Another day, another bunch of negative ads. Here is what cut through the clutter today.
California’s 39th
This ad from a group called “America Shining” uses old B-movie footage against Rep. Ed Royce (R) and in support of Navy veteran Jay Chen (D). It may look like it was made by a film student, but it’ll catch your eye. We were unable to track down contact info for the group behind the ad. But the latest Federal Election Commission postings show that the organization has purchased about $5,000 of television time. This Orange County district is solid GOP territory, and as part of the Los Angeles media market, it’s expensive to advertise in.
Sen. Jon Tester’s (D) new TV ad, running statewide behind a $125,000 buy, features a retired firefighter disparaging Rep. Denny Rehberg (R) for suing the city of Billings over a fire on his property. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee hit Rehberg on the same topic in its own ad released today.
Crowing campaigns are beginning to leak their first-quarter fundraising numbers. Generally, any campaign releasing its fundraising numbers this early is happy with its totals. Reports must be postmarked by midnight Sunday.
Mo. Senate: Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) raised $2.3 million and has about $6 million in cash on hand.
Wis. Senate: Former Rep. Mark Neumann (R) raised $650,000. Although his campaign did not release cash on hand, the campaign noted that none of the money came “from Neumann himself.” Full story
Small-business man Jay Chen (D-Calif.) today will announce a slew of endorsements from Members of Congress, local officials and labor unions in his uphill challenge to Rep. Ed Royce (R).
This race is not among the top-tier races in the state at this point, but Chen is hoping to change that. According to a source close to the campaign, Chen, who entered the race in late January, will report at the end of the first quarter that he raised about $250,000 in just eight weeks. Full story
