National Republicans pour in cash to save Upton, Handel, Budd, Balderson and Mast
It’s also a troubling sign for the GOP’s prospects of keeping the House. Most of Republicans’ new defensive fortifications are coming in districts where the GOP has won easily in the past and has been expected to do so again in 2018, and Democrats have not considered them top targets or must-wins on their path to flip 23 seats and retake the House majority. While Republicans in some districts have benefited from Trump’s rising approval rating and a boost of energy following Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation, the new ad spending shows Democrats are still making inroads into a range of Republican-held seats, including some where the GOP candidates are getting massively outspent.
“When the committees or CLF go in late, it means the race is within the margin of error — up a couple points or down a couple points for Republicans — so that means it’s winnable, so they’re not going to walk away, despite what the candidate cash shows,” said a Republican consultant working on House races, who was granted anonymity to discuss internal party decisions. “But it’s happening because these incumbents don’t have the cash, which is worrisome.”
he NRCC jumped into a trio of suburban seats this week where Democrats raised more money than Republican incumbents last quarter. The GOP House committee dumped $1.4 million into the northern Atlanta suburbs to support GOP Rep. Karen Handel, who’s facing Democrat Lucy McBath, a gun control activist. The NRCC also threw down $600,000 apiece to help Rep. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) on Wednesday and the same amount for Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.).
CLF is simultaneously swooping in to three more districts, blitzing TV air waves with ads benefiting Republican Reps. John Katko of New York, Fred Upton of Michigan and open-seat contender Denver Riggleman, the Republican running to replace retiring Rep. Tom Garrett (R-Va.).
America First Action is also going up in Ohio’s 12th District, the Republican-leaning seat narrowly won by GOP Rep. Troy Balderson in a closely watched August special election.
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/10/24/gop-house-funding-936220
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