Another pro-Deb Fischer ad found to be using foreign stock footage

A super PAC-funded political ad attacking Dan Osborn, the independent challenger to Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer (R), used foreign stock footage to portray financial struggles of people in the United States.

The ad was posted by the conservative super PAC Heartland Resurgence Action on Monday. At the 18-second mark, it features a video of two seniors sitting at a table while the voice over falsely accuses Osborn of wanting to give immigrants Social Security money that Americans earned. The video was posted on the Shutterstock account “fizkes,” which says it is based in the United Arab Emirates. Its Instagram account features a Russian name, Aleksandr Davydov.

The video also features a Russian model based out of St. Petersburg, who posted a separate Instagram video of behind-the-scenes footage during the shoot with fizkes/Davydov.

 

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This is the second time in the last month where Fischer’s campaign has been linked to foreign stock footage. An ad posted by Fischer’s campaign itself earlier this month featured footage from Thailand, Romania and Bosnia.

NEW: Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) is on the air with an ad about paid family leave for American families. Heartland Signal investigated, and it includes stock footage from Romania, Thailand and Bosnia and Herzegovina. pic.twitter.com/3SXvsNbCHg

— Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) September 11, 2024

Osborn’s and Fischer’s campaigns did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the foreign stock footage.

Fischer had held her seat since 2013 and is seeking her third term in office.

Osborn served in the Navy and National Guard before working as an industrial mechanic at Kellogg’s Omaha plant. In 2021, he led a strike for increased wages but was later fired by the company.

Despite running as an independent candidate, Osborn is conducting a strong campaign, and a recent poll from SurveyUSA had him one percentage point ahead of Fischer. This poll contributed to the race shifting from “solid Republican” to the “likely Republican” designation on the Cook Political Report.