Democratic dark money groups spending big, early to soften up vulnerable Republicans

[babylonsister]

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/12/12/1905222/-Democratic-dark-money-groups-spending-big-early-to-soften-up-vulnerable-Republicans

Democratic dark money groups spending big, early to soften up vulnerable Republicans
Joan McCarter
Daily Kos Staff
Thursday December 12, 2019 · 1:25 PM EST


If you can't beat 'em, join 'em: That’s what a range Democratic dark money groups have determined, and they're outspending Republican groups massively in six states to hit the Republicans most vulnerable in 2020.

The groups have spent $9.3 million so far in television advertising in those states, about three times as much as Republicans have spent to date. A group called Advancing AZ has spent $1.8 million against Republican Sen. Martha McSally in Arizona. In Colorado, Rocky Mountain Values, Conservation Colorado, and Giffords PAC have spent about $2 million combined against Sen. Cory Gardner. Iowa Forward has aired more than $1.4 million worth of ads against Sen. Joni Ernst. But the winner in earning progressive ire is, you guessed it, Sen. Susan Collins. Maine Momentum and Majority Forward have combined to spend nearly $2.3 million in advertising against the incumbent senator.

And guess who Republicans have spent the most so far in shoring up? You got it: Collins. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has spent $531,000 for her. Mitch McConnell's dark money PAC, One Nation, has spent in the six figures in ad buys for her. The newly formed 1820 PAC had raised more than three-quarters of a million by this summer for her and spent about half of it so far.

Republicans are doing their best not to show their panic about the Democratic spending. "Any outside group is free to burn through its cash before voters actually tune in, and you won't hear us complaining when Democrats do it," Jack Pandol, a spokesman for the Senate Leadership Fund, the top Republican outside group, told The Hill. "We're focused on deploying resources effectively when we can actually make a difference, not chasing headlines." As if voters weren't tuned in. As if there won't be more Democratic money next year. As if they have a prayer of matching the grassroots small-dollar contributions Democrats are going to get.

[PatrickforO]

1. Well, mixed feelings here. It's good we're outspending them...I guess.

But the idea that dollars equals free speech is repugnant. Gotta do it, I suppose, but don't gotta like it...

[The Mouth]

3. "Freedom of the press is limited to those that own one"

B. Franklin

[George II]

2. That's great news.

[stlstdg]

4. We cannot unilaterally disarm...

While I hate that dark money is such a big part of politics in this country,
it's political malpractice for Democrats to sit back and watch Republicans
use it, but to not do it because of some illusion of "purity."

The reality is that progressive goals will not be reached, in today's world
unless we fight fire with fire. Republicans will stop at nothing to impose
their vision on this country and world; the least we can do is exercise every
legal option to counter them. Lives--literally-- are at stake.

I'm thrilled to see yet additional evidence that Democrats are learning that
they must beat the conservative movement at its own game.

Among the lessons of the past twenty years is that we've gained absolutely
nothing by holding back.