The campaign for lieutenant governor is getting more desperate and dirtier by the day.

Abel Maldonado launched his most recent ad attacking his Democratic opponent Mayor Gavin Newsom. With the thump-thump sound of a human heartbeat in the background, the words “Can we trust Gavin Newsom one heartbeat away from Governor?” floated across the screen of the YouTube video aired Tuesday afternoon. It then displays short, chopped-up quotes from sources who have worked closely with the mayor in the past, including campaign consultants, and his biggest political nemesis former Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who is quoted saying, “His word was ubiquitously known to be bad.”

It flashes a serious of quotes from Newsom's former campaign consultant Jim Ross, including one that said, “I’m concerned that his record and his temperament will not be fully vetted by the press.”

Of course, Ross didn’t deny saying any of these things. Instead, he gives us a more up-to-date quote with his take on the whole thing: “It’s easy and cheap, but does it move any voters? I don’t think so.”

Abel MaldonadoBay Area NewsGovernment & PoliticsMayor Gavin NewsomPoliticsUnder the Dome