Exclusive: Republicans juice spending to protect Senate red wall

Source: msn/Axios

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Republicans are dramatically boosting campaign spending on Senate races in red states that, until recently, looked safely out of Democrats' reach in the November midterms.

Why it matters: The GOP — alarmed by recent polls and voting trends — is juicing its efforts in Ohio and Iowa to reinforce a Senate "red wall" they believe can block Democrats' path to a majority in the chamber.

The clearest evidence yet: One Nation, the conservative nonprofit aligned with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), is reserving $28 million in TV advertising in Ohio and $11 million in Iowa, according to plans obtained by Axios.

Republican candidates are locked in tough races in those states less than two years after President Trump won both by double digits.

The TV ads will begin Wednesday and will run through the summer.

Behind the scenes: During a June 1 conference call with Thune and top GOP donors, One Nation executive director Alex Latcham touted roughly $100 million in planned spending on Democrat-held Senate seats in New Hampshire, Georgia and Michigan, according to a person familiar with the call.

But Latcham also acknowledged the political headwinds facing Republicans in red states, and argued for doubling down on investments in GOP-held seats in Ohio, Iowa, Alaska, Maine and North Carolina.

Not long ago, Ohio and Iowa looked like they didn't need much help from the GOP to defend.

Democrats need a net gain of four seats to take control of the Senate.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/exclusive-republicans-juice-spending-to-protect-senate-red-wall/ar-AA27tcWr