WASHINGTON – National Democrats have canceled television ad buys in two Congressional races in suburban Pennsylvania, signaling that the races may have slipped out of reach as the party shifts money to other races that appear more competitive.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has canceled ad reservations in the Chester County-based sixth district, where Democrat Manan Trivedi is running against Republican Ryan Costello, and in the Bucks County-based eighth district, where U.S. Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R., Pa.) faces a challenge from Democrat Kevin Strouse, once billed as a star DCCC recruit.
The cancellation, first reported by Politico, comes as Democrats scramble to protect incumbents, rather than trying to gain ground in a year that looks strong for Republicans. The change also arrives as political forecasters say the local races in potential swing districts are looking more and more likely to be won by the GOP.
"Ad reservations are changing every week, and both Manan Trivedi and Kevin Strouse are running aggressive campaigns in a tough climate that expose Ryan Costello and Mike Fitzpatrick's records of prioritizing the special interests over the middle class," said DCCC spokesman Marc Brumer.
The National Republican Congressional Committee fired back that Fitzpatrick and Costello "fit their districts" and saw the decision as Democrats waving the white flag in two of the most competitive districts in the Philadelphia area.
"Clearly Washington Democrats have seen that writing on the wall and aren't willing to set their money on fire supporting the failed candidacies of Kevin Strouse and Manan Trivedi," said NRCC spokesman Ian Prior.
Democrats cut ad buys in a dozen races.
The DCCC retained its $1.3 million ad reservation in a tough South Jersey race where Democrat Aimee Belgard is running against Republican Tom MacArthur as they vie to replace U.S. Rep. Jon Runyan (R., N.J.). But while Politico reported that the DCCC is planning to put more money into capturing GOP-held seats in Nebraska and Iowa, there was no word on increasing the buy for Belgard.
Democrats had reserved $1.9 million to help Strouse and Trivedi in moderate Pennsylvania districts before slashing their planned spending. The Chester-based district was seen as a Democratic pick-up opportunity after the incumbent there, U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach (R., Pa.) announced he was retiring, and the Bucks-based district is nearly evenly split.
Trivedi's campaign contrasted their efforts to the independent spending pouring in for Costello. They are running to replace Gerlach.
"While our opponent has run ads funded by nearly a million dollars in special interest money, our campaign is fueled by the grassroots volunteers and strong community support necessary to win in November," said Trivedi spokesman Daren Berringer.
Four groups -- the National Association of Realtors, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Federal of Independent and National Rifle Association – have spent roughly $940,000 combined on TV ads, mailers and other support for Costello, according to public disclosures compiled by the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics.
These independent expenditures are separate from campaign donations and, by law, cannot be coordinated with the Costello campaign.
The largest sum -- $776,000 -- has come from the Realtors as they back Costello, a Chester County commissioner and real estate attorney.
A Strouse spokesman said the candidate is not dependant on outside help to take on Fitzpatrick.
"Smart campaigns like ours don't rely on outside spending and that's why we've been on TV for weeks and have been running an aggressive campaign," said Brendan McPhillips. He also attacked Fitzpatrick for refusing to appear at a candidates' forum Tuesday night. Fitzpatrick's campaign has said they didn't have enough notice.
Democrats in 2012 also made ad buys in the expensive Philadelphia market only to cancel them once the races turned in the GOP's favor. Money for air time can go much farther in other areas where ad time is not as costly.
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