The ad is called “Tough Choices” but Rep. Kathy Hochul’s campaign this morning is trying to portray her as an independent Democrat who just happens to represent one of the most Republican House districts in New York.

Hochul is out with her first ad, released Sunday but widely disseminated this morning, that highlights her support for the balanced-budget amendment and cutting off foreign aid to Pakistan. A full script for the ad is after the jump.

Touting her support of the amendment is a sign Hochul’s polling shows pretty much what the Siena College poll from Sunday found: nearly 25 percent of voters say their main issue is reducing the federal budget deficit (not the Paul Ryan budget as was the case in her first campaign for the House).

But the campaign in a news release says Hochul has a record of “bucking her own party” after winning an upset special election last year against Republican Assemblywoman Jane Corwin.

“Kathy has always been known for her independence, and that’s the same approach she brings to her job representing Western New York,” said Campaign Manager Frank Thomas in a statement. “We are going to continue to talk about Kathy’s leadership in support of the Balanced Budget Amendment and her votes to cut foreign aid to Pakistan as examples of how she’s cut through partisan Washington politics. It’s her bipartisan leadership on the tough issues that have established her as an effective, independent voice for Western New York.”

The ad is well timed. The Siena released on Sunday found Hochul in a statistical dead heat with her Republican opponent, former Erie County Executive Chris Collins.

We all know why congress doesn’t work.

Tough choices need to be made, and Washington doesn’t make tough choices.

I’m Kathy Hochul, and that’s why I voted for the Balanced Budget Amendment.

It forces Congress to make tough choices.

And it’s why I voted to cut foreign aid to Pakistan.

Pakistan still harbors al Qaeda terrorists and endangers our troops, but almost everybody in Washington says you can’t cut their aid.

I approve this message, because I’d like to know why not.

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