South Carolina TV stations pull pro-Cruz ad using San Bernardino shootings to attack Rubio

A group of South Carolina television stations has moved to pull a commercial supporting Sen. Ted Cruz's (R-TX) presidential campaign, citing legal concerns.

According to the New York Times, the three stations decided on Friday to stop airing a commercial citing the San Bernardino shooting attacks last December to attack Sen. Marco Rubio's (R-FL) immigration record.

The commercial, which was produced by the pro-Cruz super PAC Stand for Truth, also argued that the immigration bill Rubio helped put together in 2013 was proof that he wanted to "allow sanctuary cities."

The Washington Post reported that the ad incorporated photos of the San Bernardino attackers and a voiceover saying, "We are at war. Not just abroad, but here at home."

"We had our legal folks review it, and it was decided that this needed to be pulled and substituted," said WBTW-TV general manager Randy Ingram of the commercial. He did not identify the aspect of the ad that prompted its removal.

Ingram's station, along with WCBD-TV and WSPA-TV, stopped airing the commercial as of Saturday. All three stations are part of the Media General umbrella, which has 71 stations in 48 markets.

The Post reported that Stand for Truth was founded last November by Hal Lambert, the former finance chair for the Texas Republican Party.