A super PAC aligned with Senate Democrats is slapping down $80 million to reserve TV ad time this fall in nine battleground states that will be crucial to their hopes of flipping the upper chamber, The Washington Post reports.
It's mostly a defensive play for Democrats, who have to defend a third more seats -10 of them in President Donald Trump country - than do Republicans in November.
Senate Majority PAC told the Post it is poised to secure post-Labor Day ad time in:
- Arizona (offense)
- Florida (defense)
- Indiana (defense)
- Missouri (defense)
- Montana (defense)
- Nevada (offense
- North Dakota (defense)
- Tennessee (offense)
- West Virginia (defense)
The four states Democrats are most worried about losing seats: Florida, Indiana, Missouri and North Dakota, the Post reports.
The state Democrats are most hopeful to flip: Nevada.
The anxiety of net-losses are mounting for Democrats, hence the huge autumn spend. Though the super PAC wouldn't give a breakdown of how the $80 million will be distributed, each state will have a seven-figure ad buy, the Post reports.
"We are implementing an aggressive media strategy," Senate Majority PAC President J.B. Poersch told the Post in a statement. "We look forward to building off our existing momentum with smart, tactical planning to ensure victory in November."
Poersch is a close ally of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.