GOP Panics As Democratic Nonprofits Flood Battleground States With Money
JakeThomas
Four new nonprofits targeting vulnerable Republican senators in the upcoming election are flooding those states with millions of dollars in early spending, according to Politico — and the GOP is beginning to panic.
“Outside groups in Arizona, Colorado, Maine and Iowa have already spent or booked over $1 million in each state — and in some cases much more, according to Advertising Analytics — on advertising criticizing the senators,” the news outlet reported. This is more than double the spending of Republican-aligned groups trying to counter the onslaught.
Scott Reed, the chief political strategist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, described the situation a “wake-up call.”
“We expected it to be bad. Nobody expected it to be this bad,” Reed said of the situation. “The right of center groups have got to get moving. Elections have consequences and the Senate is the backstop against all out craziness.”
Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO), Martha McSally (R-AZ), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) face particularly tough election challenges, from general election challengers — and in some cases primary challengers as well.
All four are targets of outside spending by Democratic-aligned “dark money” groups.