

"A tree fell on Greg Abbott. He sued and got millions," says a narrator's voice. "Since then he spent his career working against other victims."

The ad goes on to say that in his time as the highest legal official in Texas, "Abbott argued a woman whose leg was amputated was not disabled because she had an artificial limb. He ruled against a rape victim who sued a corporation for failing to do a background check on a sexual predator. He sided with a hospital that failed to stop a dangerous surgeon who paralyzed patients."

"Greg Abbott," the ad concludes. "He's not for you."

The Abbott campaign reacted furiously.

“It is challenging to find language strong enough to condemn Sen. Davis’s disgusting television ad, which represents a historic low for someone seeking to represent Texas,” said Abbott spokeswoman Amelia Chasse to the Dallas Morning News. “Sen. Davis’ ad shows a disturbing lack of judgment from a desperate politician, and completely disqualifies her from seeking higher office in Texas.”

Davis campaign spokeswoman said in a statement, "This ad focuses on the fact that Greg Abbott rightly sought justice for himself, following a horrible accident. And then spent his career denying that same justice to other victims, like when he said an amputee shouldn't be considered disabled because she had an artificial limb."

Watch the ad, embedded below via Wendy Davis for Governor: