'Boycott The Boss' Ad To Air

N.Y. Conservative Wants To Punish Springsteen For Bashing Bush

(AP)  Upset with Bruce Springsteen's effort to oust President Bush from the White House, the New York Conservative Party's candidate for the U.S. Senate is launching a "Boycott the Boss" television commercial.

"He thinks making millions with a song-and-dance routine allows him to tell you how to vote," Marilyn O'Grady says in the 30-second spot. "Here's my vote: Boycott the Boss. If you don't buy his politics, don't buy his music."

In a statement, O'Grady said Springsteen "has a right to say what he thinks, but we have an equal right to speak. Now that he's moved onto the political stage to bash my president, it is entirely fair to respond."

Springsteen is among more than 20 prominent musicians who announced on Aug. 4 that they would hold a series of anti-Bush fund-raising concerts under the "Vote for Change" banner, in 28 cities in October.

"I feel this is one of the most critical elections in my lifetime," Springsteen said at the time.

Springsteen's "No Surrender" has become an anthem for Democratic Sen. John Kerry's presidential campaign.

A spokesman for O'Grady, Howard Lim, would not say how much the Long Island's ophthalmologist's campaign was spending on the commercial, in which she says, "I stand with President Bush and it's time to tame the liberal elite."

A Springsteen publicist said the singer did not plan to comment about the ad.

O'Grady, a conservative Republican, launched her campaign after Republican Gov. George Pataki and the state Republican Party's leadership handed the party's Senate nomination to Howard Mills, a little-known legislator who supports abortion rights and civil unions for gays. Polls have shown Schumer running far ahead of both O'Grady and Mills.