With jumbo shrimp and sparkling beverages, Vallas courted women voters at a luncheon Tuesday while Mayor Lori Lightfoot hit the internet with what some are calling a powerful new digital ad using Vallas' own words.
[Ads /]
SEE ALSO | Paul Vallas under fire for Democratic credentials as candidates tout dueling endorsements
"I'm more of a Republican than a Democrat now," Vallas is heard saying in the ad. "Yes, if I ran for public office, then I would be running as a Republican."
The 30-second ad is taken from a longer interview with Jeff Berkowitz in 2009.
"You're talking about an interview I did in 2009 where, you know, something that you said could be spliced," Vallas said. "I don't know what the question I was responding to is."
Vallas said he was probably answering questions to a hypothetical.
[Ads /]
In the ad, Berkowitz asks: "You are saying you take a Republican primary ballot?"
Vallas responds: "I would take a Republican primary ballot."
SEE ALSO | Chicago mayoral candidate Paul Vallas gets surprise endorsement from Ald. Tom Tunney
Vallas strongly defended his party status Tuesday: "The bottom line is, I'm a lifelong Democrat. I've always been always been a lifelong Democrat. I've never taken a Republican ballot."
Vallas said that based on his public record, he considers himself a progressive Democrat.
[Ads /]
As polls show Vallas is one of the front runners in the race, he's been under attack by his opponents who have painted him as a conservative.
Congressman Jesus "Chuy" Garcia recently released an ad using the same 2009 interview where Vallas said he is fundamentally against abortion for religious reasons. But, Vallas says he's pro-choice - a point he made to this group of women on Tuesday.
"I have always been an unequivocal uncompromising supporter of women's reproductive rights," Vallas said. "I always have, I always will be."
Despite the accusations over political parties, Chicago elections are non-partisan.
Election Day is three weeks away, and Vallas claims Lightfoot and Garcia are showing signs of desperation.