Union-funded 'attack ad' against Pratt seems aimed at helping him make runoff, analysts say

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A 30-second campaign video spot making the rounds this week claims to oppose Spencer Pratt in the June 2 primary for Los Angeles mayor.But to many viewers, the list of criticisms against Pratt seem more like a roster of his selling points for L.A.’s Republican voters.

Pratt wants to add more police officers, rein in the power of public employee unions and spend less on brand-new housing for the homeless, the ad proclaims.Those all seem aimed at boosting Pratt’s appeal among conservative voters, political analysts say — a strategy they think is aimed at helping the Republican Pratt, and not progressive City Councilmember Nithya Raman, make it into a Nov.

3 runoff with Mayor Karen Bass.The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, which is backing Bass, spent $221,000 in connection with the ad, according to a filing with the city Ethics Commission.

“The Fed wants the easiest path for Bass in the runoff, which would be against Pratt instead of Nithya Raman because only 18% of registered voters in L.A.are Republicans,” said Fernando Guerra, a political science professor at Loyola Marymount University.In a nonpartisan primary in which all the candidates are polling at under 30%, getting Pratt more votes from Republicans could be the push he needs to get past Raman, with whom he is polling neck and neck, Guerra said.In a statement, the labor federation denounced Pratt as a candidate but didn’t respond when asked if the new ad was aimed at boosting Pratt’s appeal to Republicans in the nonpartisan race.

“Pratt’s half-baked ideas are harmful to working-class Angelenos and out city’s most vulnerable residents.It’s important that voters in Los Angeles are reminded of the dangers of electing another inexperienced reality TV star,” said Kristal Romero, a spokesperson for the labor group.

Raman called the video from the labor federation “cynical,” saying it seemed...