Democratic groups buy $1.3M in ads for NH race

PHILIP ELLIOTT
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — A trio of Democratic-backing independent groups on Wednesday rushed to the air $1.3 million in TV ads to help New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who at one time seemed heading toward a safe re-election.

Senate Majority PAC, Patriot Majority USA and Women Vote are running a joint ad criticizing Shaheen’s Republican challenger, former Sen. Scott Brown, over his votes to protect subsidies for oil companies. The ad also blames Brown for exporting U.S. jobs to China and Mexico.

Shaheen began the year in a strong financial position, starting with $3.4 million in the bank. But she was forced to spend heavily as outside groups criticized her until Brown built his own cash reserves. Outside groups spent $9 million against Shaheen and another $2.7 million promoting Brown.

Despite a long history in New Hampshire, Shaheen faces notoriously late-deciding voters and Brown has narrowed her polling advantages in recent weeks.

Democrats have consistently hammered Brown’s record as a senator representing Massachusetts from 2010 to 2013. After losing a re-election bid, Brown moved across the border to his New Hampshire vacation home and is seeking to serve a second state.

“He’s hoping, here in New Hampshire, we forget his past,” the male narrator says in the 30-second ad. “Scott Brown cares about Scott Brown, not New Hampshire. “

The ads started Wednesday and will run through Election Day on Boston broadcast and cable stations, as well as Manchester, New Hampshire, cable.

Senate Majority PAC is a super PAC with ties to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Patriot Majority USA is backed by labor unions. Women Vote is a project of EMILY’s List, which works to elect female lawmakers who support abortion rights.

If Republicans pick up six seats in the Senate, they will capture the majority for the first time since 2006.

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Follow Philip Elliott on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/philip_elliott

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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