Rove: Democrats Use 'Deception' to Try to Save Senate

Democratic campaigns will use "deception" targeted at swing voters in four close Senate races, GOP strategist Karl Rove wrote in a commentary in The Wall Street Journal.

The onslaught will come over the summer as Democrats pull out all stops to hold on to the Senate in November, Rove wrote.

Republican contenders are leading Democratic incumbents in Louisiana, North Carolina, and Alaska – and barely behind in Arkansas, Rove wrote.

"Democrats have now launched a similar summer offensive to hold these four Senate seats," Rove wrote. "The lines of attack differ, but the common thread is deception."

To boost Sen. Kay Hagan in North Carolina, a multimillion dollar summer ad campaign by liberal groups, including Emily's List and Planned Parenthood, will target Republican state House Speaker Thom Tillis, Rove wrote.

To advance Sen. Mary Landrieu in Louisiana, her supporters will run commercials this summer claiming that GOP challenger Bill Cassidy supported "government-run healthcare," according to Rove.

To salvage Alaska Sen. Mark Begich's re-election hopes, Democratic summer ads will  assert that Republican Dan Sullivan favors limiting where Alaskans "can hunt and fish,"  Rove wrote

And to save Arkansas Sen. Mark Pryor, liberal groups will try to make hay out of Rep. Tom Cotton's land standing support for saving Social Security by raising the retirement age, according to the strategist.

The common thread is to make Republicans seem "toxic to voters inclined to replace lawmakers who rubber stamp the Obama agenda," writes Rove.

"The election is in November but key Senate races could be determined this summer," Rove concludes.

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