Dems cancel more ads in House races
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Dems cancel more ads in House races
National Democrats have canceled another round of ads for their Congressional candidates around Philadelphia, yanking $1.5 million worth of TV time in the final week of the campaign, a Democratic source said Monday night.
The decision sends another strong signal that local Democratic challengers are lagging behind incumbent Republicans around Philly, unlikely to achieve upsets and that national Democrats have decided to devote their resources to more promising races elsewhere.
The move by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee comes less than a week after the organization pulled $1.1 million of ads set to run in the second to last week of the campaign. Combined, the two decisions mean that the national campaign arm for Democratic House candidates won't be up on the air to help in four races that had been named top targets for Democrats trying to gain ground in Congress.
Democrats had named Pennsylvanians Kathy Boockvar, Manan Trivedi, George Badey and, in South Jersey, Shelley Adler as top challengers in races against incumbents Mike Fitzpatrick, Jim Gerlach, Patrick Meehan and Jon Runyan.
Those Democrats, however, are now on their own when it comes to financing television ads in an expensive market against incumbents who hold significant fund-raising advantages.
"After Washington Republicans cut their ad buys for Philadelphia, our strong Democratic challengers can win with President Obama's strength at the top of the ticket and by holding their opponents accountable for their Tea Party record," said DCCC spokesman Jesse Ferguson.
The DCCC has also pulled ads in Boston and Chicago, two similarly expensive media markets.
Republicans have also canceled some of their own ads around Philadelphia, but with the GOP holding several local seats that move more likely signals confidence that their incumbents are safe.
More proof that Boockvar's campaign is toast. DNCC out. They only do that when things are hopeless.— Frankie75- Two years ago Republicans displayed open "violence" in townhall meetings against the likes of Arlen Specter et al while riding the lie of Grandmom's Death Panels.
This year Republicans openly play one of their many race cards with Mumia Abu Jamal and Democrats can't spell out the reality of HRL.
— Cuddles - Now we'll see even more childish nonsense from the outside agitators like Credo.— jwt
- It could also be the coat tails will work.— ethelmay
Jonathan Tamari is the Inquirer’s correspondent in Washington, where he follows the Philadelphia area’s interests and representatives. Tamari comes to D.C. after two years as a beat writer reporting on the Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL (where, a political source once told him, there are at least rules against hitting below the knees). He previously wrote about politics and government from Trenton, reporting on the characters and color of New Jersey state government.Jersey born and bred, Tamari now lives in the capital city, where he is looking for stories, places to run, soccer bars and good meals.
Reach him at jtamari@phillynews.com.
Follow Jonathan on Twitter: @JonathanTamari.
