Dems Launch First IE Campaign
The DSCC is up with their first independent expenditure of the cycle, bashing ex-Rep. Pat Toomey (R-PA) for his ties to Wall Street.
"Before he became a politician, Pat Toomey was a Wall Street wheeler-dealer," the narrator says. Dems charge "Mr. Wall Street" with promoting derivatives, and with weakening oversight on financial institutions.
The DSCC is spending $404K to air the ad on statewide broadcast and another $48K for cable spots, according to a source who follows political ad spending. That equals 300 gross ratings points in Philadelphia, 400 in Pittsburgh, 300 in Harrisburg, 600 in Wilkes Barre and 500 points each in Johnstown and Erie.
Dems are becoming concerned that several ads attacking Rep. Joe Sestak (D) are beginning to have an impact. Sestak is still refilling his coffers after an expensive primary in which he defeated Sen. Arlen Specter (D), but he's being outspent on TV by Toomey, the Chamber of Commerce and other right-leaning groups.
"No," DSCC spokesman Eric Schultz said when asked whether the ad was an indication that Sestak is falling behind. "This ad is an indication that Pat Toomey spent 10 years on Wall Street trading derivatives, 6 years in Congress championing Wall Street and then went to the Wall Street-backed Club for Growth."
The DSCC has spent coordinated funds in primary races, helping Specter and other candidates air spots, but the ad hitting Toomey is the first independent expenditure of the cycle.