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Rove allied group launches ads backing Toomey

A new political group affiliated with Karl Rove’s American Crossroads super PAC has launched a $400,000 ad buy in Pennsylvania backing Sen. Pat Toomey (R., Pa.) as part of its national push to bolster targeted Republican senators.

WASHINGTON – A new political group affiliated with Karl Rove's American Crossroads super PAC has launched a $400,000 ad buy in Pennsylvania backing Sen. Pat Toomey (R., Pa.) as part of its national push to bolster targeted Republican senators.

The new organization, a 501(c)4 non-profit known as One Nation, plans to launch radio and digital ads Tuesday in Pennsylvania. The buy is part of a $2 million advertising effort nationwide backing five Republicans who Democrats have made top targets in next year's elections.

One Nation, whose president, Steven Law, is also president of American Crossroads, says it is working to be "a catalyst" for "constructive solutions" to break political gridlock. Its Pennsylvania ads highlight Toomey's recent vote to approve a long-sought change to Medicare payments. He was one of 92 senators who voted for the broadly popular bill.

"It will take a lot of hard work to revive our stagnant economy, get our debt under control and make our country strong again, but fortunately Senators like Pat Toomey are taking action," Law said in a news release. "We believe Americans are unified in wanting Washington to produce results instead of pointing fingers."

Non-profit like One Nation, which have proliferated since the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, do not have to disclose their donors. They report their spending to the IRS, and by law are supposed to spend more than half of their money on non-political activity, though watchdogs question how strongly this rule is enforced.

Other One Nation ads are planned in Illinois, Ohio, North Carolina and New Hampshire, all states where Republicans are defending vulnerable incumbent senators next year.

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